Joan (Leslie Manville) and Tom (Liam Neeson) have what seems like a quiet, peaceful life. They get along like peas and carrots, you can see that they dearly love each other very much. They go through their days eating meals together, watching television, while making endearing quips at each other. They take daily walks outdoors to stay healthy. This couple are quite fond of each other. Their peaceful lives are disrupted by Joan’s discovery of a lump during a shower. We join them as they go through the process of fighting cancer.
There are many different types of cancers, however, the treatments are similar. Screening, scans, biopsy, surgery, chemo, radiation. Protocols set in place to treat this insipid disease that have taken so many loved ones throughout time. Treatment is not easy at all. Chemotherapy steals the outside vanities. Your hair can come out in chunks, making one look like a chia-pet during a drought. The vile concoction goes through to kill any semblance of the disease and yet there are no promises once the set rounds are completed. You still need to wait and recover from weeks of vomiting, and in general feeling like crap warmed over.
This film is an honest and true portrayal of a couple going through the fight of their lives. You learn that they have gone through a heavy loss already and all they have throughout is each other. The best of a couple is shown as they hold each other up in the fight. We also see the worst that a couple can throw at each other to try to lash out and hurt. The intimacies of a couple are shared without it being lascivious, instead it is beautiful and non-exploitive. We find out that being a caregiver is a tough job and one that is done out of love.
“Ordinary Love” is an extraordinary film. The two leads portray their characters with respectful beauty in their humanity. I would watch this film again to catch any nuances that I may have missed in the initial viewing. If you are looking for a poignant drama written, filmed and acted beautifully, this is an excellent choice. Just have some tissues on hand.
4 out of 5 Stars
