Movie Synopsis"Falling in Love Again" is a 1980 romantic comedy-drama film directed by Steven Paul and starring Elliott Gould and Susannah York. The movie is also known for featuring a young Michelle Pfeiffer in among her early roles.
Plot OverviewThe story follows Harry Lewis (Elliott Gould), a successful designer, wed to Sue (Susannah York) for many years. The plot passes through 2 timelines; one is set in the then-present years and the other during the forties when Harry and Sue were kids.
The narrative starts on the day of their silver anniversary. All appears perfectly routine as Harry awakes from sleep until he realizes he remains in the backseat of a taxi in New York City. Uninformed of how he arrived, Harry decides to return to his youth neighborhood, activating flashbacks along the journey, through the depression-era backstreets in The Bronx.
Through these sentimental trips back to his past, we find out about Harry's teenage love, his dreams, aspirations, and how he met his spouse Sue. The film also catches Harry's persisting nostalgia for the past, contrasting it against his present reality-- an effective architectural career, domestic stability with a stylish spouse and two children.
CharactersElliott Gould, as Harry Lewis, embodies this displaced dreamer with terrific ease, demonstrating his yearning for an easier past time and the intricacies of achieving balance in between past dreams and truths of the present life. Susannah York, as his wife Sue, radiantly represents her character's persistence and tries to comprehend her spouse's psychological predicament.
Alternate RealityA considerable part of the film is Harry's grand impression-- an alternate reality he produces, set in the turmoil of World War II. It demonstrates Harry's constant yearning for a life he might've lived and choices he might've made. These alternate scenarios permit him to picture remarkable love affairs and heroic tasks. These fantasies prove to be a necessary counterpoint to Harry's otherwise mundane existence, exposing a deep-seated discontentment and longing for excitement.
EndingTowards the end of the movie, the narrative draws back into reality, concluding Harry's enchanting journey down memory lane. Harry chooses to throw a dinner celebration upon returning home. The final scene reconnects the audience with Harry's present world, in which he values his spouse's understanding and understands all is not lost in uninteresting stability, exposing a newly found gratitude for his present life. Harry comprehends that his day-to-day life may lack the vibrancy of his dreams, but it brings its own special appeal and value.
Total Review"Falling in Love Again" links the past and present, dream and reality, offering a refreshing perspective on the mid-life crisis. Though it may not be a perfect masterpiece, the motion picture's psychological heart and wonderfully embroidered nostalgia provide a warm, if a little bittersweet, viewing experience. It leaves the audience considering the options one has actually made and the remaining what-ifs that may develop from those forgone paths, showing the human propensity to dwell in dreams and impressions.
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