Jane Alexander in Testament

The DVD of this beautiful and sad little film has a wonderful reunion, bringing the kids together after 20 years, and terrific follow up with all players -- including Kevin Cosner, who had a small but memorable role as Rebecca de Mornay's husband. If you've never seen this -- originally designed for PBS, but released in theaters -- it's a perfect small canvas study of post-nuclear holocaust, daring to focus on a handful of people in one tiny California town. No special effects. It's a great reminder that big themes can be handled with the grace and economy of the short story. Jane Alexander is heartbreaking -- there's a sequence where she's looking for a teddy bear that I can never shake. And of course, when she tells Roxanne Zal about lovemaking. If you've never seen this, do. It's tragic, but ultimately not a downer.

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One of my favorite film performances ever.

Sewing the sheet around her daughter.

Kissing the priest.

She is frequently astonishing in the realism.

And the film overall is highly laudable - actually making the TV film THE DAY AFTER (done around the same time) pretty laughable.