45 Years (2015)

Director: Andrew Haigh
Screenplay: Andrew Haigh (based on the short story by David Constantine) 
Cast: Charlotte Rampling, Tom Courtenay 
Time: 95 minutes
Bottom-line: Meant especially for married couples

This British film is one of the not-so-popular films of 2015. Based on a short story, the film talks about a couple, Kate Mercer (Rampling) and Geoff Mercer (Courtenay), who are one week away from celebrating their 45th anniversary. But then Geoff receives a letter, saying that the body of his ex-girlfriend Katya has been found preserved in the glaciers of the Alps, where she fell to her death, 50 years ago. This does not seem a big deal, but Kate notices that her husband is changing after receiving the letter – Geoff starts smoking again, wakes up at midnight to look at Katya’s photos; Kate gets the feeling that their 45th anniversary may not take place at all...

I quote another critic who so beautifully said, “The most important character in the film is only spoken about, but never speaks.” Indeed, he was referring to Katya. Everyone has a chapter of their life that they don’t read aloud, and this film specifically talks about that one chapter in Geoff’s life. His fifty-year old memories come rushing back to him, and suddenly he is not the same anymore. I love the way all the character transitions are shown purely through emotion, and the dialogues have very little importance in the film. The camera work is splendid; Lol Crawley, the cinematographer does well to time each shot perfectly, just long enough to capture that subtle change in expression and emotion in each character’s face.

Rampling as Kate

Both Courtenay and Rampling use this film to showcase their best acting performances. Rampling plays the wife who sees her forty-five year relationship shatter in a week’s time. I liked the way she plays a character so calm on the outside, but has a mountain of emotions hidden inside her – I mean who wouldn’t be sad if their husband undergoes such a sudden change in behaviour? Her acting in the last scene gives way to a two-way ending, which is left to the viewers to the decide – is she smiling because she is so happy, or is it because she knows it is all only temporary? Courtenay plays the husband for whom suddenly everything is a dilemma. He too, using only his voice modulation and body language, subtly conveys all his inner feelings about love.

Courtenay as Geoff

There is no real story. The film is just to show how fate can play around with your life... sometimes after waiting for 45 years to pull out the surprise package! I for one liked the way the film shows the complicated relationship using very simple dialogues and powerful acting, but married couples may be able to empathise more with the characters. Nevertheless, this is one film worth watching; very rarely does a 95 minute film give you so many thoughts to mull over...

My Rating: 3.5/5
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 98%