Editor Reviews:

Description:
(Drama) Ever since the premature death of his father, Duncan (Joshua Jackson) has been content with drifting aimlessly through life. When he takes a job in order to be near his ill grandfather (Sutherland) and grandmother (Fletcher), he begins to find purpose. The newfound sense of being needed, plus a budding romance with Kate (Lewis), begins to change Duncan profoundly.

Amazon.com:
Joshua Jackson adds another poignant role to his resume as he continues to distance himself from his breakthrough role as hapless Pacey Witter on the television series Dawson's Creek. In the sweet family drama Aurora Borealis, Jackson portrays Duncan, a twentysomething former hockey player who deals with the death of his father--10 years prior--by bonding with his grandfather Ronald (Donald Sutherland), whose own health is deteriorating due to the onset of dementia. Though others dismiss his rambling as the babbles of an old man, Duncan sees that however his grandfather may seem, he has moments of lucidity. His grandfather claims he can see the Aurora Borealis from his balcony, and who is Duncan to contradict him? Both share a sardonic and sarcastic sense of humor, as well as a feeling of guilt about their respective losses. While Duncan sees Ronald as a fairly strong man, his grandmother (Louise Fletcher) worries about her husband's obsession with guns. Duncan also develops feelings for his grandfather's free-spirited nurse Kate (Juliette Lewis), a development that surprises no one. Lewis has played similar roles before, but she brings such vivaciousness to her part that viewers can see why Duncan is smitten. She's emboldened to move forward and start a new life, while he's reticent to let go of the past and move toward the unknown. At one point, Duncan has to decide whether he can let go of his fears to try to make a future for himself with Kate. The film moves at a slow pace, but that actually works with the plot, since it mirrors Duncan's own hesitation. The acting all around is superb, especially in the interactions between Jackson and Sutherland. In the end, it doesn't really matter whether Ronald can see the Northern Lights. If he believes he can, then he can. And that's the kind of optimism that his grandson so desperately needs. --Jae-Ha Kim

Rating : - Love and loss
Main character in this movie is young man Duncan in his early twenties. He has dropped out of college and has difficulty holding onto jobs. His older brother Jacob is having a successful career in the bank; but is cheating on his wife by using his younger brother's appartment with his (co-worker) lover. Soon we learn that both brothers are deeply hurt by the sudden death of their father almost 10 years ago. Their mother has moved to Florida and visits them once a year during summer for a week. Story unfolds in Minneapolis, during winter months which helps us focus on the story itself. There is not much to do in Minneapolis during cold months. Duncan is doting to his grandparents, particularly his grandfather. Both miss, in their own way, Duncan's father David. Grandfather is getting sick (Parkinson's, dementia, kidney and heart problems) and depressed but still wants to help his grandson in finding a direction in life. So it happens that the path to finding a way is thru a home aide, young woman who (Juliette Lewis) checks on the grandfather's health and has a crush on young Dunkan.

For anyone who has ever lost someone dearly loved, this is deeply emotional film. It is sensitive but not overbearing. Film is also full of hope. It is comforting to know that no matter how difficult it is to deal with loss, and the fact that sometimes it may take a long time for any person to come to terms with a loss of another person, we all have to find our own way to reconcile our feelings, intentions and define our future from that point on.

Wonderful cast includes Juliette Lewis, Joshua Jackson, Katie Griffin and K. Sutherland.