This was the most moving, powerful, beautifully made film I have seen in years. The two lead actors do such a terrific job, convey all the emotional passion and intensity that is needed, but also the tenderness and sweetness of their romance. The viewer is immediately pulled into their story, and the way is presented, with bits of the present flashing back to bits of the past, it keeps your attention throughout.
The scenery, along the Dorset coast, is used to powerful effect, with many gorgeous shots that satisfy the eye and reinforce the emotions of the moment (particularly loneliness and melancholy).
But the most satisfied will be your ears, because the soundtrack is easily the one great star of this film. It has a sort of bipolar aspect, with bits of 1960s pop to give context, but the emotional punch is in the chamber music with which the film is saturated (the girl is a violinist in a quartet). In the same way that "Moonstruck" left you panting to go see an opera, this film leaves you in the same state of mind for some of the great string quartets and quintets in the repertory. I loved very single bar, and it was all used to perfect effect in reinforcing the emotions of the actors. I was particularly gratified to hear the closing bars of the last movement of Beethoven's monumental op. 59 #3 quartet, which I have always felt to be perhaps the most intense finale of all classical music.
Beautifully shot, beautifully acted, and beautifully presented; sweet and tender, yet ultimately melancholy and tragic; this is a terrific film that lingers in your mind (and ears).
The scenery, along the Dorset coast, is used to powerful effect, with many gorgeous shots that satisfy the eye and reinforce the emotions of the moment (particularly loneliness and melancholy).
But the most satisfied will be your ears, because the soundtrack is easily the one great star of this film. It has a sort of bipolar aspect, with bits of 1960s pop to give context, but the emotional punch is in the chamber music with which the film is saturated (the girl is a violinist in a quartet). In the same way that "Moonstruck" left you panting to go see an opera, this film leaves you in the same state of mind for some of the great string quartets and quintets in the repertory. I loved very single bar, and it was all used to perfect effect in reinforcing the emotions of the actors. I was particularly gratified to hear the closing bars of the last movement of Beethoven's monumental op. 59 #3 quartet, which I have always felt to be perhaps the most intense finale of all classical music.
Beautifully shot, beautifully acted, and beautifully presented; sweet and tender, yet ultimately melancholy and tragic; this is a terrific film that lingers in your mind (and ears).