And nodding by the fire, Take down this book, And slowly read, and Dream of the soft look Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;"
So begins that famous poem written by one of the greatest poets ever, William Butler Yeats, in his "When You Are Old". If I am correct, Yeats wrote that poem to a girl he still loved, pleading with her to look into the future when she would be 'old and grey', and she'd look back in time and regret the moments she might have missed. He also assures her of his unconditional, undying love.
In essence, this is the theme that inspired the making of this movie. In its short 80 minute duration, it borrows heavily from some of Yeats ideas, striving to show us that old people (Hanna played well by veteran actress Jean Simmons) was just one of many - a tired, sick old lady who didn't want to lose out on the beauty of life, who constantly remembered old experiences, thoughts, and cherished these. Frequently, such elderly ones are overlooked, and misunderstood; most are just often abandoned by their relatives, children, who now live the fast life in a fast World. Few spend time with them, fewer even take the time to reassure them of their undying love. So, it is no wonder that Hannah befriends a young boy, a helper, willing to keep her company and listen/read to her. But, one day, along comes the son with his 2 kids for a long overdue visit! The kids take well to the boy, but not so the father, who at once feels threatened by his presence.
I remember years ago I used to work as a volunteer caretaker for some elderly, and I learned then that the single most valuable commodity one can give them is precisely that: your time, coupled with love, of course. Casting some sun on those shadows that threaten them is about time, and listening, not judging, criticizing, or bullying. This movie illustrates that well.
It is a slow-paced flick, one to see on an afternoon or evening when you're not in the mood to think, or to see anything too dramatic or exciting. Warm up your favorite tea, get some cookies, and watch this tale unfold. There were, I must say, some things I would have liked to see rounded out, like the love affair between Hanna's granddaughter and the boy. There were also a few other things that could've been brought to a nicer conclusion, I think. But, OK, looking at it impartially, it was not boring if you take the time to follow closely, but neither was it the best of the rest. The scenery was really nice, though, Norfolk, England. If you've never been there, here's your chance to pay a virtual visit.
Loved the wreck, though! Would like to see it sometime in person!
