Page 29 - Boca ViewPointe - October '20

October 2020 Viewpointe, Page 29
Film Review: Falling In Love

By Nils A. Shapiro Streep at the peak of their he a construction engineer working on high-rises.
careers – this 1984 film Later that day, inside the popular Rizzoli’s bookstore
The one thing I can say evokes the evolution of on Fifth Avenue, Mary and Frank – both with shopping
about this film with almost an accidental affair as bags and arms filled with presents – are there separately,
absolute certainty is that accurately as any I have looking for last-minute gifts: she finds a book on sailing
its impact on you will ever seen. for her husband, Brian; he finds a gardening book for his
depend almost entirely If you have never been wife, Ann. As they both try to enter the revolving door
upon your own personal through such an experience, to leave the store, they bump into each other, several of
past life experiences: consider yourself fortunate; their gifts drop to the floor ... and, after mutual apologies,
whether you are, or have just sit back, relax and they go their separate ways.
ever been, divorced; enjoy this film. On Christmas morning, when their families open
whether you have ever It’s Christmastime the presents, they discover that, in the confusion of the
had an illicit romantic affair, or ever been deceived by in New York, and as the dropped gifts the books were exchanged: Mary’s husband
one you loved. New York Metro North got the gardening book and Frank’s wife the sailing book!
If any of these applies to you, Falling in Love will railroad train that serves So, some weeks later, when Mary and Frank are riding
reawaken every emotion you felt at that time, whether the Westchester County suburbs approaches Grand the same train again the incident helps them to recognize
passion, excitement and heartache or desperation, anger Central Station, two of the regular morning commuters – each other, laugh about it and begin a conversation.
and bitterness. For in the hands of two of Hollywood’s Mary Gilmore (Streep) and Frank Raftis (De Niro) – are As days pass and they notice that they both take the
most accomplished stars – Robert De Niro and Meryl strangers sitting a row apart. She is a commercial artist, same train every morning, they begin to look forward to
seeing each other. With an attraction both come to realize,
but feel is innocent and controllable, they soon begin to
make plans for lunch, then for time to be together for
walks during the day – and to meet at the end of the day
to take the same train home.

As their relationship develops, each confides in a close
We've Remodeled! friend – Mary discusses it with Isabelle (Dianne Wiest)
and Frank with Ed Lasky (Harvey Keitel), two members
of a superb supporting cast.
I won’t go any further into the details of the inevitable

results of such a relationship and its effects on their
marriages, nor of the ending of the film. To do so would
spoil its impact on you. I will simply add that in Italy’s
equivalent of our Academy Awards, Meryl Streep was
Our named Best Foreign Actress and Robert De Niro Best
Foreign Actor for their roles in Falling in Love. I can
35 th only assume that Italians, or Europeans, are somewhat
Year more open-minded when it comes to what is acceptable
in the portrayal of love’s sometimes irresistible forces.
What I will point out, as I stated at the beginning of
this review, is that your reaction to this film will be a
very personal one, and almost assuredly a deeply felt one.
Don’t be surprised if your opinion is not shared by your
wife (or husband), who may have a very different view.
One final note: After having been raised in New York, I
moved to Los Angeles for business reasons in 1981. When
I first saw this film three years later, an early scene – the
G
G R O V E R O V E Avenue – was a shining moment that made me homesick.
familiarity of Christmas shopping on Manhattan’s Fifth
Since I had no idea then about the movie’s story line, it
hinted at a typical heartwarming Jimmy Stewart film.
OPTICIANSPTICIANS
O Wrong! But the delightful background music score by
Dave Grusin was so memorable that when I saw Falling in
Love again last night streaming on Netflix I remembered
it immediately. It adds so much to the film.
*****
BOCA RA T ON by cardholders at the Boca Raton Public Library. 
The DVD of Falling in Love is available for free rental
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