THE LAKE HOUSE
US, 2006, 105 minutes, Colour.
Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, Shohrer Aghdashloo, Christopher Plummer, Evon Moss- Bachrach, Willeke van Ammelrooy, Dylan Walsh, Lyn Collins.
Directed by Alejandro Agresti.
Time travel romances make no logical sense (nor scientific sense) but, of course, that is not the point. Romantics enjoy what if…? scenarios.
What if a man moved into a house by a lake and found a note in his letter box from the previous tenant asking him to forward her mail? No problem there. But, if it emerges that he is living in 2004 and she is living in 2006 and that they cannot see each other but can see the letterbox opening and shutting as they begin to correspond with each other, enjoy writing and reading the letters which turn into love letters…? Well, that is what we have at the Lake House.
Plus the charm of the stars. Sandra Bullock is a melancholic doctor who is waiting for something to happen in her life besides her dedication to her work. Jane Austen’s Persuasion features in the dialogue with its inopportune meeting between the romantic couple and their having to wait for the right time to meet again is a key to this story. Keanu Reeves at his most charming (you would never dream that this nice architect could ever have been in The Matrix or Constantine) helps us believe in this unbelievable love story. Having turned 40, the two stars are very comfortable in their roles and their characters. Twelve years ago they worked together in a high adrenalin way in Speed.
I am not sure I can explain the finale in terms of dates – well it is Valentine’s Day -or, rather, what year it is. Of course, it doesn’t really matter. It offers smiles, but tears as well.
Christopher Plummer is on hand as Keanu’s father and gives a characteristically strong cameo performance. Direction, which brings the best out of its stars, immerses us in emotions with some tenderness without wallowing in it, is by noted Argentinian director, Alejandro Agresti.
1.A popular romance? For older audiences? Middle-aged audiences? A love story of the 21st century?
2.The writer and his Pulitzer Prize-winning play Proof? The film based on a South Korean story? The work of Alejandro Agresti in Argentina? His Argentinian perspective? His living in Europe? The popularity of remakes in Hollywood of overseas films? An appropriate adaptation?
3.The response of the audience, men, women?
4.A time travel story? The lack of logic in time travel stories? Two co-existent times? The emotional response? The difficulty for audiences in identifying the different times for each of the central characters?
5.The title, the house and its symbolism? Alex and his response to the house, his father’s gift to his mother? The father’s designing the house for her? His buying the house, renovating it? His moving out, Kate moving in? The glass house – and the interiors being able to be seen into?
6.The 2004 and 2006 stories? Indications of different times, dates? Communication from each time? Watching the letterbox and its signal? The pragmatic correspondence, the puzzle about the times and dates, the growing communication, falling in love?
7.A film about love letters and their effect? The text of the letters? The actors reciting their letters?
8.The portrait of Kate, Sandra Bullock’s style, reticent? Her age, her relationship with her father? Memories of him? Jane Austen? Her visits with her mother, talking with her mother? Her work as a doctor, intern, moving to the city, her friendship with Anna, her hard work in the hospital, her being a comfort to the patients? Her personal loneliness? The memories of the relationship with Morgan? The past, the losing the Jane Austen book, the surprise birthday party, the meeting with Alex and Mona, the kiss, Dylan’s reaction? Alex’s not arriving in 2006? Her disappointment? Her going to the house, finding the copy of the Jane Austen book? The renovations? Going to see Alex’s brother? The 14th of February, her knowledge of the accident, her rushing away, trying to warn Alex? Sadness at his death? Her having been present at his death? The joy of the change in time and his living?
9.The portrait of Alex, his being away for many years, alienation from his father, meeting his brother on his return, meeting his father? The tension? His father’s attitude towards him and his work? The heart attack, his visiting the hospital, getting his father coffee, being shown the plans? His own work, pragmatic? Friendship with Mona, her work on the building sites? The difficulties with industrial unrest? Solving them? The completion of the house? His decision to buy the lake house, his work on it, reading the letter from Kate, the dog and its disappearance, the footprints? The exchange of letters, the puzzle about the date? Falling in love? His going to the station and finding the copy of Jane Austen? His glimpse of Kate? The meeting with Morgan? Morgan inviting Alex and Mona to the party? Meeting Kate, the dance, her talking with him? The kiss? The accident? His going to the house, checking the documents – and living?
10.Simon Wyler, his reputation, seeing him with students, the plans? His alienation from his son? Alex’s version of what happened to his father, becoming a celebrity, his mother not being able to cope and leaving? His arrogance? His love for his brother? Their meetings? The fatal day, the renovations for the house, the meeting?
11.Kate’s mother, her support, listening to Kate, being present on the day of the accident?
12.Mona, her love for Alex, the work, meeting Dylan?
13.Anna, at the hospital, her efficiency, her friendship with Kate and helping her?
14.Morgan, his friendship with Kate, his ambitions, the party, his jealousy about the kiss, the separation, getting together again with Kate, in the house?
15.The background of Jane Austen, persuasion, the explanation of the plot, the lovers meeting, having to wait? The film as a variation on the persuasion theme?
16.The atmosphere of tenderness, colour and design, architecture? Nature, animals? Voice-overs? Seeing the couple seated together on-screen – but in their different times?
