The film is remembered firmly and forever for some moments related to the forbidden subject of death. By itself, she is found in cinema, literature and real life all the time, but the director was able to convincingly and at the same time bookishly convey some spirit of Remarkov’s hero, these sick and cheerful women who know that they will die, but live today. The beginning is good, because sooner or later it will be useful to anyone. All this ineradicable optimism of the main character invigorates and somehow retains the confidence that the tragedy in this life is only one – this life itself, so there is no sense to be upset about this.
Apparently, the main character should be shaded in a certain way by her man, he is just suffering and shown, but, in my opinion, too strange. What did the director want to say by showing a man who seeks solace from other women, experiencing the grief of his beloved? It is clear that the burden is not on everyone’s shoulder and pity for love does not give, but the point here is not in some moral foundations, not in the strength of spirit, but in elementary cleanliness. If in this way they tried to show tension and experience, it clearly failed. If you strengthen the position of a woman – quite. Against her background, the man looks too pale, in fact, he is just an appendage to her.
The film is morally heavy, but not harder than our lives. Production Netherlands, so predictably all the names don’t say anything to me, even though I’ve seen several films by Caris van Houten, who starred in “A Woman Comes to the Doctor.” Unfortunately, I cannot focus on the most memorable scene without spoiling the film. He won't leave you indifferent, for sure.
Lively Emotions - The Screaming Utility of the Film
I would recommend the film to the hardened cynics.
When I saw the film, I felt the search for truth. Sense of conflict and the difficult search for a solution.
We are faced with the emotional love of a man for a woman. No, our hero certainly respects Carmen, but it's all her credit. Where do we have to get to? What lessons should audiences learn? To be with loved ones in sorrow and joy? By surrendering completely, depriving yourself of all earthly joys? Who needs this heroism if it requires a tribute of gratitude? The endless tossing between desires, instincts, and conscience does not end in the assimilation of the material of life. Even at the moment when everything is over, the hero-lover does not miss the opportunity to connect with a sweet woman.
The endless conflict of ethics, the word “should” and the moral freedom of human choice. Everyone stays with their own and I think everyone will have something to argue about after watching.
The main thing I will take from this film is to love while the feeling is alive, to live until diseases overtake us, not relying on the limitations of joys and freedoms by the life burden of everyday conflicts.
What we have, we do not keep, when we lose, we cry.
I do not dispute the plot is usual, unfortunately, in the world a lot of women with such a disaster, but what impressions remained after this film can not be conveyed in words. It's been a long time since I cried, it's been so hard watching a movie for me. It was “sick love” first in treason, and then “sick love” in overcoming a terrible disease.
Carmen sympathizes throughout the film, but it is only by the middle of the film that you begin to sympathize with Stein, because you do not know which is harder to leave or lose.
Caris van Houten brilliantly coped with the role, missed it through herself. Barry Atsma no less brilliantly showed Gorgol, whose life also turned into a struggle.
In conclusion, I want to say that the film is strong, the actors’ play is wonderful, the plot is very heavy, but such films should be watched, passed through yourself in order to appreciate life and catch the moment.
9 out of 10
“Beautiful as a movie” is an expression that fits the film. There are a few good films about people who “fate knocks at the door”, about their relationship to their illness. This film has a special beauty, in cold-restrained tones with “step-by-step” instructions on how to treat a deadly disease.
The relationship of the main characters to each other is far from perfect. Carmen fights cancer, Stein struggles with his fears and doubts, but they are together, no matter what.
The main questions of the film concern the problem of euthanasia - if the disease is fatal, then should a person continue to exist in agony? Is he willing to endure pain and impotence, are those close to him ready? Do you need that kind of life? How and to whom do you decide?
The film, as I have already noted, is too beautiful for real life, wealthy people in an economically developed country have faced a great disaster. Some “off-screen” moments of the disease are shown, but in general, the picture turned out soft, romantic and light.
9 out of 10
It is difficult and difficult to evaluate such works. The impression is strange and ambiguous.
The plot tells about the life of a cute married couple raising a charming daughter. And all would be well, but a young wife and mother are diagnosed with breast cancer. Of all trying to overcome a deadly disease, she seeks the support of her husband, who is torn between love and compassion for his wife and a loose lifestyle.
The actors are great, I must say. It's nice to see that kind of effort.
It is doubly difficult to judge this film, since it is an adaptation of the novel "While we are near", and the novel is autobiographical. That is, we can not say that the main character is the fruit of the imagination of screenwriters. No, gentlemen, there is indeed such a man who, in the most terrible and difficult moment in the life of his wife, his daughter, succumbs to his own weakness and seeks simplicity. It is difficult and wrong to judge people, but when your wife dies at home, suffering from unbearable pain, and you spend time with a woman with whom it is simply easier to be with, it is fundamentally wrong.
Summing up - the film was shot well, the actors coped wonderfully, but the story itself and the fact of its reality haunts me for 2 years since reading the book.
I recommend watching the film for those who are at some crossroads in life, perhaps looking for answers - such stories, playing on contrasts, cause the strongest emotions and will not leave you indifferent. Many will find inspiration and strength in this film to move on.
7 out of 10
It is difficult to say what guided the director of the film and the actors who took part in it, as well as the fact that this film so far has six positive reviews. I will take the liberty of debunking the myth of this painting. The topic raised by Rayna Urlemans is very relevant and vital, but its implementation in this very life seemed to me far from reality, despite the finale. What kind of love and self-sacrifice can we talk about when a man and a woman, just having met, go to bed?That is, in fact, in the debut of the film, we see its ending, and what will happen between, no other than a mouse you can not call.
Two beautiful people, a man and a woman, there are no complaints to the director, the actors are selected according to the purchased tickets, without any preludes rush into the abyss of passion. Yes, this happens in our lives, but ... then the depth of feelings from these characters should not be expected. And Rayna Urlemans is trying to convince me otherwise. After a passionate fever, Stein, the name of the main character, begins to cheat on his wife. She knows how to put up. And all this is presented in such a way that on behalf of Stein, voice-over broadcasts to us that he loves his wife, just can not do anything with himself. A deliberate lie you don't believe. Moreover, when Stein and Carmen (the wife of the protagonist) learn that she has cancer, he continues to cheat on her, while to his credit performing all the necessary procedures to save his wife and alleviate her fate. It's hard to believe again. Even the most notorious scoundrel and soulless heart will not raise his hand, let alone something more to change, knowing that a loved one is subject to hell. Stein has an affair with Ross. No matter how hard it is, his place next to his wife, in patience and prayer, but obviously the Dutch are not familiar with it.
In the film there are bed scenes that do not fit with the main idea, in particular, smeared in colors lovers. Where should I add Mr. Urlemans? Want to play with the audience? From such flirtation, cats scrape and pseudofilms are born. And only one more or less sensible scene at the end of the film, when the hero cries at the bedside of his wife, somehow smooths out the overall painful impression of watching. But this is not the merit of the director, but of the actor.
At the exit, we have an empty film, without a moral message, flavored with a significant layer of lies and insincerity, in which, with all desire, it is difficult to see the hand of the Creator.
2 out of 10
I made this film before I even decided to make a Dutch collection. And now I noticed that the main role here is played by Caris van Houten. It impressed me so much in The Black Book that I took it with great pleasure to watch Rayna Urlemans’ drama.
The synopsis says that the title of the film is taken from the beginning of many Dutch jokes, but you will not laugh at this film because it touches on a very serious topic. Together with the main character, we will go through all stages of development and treatment of breast cancer: diagnosis, chemotherapy, first hair loss, radiotherapy, mastectomy, depression, other side effects. It's very scary. I used to think I knew enough about cancer theoretically. Thank goodness no one in my community has had this disease. But for the first time, I saw the most realistic picture in the film and understood the horror that cancer patients and their loved ones go through.
Perhaps someone will decide that such films should not be made. Why watch that? Many people know that there is such a disease. But I don't regret watching it. Cancer was a theoretical concept for me. I’ve seen several films on the subject, read a couple of articles, including a detailed interview with Angelina Jolie. Only now I fully realized that I would not be morally ready for such a diagnosis in myself or in a loved one. If it’s hard to see on the screen, what happens to real people during this period?
I don’t want to judge any of the characters because I don’t know how I would behave in a situation like this. But I hope that I would have the strength and patience to go through this difficult path together. The image of Carmen and the phenomenal play of Caris van Houten hit me hard. She played this role so shrillly that at the end of the film she knocked out a tear. I would recommend him to everyone. It's not just a cancer movie. It is also about a married couple who took a wedding oath to be together in sorrow and joy, in sickness and in health until death do them part.
8 out of 10