I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

45 Years (2015) Director: Andrew Haigh Watched: April 2018 7/10 Unostentatious, Both Rampling and Courtenay, Performances that Impress with their subtleness. A British couple Leading quaint lives with dog Max, About to honor Their lifetime spent together. While making plans For grand celebration with Family and friends, Unexpectedly meet with Challenge to their love. A letter from Germany, They found her body. Informative in nature, But of course much more, Stirring up old emotions. A husband's past love, More important than once thought. Things he never told, Secrets up in the attic. Engaged and pregnant, So many decades ago. Yet it still matters. A wife's struggle to accept A past betrayal. Enthralling despite slow pace, Humor at right times, Music that strikes the right chord, English countryside Serves as beautiful background, Weather its own role. Double character study, But mostly Rampling, Close-ups on reticent face. Wished for something more From Courtenay's character. Maybe tedious, But that is how real life is. No easy answers, An unsatisfying end. Haigh shows us real life, The fragility of love. He tried in "Weekend", Succeeds with "45 Years". On incompleteness, A perceptive perspective Why history never dies. Choka (long poem) is an epic storytelling form of poetry from the Waka period, an unrhymed poem with the 5-7-5-7-5-7-5-7...7 syllable format (any odd number line length with alternating five and seven syllable lines that ends with an extra seven syllable line). #Choka #PoemReview

...once married for several decades do not pine for your former lover.

Hey, I have a Haigh movie to write about. That would be Writer- Director Andrew Haigh's drama "45 Years". It stars the fabulous Charlotte Rampling as Kate Mercer. Kate is retired and lives in the England countryside with her husband Geoff. She is in the process of planning her 45th Wedding Anniversary party when a letter comes in the mail detailing the death of Geoff's former girlfriend. To say that puts a damper in the festivity planning, is an understatement. There is a silent tension that builds in "45 Years" that is very well directed. Haigh directs the movie in a very simplistic tone that is semi-effective but does leave room with some boredom. Nevertheless, Rampling ramps it up with a mild mannered but outstanding performance as Kate. Veteran British actor Tom Courtenay held the thespian court quite swiftly in his performance as Geoff. "45 Years" is not a movie that you should see in the next 45 minutes or hours for that matter, but worth a look for you in the next 45 days. *** Average

There is artistry in this film, good cinematography and some fine acting. I was well motivated to watch as Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay were iconic figures of my youth in the 60s. And yet when it finished I just wanted to top myself - if that's how you end up as you age, somewhere between just enduring and pretty miserable, let's end it now! There was nothing unrealistic about the scenario and the depiction of the characters, I just didn't want to spend time in their world. They are so selfish and humourless, it's just depressing. Better to have some kids and get a life than end up like these two. Why did I watch til the end? I was convinced that something was going to happen and couldn't believe it when the end credits appeared. There is in fact no story to this film, merely a scenario. It's finely depicted but I have never seen a film built on so little.