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Friday, April 19, 2024
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HOLLYWOOD 45 YEARS
EDITOR'S PICK
'45
Years': Brilliant performances but not a satisfying film (IANS Movie Review,
Rating: ***1/2)
Rating:
***1/2
Narrated in an Ingmar Bergmanesque style - modestly paced, carefully composed
and emotionally curbed, "45 Years" is a story about choices and the
fragile certainties of love and marriage.
Based on David Constantine's short story "In Another County", first
published in 2005 in his anthology titled "Under The Dam", the tale
follows an elderly couple - Kate and Geoff Mercer (Charlotte Rampling and Tom
Courtenay) who are about to celebrate their forty-fifth wedding anniversary.
They are a perfect couple, yet flawed and sympathetic.
While they are deeply in love and immersed in their daily routine, a week before
the party, Geoff receives a shocking letter explaining that the body of his
ex-fiance Katia has been recovered in a Swiss glacier. She had accidently fallen
into a gorge and apparently died while holidaying with Geoff, years before his
marriage to Kate.
Since Geoff was marked as her next of kin on her death certificate, he is asked
by the Swiss authorities to come and identify the corpse. This piece of news
shakes the foundation of their marriage.
The narration starts off nonchalantly at a rather slow pace. The letter arrives
very early in the narrative and in a sporadic manner, we're suddenly immersed
into everything Kate feels, which ranges from alienation, betrayal, competition
with an unknown rival, doubt, anger, hurt and more.
Her emotions that boil over in the course of the week are painstakingly
heart-breaking to watch as they're so instinctive. Charlotte Rampling as the
distraught Kate, is incredible. She transmits a myriad of emotions with flawless
ease.
Tom Courtenay as Geoff is equally remarkable. He displays a strange skillset of
arrogance when he is explaining his past and he is equally passionate and at
ease as a caring and loving husband. Together, their onscreen chemistry captures
the convincing texture of long-term marriage with all its non-verbal
communication, unfinished sentences and half-buried tensions.
The rest of the cast- Geraldine James as Leena and Dolly Wells as Charlotte,
Kate's friends - have their moments to shine on screen.
On the directorial front, while the director is careful about how he has handled
this mature love story, the film borderlines on a strangely voyeuristic note due
to the intimacy of the mature couple's relationship. The scene though natural
and from a mature relationship perspective, is unique and seldom portrayed. But,
it is sure to make many in the audience uncomfortable.
With its strong premise, the film delivers as promised. It is sentimental, yet
feels a bit unfinished and hollow as it does not satisfy your yearning about the
characters. The old number, "Smoke gets in your eyes", is beautifully
incorporated into the narration.
"45 Years" is a nice watch.
