“When is it happening?” asks Jonathan (Anson Boon), though we’re not quite sure, through the early passages of Roger Michell’s “Blackbird,” what “it” is. We know that Lily (Susan Sarandon) is having trouble getting around, and only seems to be using one of her arms, but she’ll insist “I’ve got this!” or “It’s fine!” whenever anyone tries to help. Finally, once the whole family has gathered for this mysterious weekend gathering, she accidentally drops her wine glass and muses, “Well, you know it’s time when you have to start drinking the Chablis from a paper cup!”

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Lily has a degenerative illness, so this uneasiness will become total immobility, then difficulty eating, then trouble breathing.

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