Film Title
45 Years
Director
Andrew Haigh
Starring
- Charlotte Rampling as Kate Mercer
- Tom Courtenay as Geoff Mercer
An intimate and quietly devastating look at marriage and how it can be threatened by the past, 45 Years is a subtle movie that benefits from naturalistic direction and two excellent performances from Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay.
Kate and Geoff Mercer are a comfortable married couple of retirees who live a comfortable, middle class life in Norfolk. They are preparing to celebrate their forty-fifth wedding anniversary on the upcoming Saturday, after their fortieth celebrations were halted due to Geoff’s health. Yet at the beginning of the five days that lead up to the party, the arrival of a letter changes everything insidiously. The letter reveals that the body of Geoff’s former lover Katya has been discovered in a glacier of the Swiss Alps after she fell while climbing decades before. At first, Kate doesn’t seem bothered by this as she knew about Geoff being with Katya before they ever got together and the memory of her has become somewhat distant and forgotten. But as the days go on and Geoff seems to retreat into memories of times with Katya, Kate becomes increasingly alarmed and shattered by what she sees as betrayal. She is now forced to reevaluate her marriage to Geoff and look at whether or not the last forty-five years have been a lie or not. All of this transpires in the space of the five days leading up to the party, as we witness Geoff get a new lease on life by remembering his old love and Kate wrestling with her pain and doubt about her life and marriage.
As writer and director, Andrew Haigh fashions a powerful film that relies on the little things to help build up the unease of the story. His intimate direction zeroes in on Geoff and Kate, allowing us to glimpse their reactions to the news and the way they both handle it differently. His writing is filled with naturalism, rather than stagey dialogue that would otherwise take us out of the experience. This is thought-provoking film making at its best with subtlety and nuance taking precedence over unnecessary histrionics and melodrama. It almost feels like we’re intruding on the privacy of this couple, much in the same way the ghost of Katya haunts them and leaves Kate reeling. That’s how realistic this film is, we can’t help but observe the emotions that slowly begin to rise for both people and how it ultimately threatens to change everything between them. The lack of musical score helps create an immediacy to 45 Years, as we are left to watch the gradual emotional unfolding of Kate in the days leading up to the celebration and how she begins to question her marriage as the day comes ever closer. In fact, when music is used it is older songs that mean a lot to the couple, but begin to take on whole other different meanings as the past creeps up on their long years together.
As the main two characters whose relationship is threatened by the ghost of the past, Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay have never been better. Rampling in particular is transcendent in the role of Kate, who tries to put up a front of not being concerned but as she discovers more about the past, becomes more riddled with pain, shock and anger. The delivery from Charlotte Rampling is exquisite; none of her performance screams overacting in the slightest, everything is done in the most subtle way as she digs into the wounds of Kate and her face without the need for dialogue, shows us the utter sense of betrayal she feels at knowing that everything in her life could be a lie. I think its fair to say this is one of the best performances given from Charlotte Rampling. Tom Courtenay is very effective as Geoff, who finds that the fire he thought had died with Katya still has embers burning that begin to surface. It’s not like Geoff is an unlikable character, he just can’t see what his reminiscing of the past is doing to his wife. This is a true testament to the talents of Tom Courtenay that we don’t hate Geoff, we actually feel a bit sorry for him at times but bewildered by his retreat into the past as we see the impact it has on his wife.
Heartbreakingly real and mightily effective, 45 Years is a movie that will remain in your head for a long time because of how palpable it all feels and the immensely believable work from the two main actors, especially Charlotte Rampling.
beetleypete said:
As I suggested on Niall’s review of this, it has a lot of relevance to me, and much appeal too. It is mostly filmed close to where I live, and involves dog-walking, the Norfolk countryside, and Norwich City centre. Courtenay and Rampling have long been favourites of mine, so the whole thing adds up to a must-see package for me.
And your review certainly confirms that.
Cheers mate. Pete.
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vinnieh said:
When I saw the setting of the film, I immediately thought of you Pete. And the two leads are exceptional in this movie, particularly Rampling.
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emmakwall said:
OMG was reading this just thinking “Pete!” and “Ollie!” xx
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vinnieh said:
I had the same thoughts.
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beetleypete said:
They might make a film about us one day, Em. Still, despite three marriages, I never made it to 45 years. It would have to be called ‘2 X 8 years, followed by 7, so far.’ Something catchy, like that…xx
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emmakwall said:
Haha, I love that title Pete! Or “the story of an incredible man and his incredible women!”
?
xxx
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vinnieh said:
I’d be interested in that movie.
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vinnieh said:
A movie about you Pete, that would be fascinating.
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beetleypete said:
You start writing it mate, and I will get to thinking about the casting…
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vinnieh said:
Haha, now there’s an idea.
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Cindy Bruchman said:
Wonderful review, Vinnieh. I look forward to watching this. I’m glad for Charlotte Rampling. Do you think she has a shot at winning the Best Actress award?
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vinnieh said:
I haven’t seen any of the other performances up for best actress, but she was phenomenal in this movie so I’d be happy to see her win. And to be fair, she’s had so many great performances over the years.
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riverqueengroup.com said:
Reblogged this on International Gay Guide To Asia & Cambodia.
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Keith said:
I want to see this so bad but it still hasn’t opened up anywhere in my area. Distribution sucks.
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vinnieh said:
I hate it when a film that I want to see isn’t available. I think you’d appreciate a movie like this.
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badblokebob said:
Great review, Vinnie. I haven’t got round to seeing it myself yet, but it sounds very good indeed.
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vinnieh said:
It’s out on DVD, it’s worth the watch because of its intimate approach to the story and the immensely believable acting that really adds to the emotional impact.
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Dan O. said:
Very slow, but the cast is so good that I hardly cared. Nice review.
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vinnieh said:
Good to hear from you. The pace was deliberate but very effective I found. And the two main performances were stellar in every sense of the word.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Hmm. This wouldn’t normally be a movie I’d watch, but this sounds really good. Great review Vinnie!
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vinnieh said:
It’s a very intimate and personal story that reaches emotional levels through nuance and subtlety.
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beetleypete said:
Kim. It has countryside, dogs, Norfolk, and Norwich. My world, in a film!
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I did read that in your comment Pete. I’ll definitely be checking this out now!🙋🏻
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beetleypete said:
Even your wavy emoticon looks like me! x
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Aww! 🙂
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beetleypete said:
But only in B+W on my sidebar, not in colour…
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Hahaha! 🙂
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emmakwall said:
Awesome review and I have no doubt it’s a good movie but probably not for me. Having the Norfolk setting is amazing though!
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vinnieh said:
It’s not a movie for everyone but it’s mightily effective, especially the performances.
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alexraphael said:
Great review dude. As said in a previous comments section, you could easily be in marketing. Maybe they will make a film set near where you live one day.
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vinnieh said:
I don’t know about marketing, I’m just happy to write my reviews and let my opinions be heard.
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Jordan Dodd said:
Sounds like a deep story. I was annoyed that I missed this at a film fest last year, I think it just opened in theatres. Sounds like I can’t miss it!
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vinnieh said:
It’s a very deep story told with subtlety and emotion. I would advise seeing it dude.
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Jordan Dodd said:
Gonna go see it today 😀
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vinnieh said:
Can’t wait to hear your feedback on it.
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CineMuse said:
Great review Vinnieh, well crafted and thoughtfully argued.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks, I love to put a detailed sensibility into my work whenever I write.
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