45 Years (2015)

Genres

Drama, Romance

Director

Andrew Haigh

Country

UK

Cast

Charlotte Rampling, Tom Courtenay, Geraldine James, Dolly Wells, Max Rudd, David Sibley, Sam Alexander, Richard Cummingham, Kevin Matadeen, Hannah Chalmers

Storyline

Kate (Charlotte Rampling) and Geoff (Tom Courtenay) have been happily married for 45 years and are about to celebrate their anniversary when a letter comes bringing a shattering news that will undermine their relationship.

Opinion

Charlotte Rampling's last year's Oscar nomination brought 45 Years to my attention, but I had missed its initial release and never got back to it. These days, after watching several disappointing romances, I thought the story of an old married couple was what I was looking for. And so it was.

Although it is quite a simple film that doesn't have much of a plot, it is incredibly fascinating and engaging because of the drama going on between Kate and Geoff. It's a character-driven film, and that's its (almost) biggest strength.

45 Years is a wonderful character study from beginning to end that follows two strangers. Not only we don't get to know them and get a glimpse into their personalities, but they don't even know each other, after almost half a century spent together, they are two strangers.

Charlotte Rampling gives a spectacular, devastating performance in the role of Kate as she delivers all the character's emotions through her facial expressions and body language rather than spoken dialogue - and the camera does a wonderful job capturing that. Tom Courteney also does a great job as Geoff and he completely committed to the part.

Give it a try, the leading duo alone is worth the watch.

4 comments :

  1. Anch'io me lo sono perso ai tempi dell'uscita.. Urge recupero! La Rampling solitamente mi piace molto ma ancora non ho trovato un film con cui é riuscita a conquistarmi!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Io l'ho vista soltanto in un altro film, ma qui è decisamente riuscita a conquistarmi!

      Delete
  2. I do want to see this and hope to see it soon. Do you think she should have won the Oscar?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She should and would have, if Brie Larson wasn't in the game.

      Delete