I wouldn’t give this movie five stars because of the true underlying theme of the movie. I love history and thought this movie was supposed to portray a Germany post war.
Instead my wife and I learn as the movie rolls the Morgans lost their son in the London bombing. We lost our son and I wouldn’t have watched this movie knowing that. When Rachel says she wasn’t prepared for what she got thrown into my wife and I felt the same.
Lewis a Colonel in the British Army is using his work to repress the loss as his way of coping. He blames his wife Rachel for their loss but keeps it to himself because of the pain it would cause. He also finds her to painful of a reminder of their son and keeps her at arm’s length.
Rachel needs self assurance and comfort and so begins an adulterous affair with the German Lupert whose house the British Army by requisition took over.
At some point Lupert wants Rachel to leave her husband for him. Lupert also lost his wife during the war and has a daughter. Rachel appears to agree but never seems to fully commit. Although we are lead to believe it was her idea.
After Lewis returns from a trip Rachel’s whole demeanor changes.
I don’t want to give away the ending but I will say my wife and I thought a lot of things weren’t said and you were left to try to piece together what was actually happening.
After Lewis figures out that Rachel has betrayed him and tells her he needs to know what day his marriage ended he drives them home from a military party. I found this to be odd because this wasn’t protocol and his driver in my opinion takes his bullet which affects him. He later tracks down the assassin who he could have killed but instead leaves him to his own demise. Lewis also saves Lupert’s daughter from a certain death. Finally, Lewis gives his Wife a pass for cheating on him and tells her it’s ok to leave him.
Rachel has blood on her dress from the death of the young military driver whom Lewis treated like a son. This is symbolic that she is not innocent.
The acting was really good by all parties.
This movie caused us both to cry. The loss of a child is catastrophic and most all marriages do not survive. There isn’t even a word in the English language for a loss of child.
This was probably missed by critics because it’s something that you cannot fully grasp without the experience. It’s a club no wants to join.