Starry-eyed teenagers Rose (Carey Mulligan) and Bennett (Aaron Johnson) are in the early stages of a blissful relationship, when tragedy strikes and Bennett dies in a car crash. His parents Allen (Brosnan) and Grace Brewer (Susan Sarandon) are grief-stricken, and Grace's distress is intensified when Rose, who the couple have never met, turns up on their doorstep, pregnant with Bennett's child and looking for a place to stay.
Since Bennett's death Grace has wallowed in her grief, analytical Allen has bottled everything up, while their teenage son Ryan (Johnny Simmons) has struggled to process events. Grace is initially cold toward Rose, but Allen begins to bond with the young girl, who gradually helps him and the rest of the Brewer family come to terms with their loss.
A brilliant cast bring both power and subtlety to debut writer/director Feste's emotionally charged drama. A poignant and engaging study of grief, Feste's film doesn't shy away from the unremitting bleakness of loss.
The Greatest is a Film programme that first aired in 2009 and has been classified a 15 certificate.
