Almost shockingly, many of the reviewers here have voiced stories almost eerily similar to my own. I happened upon this movie one late night approx. 38 years ago, and simply NEVER forgot it. Around 10 years ago or so, I searched for and found a VHS tape of it, and a couple of years ago, I got a DVD of it online. This is, simply, one of my very most favorite movies ever. I wanted to note that, as of this morning at any rate, the ENTIRE film is available for streaming on you tube.
I don't wish to repeat the same specific comments voiced by others, but would like to focus on one particular aspect of the film; its patient and tender depiction of the "falling in love" process itself. The lazy and impatient manner through which most modern films depict how people fall in love strains credibility, and poses a real challenge to the viewer's ability to care about the supposedly deeply intense love relationship between the characters. How often do we see two characters "lock eyes" for a few extra moments upon meeting, and voilà, they are committed to a passionate and lifelong love relationship; ready to die for each other? All too often is my answer. In this film, you believe it. Their need for each other, though for perhaps somewhat different reasons, is palpable and honest. Today, "love stories" focus so much more on how characters REMAIN in love, or how they overcome hurdles to their love, and hardly bother to take on the challenge of making the audience believe that they ever fell in love in the first place, which is, for me, far more interesting (and apparently, far more difficult to depict believably).
I think of the modern films noted for their love story narratives, like "The Fault in Our Stars". Of course the two protagonists fell in love. They're both impossibly attractive, they share this common enemy (cancer), and they're both incredibly clever and lovable. Even though their love was not expressed mutually until near the end, really they were in love (again) almost from the first moment they laid eyes on each other. Far more interesting would have been a story where she and the kid who eventually lost his eyesight fell in love, and the events leading up to that. But, again, that would have been likewise far more challenging to the author / screenwriter.
But, no such problem with this film. They took on this difficult challenge and succeeded in an extremely satisfying way.
I don't wish to repeat the same specific comments voiced by others, but would like to focus on one particular aspect of the film; its patient and tender depiction of the "falling in love" process itself. The lazy and impatient manner through which most modern films depict how people fall in love strains credibility, and poses a real challenge to the viewer's ability to care about the supposedly deeply intense love relationship between the characters. How often do we see two characters "lock eyes" for a few extra moments upon meeting, and voilà, they are committed to a passionate and lifelong love relationship; ready to die for each other? All too often is my answer. In this film, you believe it. Their need for each other, though for perhaps somewhat different reasons, is palpable and honest. Today, "love stories" focus so much more on how characters REMAIN in love, or how they overcome hurdles to their love, and hardly bother to take on the challenge of making the audience believe that they ever fell in love in the first place, which is, for me, far more interesting (and apparently, far more difficult to depict believably).
I think of the modern films noted for their love story narratives, like "The Fault in Our Stars". Of course the two protagonists fell in love. They're both impossibly attractive, they share this common enemy (cancer), and they're both incredibly clever and lovable. Even though their love was not expressed mutually until near the end, really they were in love (again) almost from the first moment they laid eyes on each other. Far more interesting would have been a story where she and the kid who eventually lost his eyesight fell in love, and the events leading up to that. But, again, that would have been likewise far more challenging to the author / screenwriter.
But, no such problem with this film. They took on this difficult challenge and succeeded in an extremely satisfying way.