Bridget Jones is Back

And this time she’s navigating life, and love, after loss.

When I sat down to watch the new Bridget Jones film, I expected some tears, but not quite as many as I had. And I certainly didn’t expect to feel so seen. Because this time, Bridget isn’t just chaotically navigating love and life - she’s doing it after loss.

And she does it beautifully.

This film portrays widowhood in a way that feels both tender and real. It doesn’t diminish the weight of grief, nor does it treat moving forward as a simple decision. Instead, it shows how life, love, and joy can exist alongside loss. For anyone who has lost a partner - especially those left raising children - it’s a rare and powerful thing to see this story unfold on screen.

Hope, Love, and Moving Forward - While Still Looking Back

One of the things I loved most was how the film honoured Bridget’s late husband. He isn’t erased, and her love for him isn’t questioned just because she’s finding happiness again. That’s something so many widows and widowers struggle with - the idea that moving forward means leaving the past behind. But this film reminds us that love doesn’t work like that. You don’t stop loving someone just because they’re gone. And you don’t have to stay stuck in grief to prove that love was real.

Seeing this story in popular culture feels important. Young widowhood - especially with children - isn’t something we often see on the big screen, let alone in a way that balances heartbreak with hope. But here it is, front and centre, in a film that so many will watch, laugh with, and connect to.

The Comfort of Friendship & Familiar Faces

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Bridget Jones film without the people who have been by her side from the start. Seeing Bridget’s old friends - Shazzer, Jude, and Tom - felt like stepping back into something familiar and comforting. And that’s exactly how friendship is in grief, isn’t it? The people who have known you through everything are the ones who help you find yourself again when you feel lost, and don’t feel uncomfortable about still giving you the odd roasting to make you smile

The way Bridget leans on her friends throughout the film is such a perfect reminder that we don’t have to go through the hardest moments of life alone. Grief can be incredibly isolating, but the right people - the ones who truly see you - help make the world feel a little less heavy.

A Story That Needed to Be Told

For so many of us, grief rewrites our future in ways we never expected. Seeing a character as beloved as Bridget navigate that, while still holding onto the humour and warmth that makes her her, is something really special. Especially when dealing with the minefield of the things well-meaning people can get so wrong when trying to help - and all of the conflicting advice you receive without really asking for it.

The film shows that even after the deepest loss, life can still hold love, laughter, and unexpected joy.

I came away from the film feeling hopeful, even through the tears. And that’s something I never take for granted.