Twenty-six year old Nicole Kidman portrays Gail Jones lives in California with her Ukrainian -American husband Bob. She is pregnant with her husband’s baby. Bob has a great career and beautiful, caring and smart wife. However things will go downhill for the couple. Bob is diagnosed with terminal kidney cancer. He basically has no chance of survival.

In this clip, Bob and Gail face the reality. They learn the hardest news of their lives. Obviously it is not easy for Bob to understand and accept the bitter truth but eventually he will. When that happens. All of his goals and wishes from life vanishes. All he wants it to see his baby’s birth before the illness kills him.

Bob comes up with an idea. His son may not be able to grow up with his dad but it does not mean he will not know his father. Bob records videos for his son on a regular basis therefore, he can be there for him in a sense. Bob visits a Chinese healer to get help and with his indirect encouragement he decides to visit his home town, Detroit. Bob does not have good relations with his dad or with his family in general. He desperately wants to make things good again with his family but unfortunately he will not be able to. He goes back to California with a sad heart.

Nicole Kidman is very successful with her portrayal of Gail Jones. She truly represents a wife who tries so hard to stay strong for her dying husband but she is vulnerable deep inside. She is usually forgotten. She is pregnant and she watches her depressed husband getting worse everyday. She watches him lose his faith and strength everyday. I believe she manages well to stay tough and strong for her family and her upcoming baby.

At the end, Gail lets Bob’s parents know about his condition and they immediately come to California for the first time. Bob makes it clear that he forgives his father for not being around much when he was a kid by saying “I love you” to him while his dad shaves him. After a short while, he dies peacefully in his wife’s arms.

I think this film suggests that anything can happen to anyone in life. No matter how successful you are or no matter how much power you have. We cannot guarantee that we will not get hit by a truck tomorrow. We are tenants in this world. None of us will come out of it alive. This film might help people who had to watch their loved ones suffer in pain while they are unable to do anything. It lets them know that they are not alone. Life is not fair and some bad things happen to some people and there is no clear explanation why it happens. If we go through something similar, we have to accept the truth and stay strong for our loved ones just like Gail. Otherwise we just make it harder for them.

personal ranking 8/10