Terms of Endearment (1983)

Widowed Aurora Greenway keeps several suitors at arm’s length in Houston, focusing instead on her close, but controlling, relationship with daughter Emma. Anxious to escape her mother, Emma marries callow young college professor Flap Horton over her mother’s objections, moves away, and has three children. Despite their frequent spats and difficulty getting along, Emma and Aurora have a very close tie between them, and keep in touch by telephone.

Emma and Flap soon run into financial and marital difficulties. Emma has trouble managing the children and household, and she and Flap both have affairs. Emma relies increasingly on her mother for emotional support. Meanwhile, the lonely Aurora overcomes her repression, and begins a whirlwind romance with her next-door neighbor, retired astronaut Garrett Breedlove. The Horton family moves from Houston to Des Moines and eventually to Nebraska, apparently for Flap’s college teaching career, but mostly so he can be near his girlfriend. Emma is diagnosed with cancer, which becomes terminal. Aurora stays by Emma’s side through her treatment and hospitalization, even while dealing with her own pain after Garrett suddenly ends their relationship.