Gena Rowlands, the widow of maverick filmmaker John Cassavetes (he died in 1989), is a sublime, one-of-a-kind actress who deserves to have movies created just for her, as her husband did with brilliant results in
A Woman Under the Influence and
Gloria. It is especially satisfying that this sweetly funny and touching film about a widow trying to build a new life for herself is directed and co-written by Nick Cassavetes, Rowlands' son.
Mildred is a suburban widow who tries hard to please her