Charlotte Rampling received a well deserved Oscar Nomination for her quietly devastating performance in “45 Years”, a well made drama about a couple getting ready for their 45th wedding anniversary. A few days before the party, the husband (Tom Courtenay) receives shattering news from Switzerland about a former girlfriend who went missing some 50 years ago while they were hiking together. The untimely news fuels Rampling’s anxiety and curiosity as she tries to discover more and more about her husband’s past. Whether she is confronting her husband or simply going through some old photos, Rampling is magnificent, her eyes reflecting a soul in crisis. Will the movie satisfy an audience looking for concrete answers? Probably not. But for patient viewers, “45 Years” is a rich and rewarding film.
Rating: 3/4
Categories: 3/4, drama, The Twenty-First Century