Ordinary Love

Ordinary Love is a poignant and powerful drama film released in 2019 and brilliantly led by accomplished actors Lesley Manville and Liam Neeson, with an appearance by Esh Alladi. Directed by Lisa Barros D'Sa and Glenn Leyburn, and written by legendary Irish playwright, Owen McCafferty, the film is a narrative journey through love, loyalty, and survival against life’s most challenging adversities.

Set in Northern Ireland, Ordinary Love tells the thought-provoking tale of Joan and Tom, a long-married couple, engagingly played by Lesley Manville and Liam Neeson. Tom, a gentle, reticent man and Joan, a spirited, strong-willed woman, share a simple but beautiful life. Their daily routines are mundane yet affectionate, filled with walks along the river, comfortable silences, and tender bickering. The essence of their relationship portrays a deep-shared understanding and a love that has survived the test of time, strengthened by their shared painful experience of bereavement.

The tranquillity of their ordinary life is disrupted when Joan is diagnosed with breast cancer. The couple is then engaged in an emotional journey, trying to navigate their way through the medical labyrinth of tests and treatments. The disease changes the patterns of their lives, adding stress, strain, and uncertainty, but the couple's commitment to each other never wavers.

Throughout the movie, Lesley Manville delivers a bravura performance as a woman grappling with the horrifying reality of cancer—a battle that tests not only her physical endurance but also her emotional strength. Joan's character is layered with vulnerability and resilience, revealing a woman's courage to live through pain, fear, and the trivialities of life during intense treatment.

On the other hand, Liam Neeson's portrayal of the supportive husband is refreshingly authentic. Tom's quiet, supportive presence, his internal struggle with his wife's illness, his helplessness, and often awkward attempts to alleviate Joan's discomfort bring a layer of intimacy to their ordinary love story. The film brilliantly showcases his character evolve as a caregiver balancing his own emotions alongside his wife's needs.

Esh Alladi, though having a smaller role, impresses as Steve, their oncologist. His nuanced performance of a medical professional delivers the hard truths sensitively, adding a realistic touch to the narrative.

One of the strongest points of Ordinary Love is its grounded portrayal of cancer's impact, not just on the victim but also their loved ones. Instead of sugar-coating or dramatizing the situation, the movie presents a deeply realistic and relatable perspective. From hair loss, nausea, and fatigue to the strain on relationships and the fear of death, the movie does not shy away from showing the relentlessness of the disease.

The screenplay is simplistic yet profoundly emotional, resonating with the title's indication of 'ordinary' love. The couple’s dialogue is filled with everyday chatter, humdrum discussions, and banter, infused with the natural chemistry between Manville and Neeson. They discuss the mundane - things one talks about over dinner or on an afternoon walk - but every now and then, a deeply emotional conversation sneaks in, painting a wider picture of their relationship and their shared grief and love.

Visually, Ordinary Love is beautifully shot, with Northern Ireland’s dreary beauty exceptionally captured. The film uses silence and subtle imagery competently, allowing the audience to contemplate Joan and Tom's emotional state. The cinematic moments are gentle and intimate, making the narrative all the more compelling.

The heart-wrenching soundtrack adds another layer of emotion to the film, encapsulating the couple's love, fear, and hope. It guides the audience through their sentiments and enhances the deeply emotional atmosphere throughout the movie.

In conclusion, Ordinary Love is a powerful, heartachingly real, and evocatively intimate narrative that marks a critically acclaimed contribution to the cinema world. It orchestrates an in-depth exploration of an ordinary couple's love when faced with the extraordinary circumstances of a cancer diagnosis. It's a touching reminder of the strength of love, endurance, and resilience in the face of adversity. It’s a celebration of emotional bandwidth that ordinary love encompasses. Both Neeson and Manville deliver outstanding performances, making it a must-watch for those who appreciate genuine, heartfelt storytelling.