{
  "id": 6431528,
  "title": "‘Place to Be’ Review: Ellen Burstyn Shines in Tender Road Trip Comedy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/place-to-be-review-ellen-burstyn-shines-in-tender-road-trip-comedy",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-09T14:50:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TheWrap",
    "slug": "thewrap",
    "url": "https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/place-to-be-review-ellen-burstyn-taika-waititi/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "\"Place to Be\" is a tender road trip comedy-drama directed by Hungarian filmmaker Kornél Mundruczó, which offers a gentle coming-of-age experience. Ellen Burstyn stars as Brooke Graham, an elderly woman whose life is upended when her children reveal they plan to sell her late husband's artwork to pay for her eventual placement in an elder care facility. After an intrusive racing pigeon, named Intruder, enters her Chicago home, Brooke embarks on a 22-hour journey to return the bird to its owner in New York City. Along the way, she encounters Nelson Greene (Taika Waititi), a wealthy and recently-divorced man who drops off his reluctant teenage son, Z (Aradia Horo Benge), at a camp he doesn't want to attend. Despite their initial animosity, Brooks and Nelson form an unlikely partnership to track down the pigeon's rightful owner, leading to a heartwarming and humorous road trip filled with unexpected moments. Mundruczó, known for his mind-bending sci-fi epic \"Jupiter's Moon\" and his canine drama \"White God,\" employs a distinct aesthetic in this film, particularly in the extended close-ups of flying birds that serve as a visual metaphor for Brooke's newfound freedom. Burstyn's performance as Brooke is nothing short of career-defining; she plays a woman whose vivacious spirit is still burning bright, despite the constraints of age and circumstance. Mundruczó masterfully weaves in moments of memory through brief, grainy flashbacks, symbolizing Brooke's long-hidden yearning for a sense of liberation. The film also explores themes of family, love, and the complexities of modern parenthood through Z's gender identity journey, which adds depth to the story without overwhelming the central romance between Browne and Nelson. Overall, \"Place to Be\" is an emotionally resonant film that soars to the pinnacle of its emotional ceiling, thanks to its charming characters and Ellen Burstyn's radiant performance.",
  "summary": "Venice Film Festival: Hungarian filmmaker Kornél Mundruczó crafts a surprising old-age adventure The post ‘Place to Be’ Review: Ellen Burstyn Shines in Tender Road Trip Comedy appeared first on TheWrap .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "IndieWire",
        "title": "‘Place to Be’ Review: Ellen Burstyn Is Radiant in Otherwise Lackluster Late-Life Drama",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/place-to-be-review-ellen-burstyn-is-radiant-in-otherwise-lackluster",
        "published": "2026-09-09T15:49:25.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}