Not since Steel Magnolia’s has Sally Field given us such good grief. Steve Stockman’s film Two Weeks takes a poignant look at four siblings facing their dying mother (played magnificently by Sally Field) in her last days. But this is no Hollywood glossy or overly macabre drama. Stockman’s autobiographical tale exposes the humor, candor, denial and anger of loss.

Ben Chaplin, Tom Cavanaugh, Julianne Nicholson and Glenn Howerton play the diverse siblings who must confront each other as well and this impeding finality. Ben, plays the Zen filmmaker, Tom the upwardly mobile unshakable type. Julianne portrays the nurturing, self-help addicted caretaker and Glenn plays the youngest with one of the most emotionally charged moments of the film. Performances by all were well-crafted and heart-breakingly honest.

This fine film also has special features on the DVD. Steve Stockman and the cast speak openly about what the film meant to them. Stockman says, “This (loss) is part of everyday life. How come it’s hidden? Why don’t we talk about it?”

To get the dialogue started he’s included a group discussion feature on the DVD. Where there is love there will one day be loss. That’s why this story is so relatable. Despite the denial of this inevitability in our culture, we will all be in the position of dealing with loss and it’s smothering grief-filled aftermath. When a filmmaker goes beyond entertainment and engages conversation and thought that is high art!