He’s both a stubborn man and an experienced carpenter, and despite being in his 80’s he refuses help from his sons and sets about building the whole house from scratch on his own. The fact that he is not so physically strong and fit is not his undoing, but the uncomfortable realisation that in today’s world you cannot build anything without Permits, even on your own farmland. What starts as a grumble about red-tape bureaucracy with the local Planning Office escalates into an all out war between an obstinate Craig and an uncompromising Building Inspector who is equally resolved that he will stop the construction from going ahead.
Time is not on Craig’s side as Irene breaks her hip in a bad fall, and her dementia worsens, and although she is personally dead-set against about leaving her old home, Craig is left with little option to battle on the only way he knows how. When it comes to a final showdown in Court between him and the Authorities, after the support of a local paper and his loyal lawyer, he makes a heart-warming impassioned plea and commonsense prevails.
This is a wonderful deeply touching love story about a couple in their twilight years who are so devoted to each other, even to the point of almost ignoring their seven grown children. Both of them are tenacious and headstrong even when the odds are stacked against them, but this is what has made their marriage such a success and neither see a need to change now as they start to physically fade. Craig rules his life by his heart and his head and the traditions that his father instilled in him. The way that he sees it, the changes in the modern world do not make any sense at all. And its hard not to sympathise with that logic.
Based on true story, this charming tale about beating the odds, is the work of Canadian writer/director Michael McGowan (‘Saint Ralph’). It really worked so brilliantly because of his perfect casting of Craig and Irene with the wonderful James Cromwell and the delightful Guinevere Bujold. They had this magnetic chemistry between them that made the six-decade relationship they were portraying seemed so fresh and vital even now. Totally awesome. I know Ms Bujold only works infrequently, and I cannot think if I have seen her since she first mesmerised me in her Oscar Nominated Role in ‘Anne of A Thousand Day’ some 44 years ago. She is still a very beautiful actor.
Its so refreshing to see such gloriously rich movies such as this and ‘Amour’ etc about elderly people for a change. If they are all as excellent as this, I hope this welcome trend continues.
Due out in US Theaters in June. Take a Kleenex with you, you may need it before the end.
★★★★★★★★
