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Charlotte Rampling caps off a 45+ year career with her first Oscar nomination
A-Perhaps because of her propensity to take on risky, controversial roles early in her younger days, Chartlotte Rampling hasn’t enjoyed the acclaim of some of her contemporaries such as Helen Mirren. Now, at long last, she’s gotten a role in the film 45 Years that is worthy of her talent, and she delivers perhaps the most memorable performance of her career.
Rampling and Tom Courtenay play Kate and Geoff Mercer, a seemingly happy retired couple preparing for a gala anniversary party in their honor (hence, the film’s title, 45 Years). Then, Geoff receives a letter from Swiss authorities that they have discovered the body of Katja, his ex-girlfriend, who fell off a cliff into a glacier while they were on a hiking trip some 50 years ago. Geoff had barely talked about Katja with Kate, but, as the week goes on, Kate slowly realizes the depth of his feelings for the dead woman and questions the foundation of their marriage.
45 Years is a movie about communication in a marriage, or, more precisely, the lack thereof. The audience soon realizes that Geoff never really discussed with Kate his earlier relationship or how serious it was, and that she now agonizes over whether he ever loved her or just viewed her as a substitute for Katja. Writer/director Andrew Haigh films most of the movie from Kate’s point of view, and the fact that she, and the audience, are unaware of exactly how Geoff is reacting adds to Kate’s sense of uncertainty. Like the glacier into which Katja fell, many scenes in 45 Years seem civil and placid but have a far deeper subtext, as questions never get resolved between the couple and Kate’s fears and distrust grow. The movie is an acting showcase for the two leads, despite the fact that it has few showy scenes. Much of Rampling’s performance is physical acting at its best, especially the final scene, as the couple dance at the party. The audience sees through their expressions, as they do not, that they really do not understand each other’s feelings at all. It’s one of the most haunting movie scenes in years. 45 Years is justifiably being hailed for Rampling’s performance, but it’s also one of the deepest and most subtle films of the year, one that will hold extra meaning for almost all couples, no matter how long they have been together.
Continue reading on 45 Years: Mini-review
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