'NIGHT, MOTHER (1986)

Marsha Norman adapted her own Pulitzer Prize-winning play in writing the story of Jessie (Sissy Spacek) and Thelma (Anne Bancroft), a daughter/mother duo living a quiet life in the south until one evening - calm as can be - Jessie announces to her mother that she is going to end her life before morning.  At first finding her daughter's humor in bad taste, Thelma slowly begins to realize that Jessie is not only serious ... but has been planning her suicide for many weeks and down to the last detail, including detailed instructions for how Thelma will deal with everything from laundry to grocery shopping to her prescription meds, once Jessie is gone.  The rest of the film, carried by the phenomenal, flawless performances of its two leading ladies, is a slow revelation of Jessie's life and reasons for coming to this decision, even as Thelma tries like hell to talk her out of it.  Rarely has a simple, two-character drama been this good, or this riveting, in dealing with a hugely taboo subject with such raw emotion and insight.  Incredible film. (rated PG-13)  A-

'NIGHT, MOTHER trailer