Sunday

Nice enough set up, where Charlie has 24hours to convince the love of his life to get back with him. It had some nice tunes, locations too were pretty nice. It had a few nice dream like sequences, but came off a little pretentious, like its trying to be A Terrence Mallick film.

Unfortunately the film didn't execute on any of the levels I was hoping for. For instance showing me just how unbelievably perfect these 2 could be if they got together again, or just how deeply these 2 need each other to function in life, love or even just survive day to day in a deeply compelling way, or really get behind this man Charlie, show me just how hard it hit him and why when things ended how much his life went downhill and show me just how much of a struggle it is to get her back that I'm 100% behind this guy... ....but the whole film is just very tame, slow paced but not in an interesting way, there wasn't anything that grabbed me in terms of any of the scenes, events in the film, the chemistry between the 2 was not believable.

On a technical note the opening scene in the airport, the audio wasn't synced right to their lips moving, really? come on, it's not that hard to fix. A few of the outdoor shots are quite over exposed to where it was pretty distracting. In this day and age even with DSLR's that can be avoided.

So this handsome Australian guy and beautiful Kiwi woman spend a summer together in Melbourne and she ends up pregnant. Fast forward 5 months after he's been away working as a truck driver in Afghanistan; they reconnect for 24 hours to explore what it means to be together, to be parents, to bring a new life into this world and to be in love. Heavily inspired by Linklater's Before Trilogy, this is a study on the traditional roles of man and woman and how we bring our uniquely special qualities into a loving and caring relationship. Man the protector and provider - raw, fierce and oblivious to the need for him to be present and determined. Once he's shown the way, he's unwaveringly committed. The ultimate protector. Woman the nurturer and pragmatist, the visionary for home and happiness - holding all the responsibility and bravery but wanting, needing a partner to build a life together in an uncertain and hostile world. As Charlie and Eve become reacquainted for the duration of their weekend together they explore not only a devastated (and somewhat symbolic to their own relationship) Christchurch but also a beautiful spectrum of emotions: fear, uncertainty, doubt, vulnerability, protectiveness, jealousy, hopefulness and ultimately love. Real love. The love that gives us much needed meaning in a universe of unlimited and uncertain possibilities. Fleeting, fragile and beyond any measurable value. A stunningly beautiful film that quickly cuts through to the most important reasons for why being together is significantly and heart breakingly greater than being apart.

I loved this sweet and realistic romance. The leads give out mesmerizing performances that tug at the heart strings. the city of Christchurch is the third character and beautifully shot in a style inspired by Richard Linkletter, it is not just a film but art in every sense of the word. The challenges facing the characters are realistic and the true shame is that this was not widely distributed because society as a whole could definitely benefit from a seeing this. The genuine emotions touched on here will have you laughing and crying in the same breath. You'll be rooting for Charlie and Eve up until the end and even then you'll be asking for more. If you have the chance do NOT pass it up!

Great movie from these pair. Essentially it's a question about wether love really is enough to sustain a relationship. It also goes into the subject of one person having a career the other may not necessarily agree with or support at all points in the relationship. Is love enough to ignore the impacts of the career on the couple/family? Is it reasonable or unreasonable to expect or think that the person's career will change if the relationship changes, particularly regarding children? The film doesn't give an answer to Eve and Charlie's situation but makes you consider the points of view each of them hold.

Some bits are a tad slow, but they serve a purpose and really give a feeling of the depth of the relationship. I found the message worth the wait, as it where.

8 stars. A lady living in Christchurch, NZ after the earthquake has tentatively started a new relationship. She also invites her ex-boyfriend back for a day to see whether they can resolve the conflict that caused their breakup. Although they're still in love, she won't have him unless he will give up his job driving trucks in Afghanistan to be with her full time along with his baby whom she's carrying. The job pays well, and he needs the money to cover mortgage payments for his house in Melbourne, Australia. Will he sacrifice his chosen livelihood to meet her needs? Does she love him enough to only see him one quarter of the time? They'd like to marry if they can find a way. Many couples grapple with these questions. I appreciated the simple story line with stark choices, the realistic script, the natural acting, and writers' confidence to convey the story without violence, sex, or dysfunction. The two lead actors wrote the script, along with the director.