“A Previous Engagement”
When was the last time you saw a romantic comedy where the lead lovebirds were over 40? “Over What?!” you say? When was the last time you saw a film where you see real “the teenager-buried-in-your-heart” passion brewing between middle-aged people?? Not an affair between a man in his 60’s and a cute young thing in her 20’s but an actual, honest to goodness, love affair between middle-aged attractive (but real looking) contemporaries. Got you interested?? It is definitely a novel thing in films, but believe it or not there is a film out there today where you can experience this rare phenomenon.
“A Previous Engagement”, written and directed by Joan Carr-Wiggin and starring Juliet Stevenson, is a middle-aged woman’s story of love and passion, regret and dreams. The 40 plus woman is the lead and the whole core of the movie, and indeed, the very center moving the storyline. The story of her struggle and transition. The struggle of her facing her unfulfilled dreams and love, and the consequences she will encounter when she finally decides whether to make those dreams come true or to give them up. Whether you like or dislike the decision she makes in the end you know she did not make it easily. She dug deep, deep, down and after much soul searching did what she thought was best for her. And you have to love her for that.
It was a thought provoking gut wrenching and hilarious ride to making that decision, but it was one exciting journey. It woke her up and brought her to life and that is a good thing – for all of us. AND it is a well-written, well executed, beautifully acted roller coaster of a romantic ride. Plus let’s add in a truly gorgeous romantic location. I thoroughly enjoyed and bought the journey of this woman and the other characters in this film. It resonated with me, as I know it will with you. Go see it for yourself, and enjoy the ride as I did.
Run to see…
A Previous Engagement
Directed by Joan Carr-Wiggin
When Seattle librarian Julia Reynolds (Juliet Stevenson) talks her unadventurous husband (Daniel Stern) into a family vacation on the beautiful Mediterranean island of Malta she has a secret agenda: a date made twenty-five years earlier with her first love. But when the sexy Frenchman (Tche’ky Karyo) actually shows up, insisting she’s his true love, she discovers a side of her husband she never suspected. The flat-footed insurance man sets out in search of his own Malta romance, and is soon dancing the salsa with an ex chorus girl (Valerie Mahaffey). In a movie for anyone who has ever wondered what might have been, Julia must choose between her husband she never really knew and the man she’d dreamt of for twenty-five years. Or is the young woman who made love on a sun-drenched beach gone forever. Opens in Los Angeles and New York May 9th and coming to a theatre near you.
Debbie Zipp, blogger for In the Trenches Productions, The First Entertainment Website Celebrating the Power and Beauty of Women Over 40
