June Again (2021)

This is an Australian entry into the well-traveled Parent with dementia drama sub-genre. But there is an interesting twist that makes all the difference. It happens early in the movie and is described in the movie promo, so I guess I am not giving anything crucial away. Our June, for several years living with dementia after multiple strokes, ‘wakes up’ as her old self. Hence the title: she is June once again, not an old woman who doesn’t know who anyone is.

So for her it is just as though she traveled five years into the future, except of course that she got older along with everyone else. She is exactly the same person she was when she all but disappeared from their lives, so it isn’t surprising that struggles and disagreements she had with her children in the past are still present, though made worse by events that occurred in her absence.

The script and the acting is consistently strong, but by the time the ending came, I felt that Noni Hazlehurst deserves special praise. In most of the normal scenes she does a realistic and credible job, but she shines during those moments when her character wavers between the dementia and the more lucid moments. Without speaking we can see the struggle she is having and know what she is going through.

There is another plot twist to do with June’s past that I will not go into, but it also adds to the unique story being told.

Short of a miraculous and less believable happy ending, this is a tough movie to wrap up. But the writer/ director manages to brilliantly portray a realistic ending for June’s plight, while ensuring that it was also upbeat against all odds.

JJ Winlove from New Zealand is the writer and director, and had previously did a series of 12 short films. I trust he will get a chance at another full-length motion picture.