Saturday 21 November 2015

Film No. 78 (2015) 45 Years. 8th November.

Film No. 78 (2015) November 8th.  4.00 PM LUNA Paradiso, Northbridge. 


"When a lovely flame dies, smoke gets in your eyes". (Extract of the lyrics from the very famous Platters song played during the concluding scene).





If your first preference as a film goer is to avoid slow moving films, no matter the subject, then you'd best avoid 45 Years. I'm glad I'm not of that mind set because I have not stopped thinking about a few particular scenes in 45 Years. 


Kate and Geoff Mercer (Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay) seem on the surface a quietly contented couple living the country life in the greenery of England. Quiet scenes of each living their routine retired lives change beat slightly when we, along with Kate, learn of a find in the glaciers of Switzerland which relates to Geoff's life before he met Kate.


Charlotte Rampling is the star of this film because it is through her eyes we begin to understand why she might feel a sense of intense loneliness in their childless marriage. The film unravels a little like a mystery because as Kate becomes a domestic detective we learn more about her husband's past. She makes choices about how far she wants to delve and maybe, just maybe, she will find secrets she could have let rest.


While Rampling drives the film, Courtney is the point of reference to which we are constantly drawn back. Geoff Mercer is a wonderfully gentle character who's life takes a turn because of a letter he receives. The sum total of what we get with Geoff is captured in the speech Courtney delivers late in the film. It is sincere and heartfelt but Kate's reaction will leave you thinking. I guarantee it!   10GUMS       


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