Julia Louis-Dreyfus shines in her role as Zora, the mother of a gravely ill teenager, in the emotionally raw film "Tuesday." Directed by Daina Oniunas-Pusic, this movie navigates the profound pain of loss sans theatricality or melodrama. The concept of Death is portrayed in a unique light - not as a glamorous, dapper, or grave figure but as a lonely, hip-hop-loving, sarcastic parrot (voiced by Arinzé Kene).
Interestingly, Tuesday, the title, is not a reference to a day of the week, but the name of Zora's dying 15-year-old daughter, played by Lola Petticrew. Hose-bound, Tuesday's days are spent under the care of a hospice nurse, Billie (Leah Harvey) with her mother escaping the reality of her daughter's impending death by keeping an emotional distance.
Zora seems to be stuck in the stage of denial, a stage made famous by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross's stages of facing death, unable to accept the cruel paradox of a child's death before a parent's. However, Tuesday has accepted her fate, forming an odd relationship with the parrot, an embodiment of death. Her acceptance of her reality contrasts sharply with Zora's denial, who fights tooth and nail when presented with the inevitable.
Imaginative visuals brilliantly portray the deeply rooted denial Zora harbors, symbolized by her interaction with the parrot. An exceptional portrayal by Louis-Dreyfus makes the storyline compelling, with the film's CGI adeptly capturing the peculiar character of the parrot.
The film's powerful narrative contrasts the perspectives of Zora and Tuesday, with the ill daughter appearing healthier in the initial part of the movie as viewed through her mother's denial. However, the narrative pivots towards Zora accepting the reality, that her first obligation as a parent is to act in the best interest of her failing child.
"Tuesday" is a poignant reminder of the untidy emotions surrounding loss and death. The film essentially stresses that while grief may leave us feeling angry, scared, and self-centered, we are not isolated in these feelings. As such, movies like "Tuesday" resonate with audiences, by reminding them of their shared humanity amidst profound loss.
