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Hope Gap

Watched Hope Gap recently and was completely blow away by the performances of the three central characters in the movie - particularly Annette Bening who plays Grace . She is spectacular playing the the left wife after 29 years of marriage. The poetry references in the movie are beautiful and many of them were new to me, like this one by Henry King on the death of his wife. The movie draws the viewers into the kitchen of this couple's home where much of the action happens. The lifeblood of this marriage has long drained out leaving the union devoid of energy or friendship. The husband gave up in degrees over time and then one day he found the love which gave him the courage to leave. 

Grace does not see leaving the marriage as a choice or an option that even exists for them. They are in this together until death - this is self-evident to her as the fact that the earth rotates on its axis and there is day and night in an endless cycle. You can't reasonably say that will no longer happen and it will be eternal night from here on out - which is the equivalent of what Edward, her husband has said to her. The role of their grown-up son in helping this couple navigate the end of their marriage is critical. It is only because of him and through him the parents are able to cope and move on. Watching this movie was a very moving experience for me - maybe because there are elements of the story I can strongly relate to. 

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