Good Grief takes a look at what it means to grieve, and how people process this emotion differently, and its ending is a reminder that there is no specific way to mourn the loss of someone you love. After they’re gone, there are an array of emotions that strike people in waves at different times and hurt in different ways. Good Grief is the story of an artist who travels to Paris with his two best friends to heal after the passing of his husband and finds solace in their companionship and his own art.
Throughout the film, we learn that Marc and Oliver’s seemingly perfect marriage is far from it. Marc has complex emotions about Oliver’s death, and while he is racing through them, he never reaches the finish line. This is what is beautiful about the film — grief never goes away, we have to make space for it.
Throughout the film we see Marc navigating his healing with friends Sophie and Thomas, and then a lover, Theo (Arnaud Valois), giving him gentle nudges to get back to painting and fall in love with that passion again.
Toward the end of Good Grief, Oliver’s new lover comes to the apartment in Paris, where Marc, Sophie, and Thomas are staying and Marc confronts him and Oliver’s double life. The dancer-lover of Oliver’s, Luca, has nowhere to go and ends up staying at the apartment. At an awkward dinner, Marc has to finally allow everything not to just be fine. Here he’s able to be vulnerable with his friends, and they can all admit that even though Oliver has done some shady things, they all miss him.
The ending is short and sweet. With time passing, Marc is having an art exhibition showcasing his latest works. His friends come to support him and it’s a heartfelt reunion. With an array of work and a smirk, we can see that Marc is slowly healing and finding peace.
How does Oliver die?
Very early on in the film Oliver is leaving their Christmas party in a taxi and is in a drastic car crash on their street. There is no gruesome or bloody crash scene, but simply an eagle-eye view of Marc running down the street and being held back by the police. It’s a simple but effective way of communicating a character has died.
Did Oliver cheat on Marc?
It’s never said but hinted at. Marc opens his Christmas card from Oliver a year after his death, to read that Oliver had met someone else. This implies he’s cheated and found a new partner. However, in an emotional scene, Marc confesses he agreed to an open marriage with Oliver, and there were rules like one and done. Oliver had clearly broken the rules by meeting someone and potentially having feelings, rather than it just being about sex.
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When Marc finds the potential culprit, he admits that Oliver loved Marc and loved his marriage. More complicated than just cheating, in my opinion. Would they have stayed together? Probably not, but that would be another story entirely. You can tell that even though their marriage might not have been perfect, Marc loved Oliver.
How goes Good Grief end?
Marc is going through the motions of grief, but in a gentle, discreet way, no big shouting matches, no crying fits, but in a way where he distracts himself so much he feels like he’s lying. He travels to Paris to learn more about his ex to face truths he knew but needed to solidify to move on. Through this, he’s able to start painting again and rebuild a life without his husband.
Marc talks with Oliver’s lover and can get closure from him that he isn’t able to get from Oliver. It’s handled with poise when you might have expected a dramatic, screaming fight. It’s a simple exchange and forgiveness.
The film ends with Marc moving, beginning to paint again, and gathering with all of his friends at his art show. It’s sweet, poignant, and enough to show how time heals, but at a slow pace.
Who is the artist behind the work in the film?
Kris Knight is behind the film’s art. Dan Levy, whilst a man of many talents, is not a painter. Knight is known for painting different modes of masculinity that he connects with. Through his lens, he’s able to capture the many emotions and inner workings of men, especially around grief, which comes through the character Marc quite beautifully. Knight estimated that he made 15 to 17 pieces for the film, many of which are displayed in a final gallery scene.
What did you think of the ending of Good Grief? Comment below.
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