"To the fucking pain."
"I've been reading that the brain is like a muscle. It's why getting over a death is so hard, because your brain has been trained to feel things for a person, and when they go away, your head is still operating under the impression that it should feel those things for that person, like muscle memory."
— Marc
Good Grief is a 2023 romantic drama film written and directed by Dan Levy (who also stars in the film) for Netflix.
Levy plays Marc, an illustrator reeling from the sudden death of his wealthy author husband Oliver (Luke Evans) at Christmastime. A year later, Marc learns that Oliver had secretly leased a flat in Paris. Accompanied by his best friends Sophie (Ruth Negga) and Thomas (Himesh Patel), Marc sets out to discover this unknown facet of Oliver's life, and the three unpack their own issues along the way.
The film's supporting cast includes Celia Imrie and Arnaud Valois. received a limited theatrical release on December 29, 2023, prior to a release on Netflix on January 4, 2024.
Tropes:
- The Alcoholic: Sophie. This becomes evident after she is found passed out at a bus stop. She gets sober after that.
- Alliterative Name: The protagonist of Oliver's in-universe book series is named the very catchy Victoria Valentine.
- Amicable Exes: Marc and Thomas had dated long ago and even lived together, and are still best friends fifteen years after the breakup.
- Commitment Issues: Sophie is a freewheeling woman who resents the possibility of being tied down to Terrance because of her insistence on "being herself". Over the course of the film she realizes that this is an issue.
- Creator Couple: Oliver is an author, and his husband Marc illustrates all his books and does the covers.
- Died During Production: In-Universe, Oliver passes away before being able to write the final two books in the Victoria Valentine saga.
- Gay Paree: The bulk of the film takes place in Paris, emphasizing the romance and artistry of the film's leads. They're staying in a flat with a view of the Eiffel tower, they wine, dine, and shop, and the Louvre is the centerpiece of Marc and Theo's date.
- The Mourning After: The film is about Marc working through his grief at his husband's passing.
- Outliving One's Offspring: The elderly Duncan is obviously devastated to have outlived his son Oliver.I hope you're having a laugh with your mum up there. How I wish I could take your place, son.
