Magpie Funeral

I went to see Magpie Funeral with little if any expectations and was both pleasantly surprised and blown away by the movie. Greg Green, the writer and director, has written a powerful story that will remain with you long after you leave the theater. Go and see this movie. It is one of the best movies I have seen in a very long time. You are in for a treat if you do!

Without giving too much away, one of the main characters in the movie is Darren Burrows, who you will recognize from the television show Northern Exposure. He plays a character who loses his friend in a car accident, but despite the subject matter, Green has managed to write a humorous, heartfelt, and touching movie.

A good part of the movie takes place in a cemetery where Burrows meets the other lead character in the movie played by Meredith Shank. Together with Burrows, she gives an outstanding performance. Although I didn't recognize the young girl who plays her daughter, I was impressed by her performance and know I will be seeing more of her in the future.

I would suggest that If you don't know what a Magpie Funeral is, you might want to look it up before going to see the movie. But whatever you do, go see the movie!

Saw this movie in Boise last month and what a beautiful story. A breath of fresh air. What a meaningful story! If you've lost anyone close to you then you know what this feels like...There is love, spark, humor and giddiness which is why I call this a breath of fresh air. Excellent job! Actors were great and Greg Green is awesome! Don't miss this Indie Film. Greg Green doesn't disappoint. If you want to see another movie of his "Three of a Kind" is also a good one. Lots of twists in this one. There is suspense, drama and an awesome story as well. These Directors and Actors deserve recognition as there hard work some times can never be measured!

Magpie Funeral draws you in with appealing characters who grapple with life and death issues, yet the tone of the film is far from maudlin. A study in the power of friendship and perseverance, the three lead actors, Darren Burrows, Meredith Shank, and Elizabeth Leach give stellar performances. It is heartwarming to see Darren Burrows who portrays the main character of Sy so well, and keep an eye on young Elizabeth Leach, who stole my heart. The soundtrack is particularly moving, and the cinematography is very creative. This film is thought provoking and at times humorous and a great choice for family entertainment!

I did enjoy the movie, It left me smiling inside. I realize it has been a long time since I've written anything like a review, but is was nice to have a movie theme of "coming to peace with transitions" (including death) instead of "man against man" (or woman). I loved the opening scene that totally shifted from Sy's inner drama to his real world which we watched literally come crashing down.

I liked Sy as a person, and Lisa was an amazing delightful little actress. I very much liked the birds and their songs. They were equally stars in the movie. I enjoyed the anachronisms like the the portable typewriter, the answering machine, and the old phonograph.

I have tried to imagine all that goes into creating a movie like this. What an outstanding accomplishment.

I am not a writer or in the film industry. Admittedly I chose this film when I learned Darren was in it. I was/am a huge Northern Exposure film and in 2025 some of the actors gathered for a weekly episode. My interest in those actors drove me to seek more recent work and voila - found this little gem. I love the film. No CGI, no superheroes, no childish themes, and conversely nothing offensive to gentle souls. The acting is strong, amusing when it should be, and warm throughout. The story is original and thoughtfully written. I took me a few minutes to catch on at the beginning but that speaks more to my short attention span. You will miss so many nuances if you multitask. Even though so many films allow that process. The way that death, grief, nature, etc. Were handled was heartfelt without being cliche. One other note.... I watched it before I read the reviews. That is what prompted me to write one of my own. I noticed that many, many people (or maybe a handful of lazy nuts) placed a downward thumb on all of the reviews. Taking the time to do that without writing a review, and there are no negative reviews, speaks volumes about you and your lack of ability to communicate with other humans. I assume you are the same ones who rated the film with 1, 2, 3, etc. Stars.