Steel Magnolias, starring Julia Roberts and Sally Field, explores the relationship between family and sacrifice. With its heartwarming and heart-wrenching moments, Steel Magnolias makes for the perfect film to curl up to. Spoilers for the film follows.
The film follows Shelby Eatenton, a young woman who doesn’t allow her diabetes to define her. Opening with the morning of her wedding, the film introduces the audience to Shelby’s frantic yet charismatic mother, M’Lynn, and the rest of her family and friends including her father, her brothers, and friends Ouiser, Clairee, Truvy, and Annelle.
As the movie progresses we see Shelby’s struggle to face the effects of her diabetes. She’s well aware of the fact that having a child could lead to more health conditions and even her death. In reference to her having a child she even says “I would rather have thirty minutes of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special.” Shelby and her mother struggle to find themselves on the same side of the issue.
In spite of her mother’s dissent, Shelby lives out her dream. With the support of her family, friends, and eventually her mother she gives birth to a health baby boy, Jackson Jr. Months later, Shelby begins to suffer from kidney failure as a result of the birth. She slips into a coma, with a slight chance of her waking up, because of this her family decides to take her off life support.
Shelby’s death forces M’Lynn to come to terms with her daughters choices. In that, she develops a newfound gratefulness and love for her grandson. With the help of friends Ouiser, Clairee, Truvy, and Annelle, M’Lynn is able to see past Shelby’s death, and cherish the life that she lived. As it concludes, the audience learns about Annelle’s pregnancy and we see that in times of darkness, light always emerges.