Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Memory Lane (2024) aka Homeward


An older couple who don’t really travel any more decide to drive across Europe and visit friends. Along the way it becomes clear that the wife’s occasional memory issues are actually something serious and that she will soon be slipping away.

Bittersweet comedy drama left me a sobbing mess at the end because I was so invested in the characters the beauty of the ending just wrecked me. Gloriously steering away from a contrived downbeat ending the film instead, rightly, chooses to take it to a perfect ending. Things are not settled, life will go on, and love will prevail as long as possible. I am revealing this because I was watching the whole film waiting for the overly dark turn and it never happened.

That the film works as magnificently as it does is because of the performances Martin van Waardenberg and Leny Breederveld in the leads are magnificent. You feel the love between them. They also play things close to the vest in the right way with a look and gesture saying infinitely more than large scale histrionic fire works.

This was one of the great year end finds for 2024.  And while I know it’s in the Oscar mix for best International Film, I’m not certain it will make the cut. It’s not big and loud, but don’t let that fool you this is a truly great film you need to search out because it will move you deeply.

Highly Recommended

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