"45 Years" (movie critique)

45 YEARS
movie poster

The Friday Movie Mavens and The Travelling Toe jaunted down to the local multiplex to see "45 Years".  We choose this movie for two reasons:  first of all the lead actress, Charlotte Rampling has been nominated for an Oscar for her role in this movie and secondly, the movie is about a couple in our age bracket.  

The movie is about a couple, Kate and Geoff (Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay) who are about to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary with a large party.  The reason the 45th wedding anniversary is being celebrated is that Geoff was having heart surgery during their 40th anniversary and the party had to be postponed.  The movie takes place within the 5 days prior to the big party.

Charlotte Rampling
Kate

Tom Courtenay
Geoff

As Kate works on the party plans, Geoff appears to be at a distance.  He received a letter informing him that the body of his lover, Katya, from the 1960's has been found.  Geoff and Katya were hiking up in the Switzerland mountains when she lost her footing and feel off the mountain into a fissure.  At that time, her body could not be recovered, but with the glacier melting her body has now been found.  Geoff was listed as her next of kin and that is reason he was notified about the discovery.

Kate is at first unconcerned about this new development and continues with the party planning.  But Geoff becomes more obsessed about Katya, his lost love - and perhaps his lost youth along with it.  When Kate finds hidden photos and slides of Katya in the attic that Geoff has hidden, she is curious and looks through them.  Kate makes a startling discovery, Katya was pregnant with Geoff's child when she died.  Geoff had not previously shared any of this information with Kate.  She is heart broken and confronts Geoff about his lost love.  

So, Dear Readers, do Kate and Geoff make-up, does she forgive him for all the secrets he has kept from her, does the party go on?  Well, The Travelling Toe will not reveal the ending, you will just have to see it yourself.

We all agreed, it was an interesting movie but it was very, very slow.  

The Travelling Toe gives this movie 1 middle toe up due to the quality of the acting by the 2 leads but with a bottle of No Doz just in case it is needed.

Disclaimer:  The Travelling Toe is not a professional critic and any opinions expressed are for entertainment purposes only.