SHADOWLANDS

Shadowlands is a touching film that little by little grasps spectators' feelings, in such a soft way that you will barely realize it until the end of the movie. Not only are pain and happiness mixed in an excellent manner, but also social prejudices are shown as they really appear in life.

Anthony Hopkin is superb in the role of C.S.Lewis. I find his character difficult enough to play because of the wide range of personality's features that he develops. First of all we find a self-assured and determined man, even rather arrogant but calm and rational. However, when he met Joy (played in a fantastic form by Debra Winger), he become a little bit insecure as well as timid, in front of this spontaneous and light-hearted woman. As the story turns up with an unexpected twist, the actor should change the register towards sensitivity, tenderness, passion and emotion.

The main idea suggested by the plot is: "how can we face the pain, especially when it is hitting us repeatedly?". The film propose two solutions in order to deal with it:

 In the first place, we can search the safety, for example fleeing from sorrow towards a magic world hidden at the background of a cupboard (as Lewis did in "Narnia books", maybe to heal his wounds after his mother's death).

In the second place, we can choose suffering, we can deal with grief through our best memories; in other words we should be aware of the harsh reality without forgetting that fate gave away us cheerful days, and there will surely be again.

That is the learning that this movie offers to us:

 "The pain now is part of the happiness then, that's the deal".