Movie Review: 45 Years

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45 Years

Director: Andrew Haigh

Writers: David Constantine and Andrew Haigh

Starring: Charlotte Rampling, Tom Courtenay, Geraldine James, and Dolly Wells

MPAA Rating: Rated R for language and brief sexuality

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While preparing for their 45th anniversary, Kate and Geoff’s marriage is shaken with a discovery that calls into question the life they’ve built together. Screen legends Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay won Best Actress & Best Actor at the Berlinale for this emotional tour-de-force from acclaimed director Andrew Haigh (Weekend).

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A married couple who plan on celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary hit a rough patch. While most couples have rough patches, they feel as if this one might be too much. Will their love will out - or will this be the last straw?

I went into this not completely sure what I was going to get. I love independent films, they tend to not be as flashy as most films. And this movie shows that. It's basic, yet captivating. There is barely any background music within this whole film, which to me makes audiences more enraptured in the story - it makes you pay more attention. Plus then it feels as if you are a part of the story. Background music is rare in our own lives, and technically there really isn't any background music. And this film makes use of that. You mainly on hear ambient sounds; sounds that we hear daily, cars, birds, wind, dishes clanking, etc.

I would say though that this is a little bit of a sad film. We follow the wife, Kate, in her side of the story. And we follow her emotions - which end up having a sad turn. We're not sure if her and Jeff have a happy marriage, but it is assumed that they do. And then when they receive the news of Jeff's ex-girlfriend being found dead it turns their world upside down. Kate's more so than Jeff's. She's unsure if she was ever really good enough for Jeff - she's sure she was, but she's not sure that he knew that.

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