CineTv Contest #132— A Love That Defies Time
About the Movie:
"The Time Traveler's Wife" is a romantic movie based on Audrey Niffenegger's novel of the same name. It was released in 2009, directed by Robert Schwentke, and stars Eric Bana (as Henry) and Rachel McAdams (as Claire). The movie highlights the emotional impact of Henry's time travel on Clare, as she deals with his absences and the uncertainty of their future. They experience moments of joy, love, and heartbreak as they try to build a life together. The plot unfolds through a series of non-linear events, jumping between different periods in Henry and Clare's lives— their initial meeting, their courtship, and the challenges they face as a couple.
The Story Line:
The first episode begins with Henry and Claire separately making video recordings of their experiences as a time traveler and a time traveler's wife.
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The whole movie is about Henry's involuntary time travel, which can send him to any point in his life, past or future, at any moment. This makes it difficult for him to maintain relationships, as he disappears and reappears without warning. Claire, on the other hand, has known Henry since she was a child, as he occasionally visits her from different points in his timeline.
One of the interesting parts of the story is Claire's appearances as a six-year-old when she saw a mature stranger naked in the woods (around her father's mansion). He asked for clothes, and she ran back home to steal her dad's clothes for him, without mentioning it to her parents. Is that proper?
During her chit-chat with Henry, who at that time is 36 years old, she wrote down the dates he is going to visit her and keeps a pair of shoes and clothes in a box under a rock for him. This is because whenever Henry travels back in time or into the future, he is always naked. He appears naked even on the street, and he's forced to learn how to run, fight, and steal clothes and money for himself.
According to their discussion, Henry's adult self groomed Clare for himself, and Claire, in turn, grew up to groom Henry into the adult she fell in love with. Throughout the movie, Claire is depicted as a strong and resilient woman deeply in love with Henry, determined to make their relationship work despite the obstacles. She adapts to his unpredictable nature and supports him through his involuntary time-traveling adventures.
My Opinion:
Is this movie sci-fi or romance? Well, it can be both. His condition is said to be a genetic disorder, and his relationship with Claire is emotionally romantic. Generally, it is a great story told in a unique, non-linear (though complicated) style compared to other time-traveling movies. It would have been a perfect romantic story if I wasn't annoyed by the fact that Claire's life revolves around Henry. He is the only thing bringing her happiness, and from the storyline, her duty is to help Henry be a better man. We know he has an unavoidable problem, but why in the world would a woman be modeled to put aside her own exhaustion and emotions to support a man? Her happiness, sadness, sexuality, literally everything, depends on him. Lol! It is pretty much disturbing.
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Moral Lesson:
The moral lesson from this story could be deduced from Claire's unconventional love for Henry. It tells us that love might or might not be a bed of roses, but when there's understanding, patience, and acceptance, even something as complex as time can be conquered.
Recommendation:
Aside from the fact that Claire's life is annoying to me as a lady, I would say that this is a very good story, well told. The characters delivered their roles perfectly. Also, the film's ability to evoke emotions and its thought-provoking themes make it worthwhile. I will give it a 3/5, and recommend it to fans of romance and time–travel movies.
I leave you with the trailer from YouTube.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read, i appreciate your support.
I just finished watching this, about 2 days ago because I saw a review from @ernestopg last week.
Claire never saw Henry's nakedness until she was 17 and it's common for children to not really communicate what they're up to, to their parents, but she did mention it to the house help.
The movie touches on sensitive elements of relationships but it did avoid anything inappropriate contrary to how most may view this, in my opinion. Henry avoided telling Claire about their future relationship for starters, even when she suspected and wanted it to be true so badly.
While it's easy to get carried away by the romance and the flaws of it, the movie mildly managed to pass some important messages on time.
The time that really mattered was the present, which was Claire's. This is an important element because it shows how Henry's life was as much about Claire's just as hers was about him.
Henry is concerned about Claire, which is why he visits her frequently. But his life doesn't solely revolve around her, he has no control over this which is understandable. Claire receives the bare minimum from the whole story; her life is centered on Henry. From her conversation with the older Henry, her purpose is to help the younger Henry become a better person.
Regarding an adult's consistent visits to a six-year-old, I have reservations. It's especially concerning that the girl didn't mention it to her parents. Seeing a naked adult, whether in your backyard or elsewhere, isn't a common experience. Any child would likely tell their parents. Even though she didn't see him nude, she understood that he was naked, as he told her.
Greetings @malopie
I'm glad to know you've seen the movie and enjoyed it even more than I did:)
I appreciate your contribution.🤍
Perhaps we watched two different films 🤭 @phyna. Or maybe the cinematic adaptations of the original novel took a distinct thematic approach.
I agree with @malopie that this is a relationship rooted in love and mutual co-dependency between Henry and Claire—not a toxic dynamic of emotional independence/dependence.
In fact, in one of the scenes I reference in my post, Henry confesses to his mother that he’s found the “real girl” he’s fallen for.
Co-dependency here is reciprocal affection, far removed from the combative insistence on total independence (as if we don’t always depend on someone), “empowerment” (must someone always lose?), and competitiveness now touted as “virtues” in human relationships.
In my view, what @phyna calls “the inevitable”—Henry’s genetic condition—could be seen as a metaphor for people (men and women) in professions that demand sudden departures: pilots, first responders, military personnel, etc. Is it wrong for their partners to wait for their return? Does their love not endure during travels or missions?
😁😁You're totally right, my friend.
The thing is, this is my POV—I'm writing this review from my perspective, expressing how I felt about the movie.
I'm guessing you're not a woman, because if you were, you'd understand that Claire's only source of happiness seemed to be Henry. She mentioned she's been waiting for him her whole life, and when they finally got intimate, Henry revealed he has a girlfriend. When she got angry, the older Henry showed up to tell her not to be, that she is the one to make him a better man. You see?
Claire's character just didn't sit well with me.
We can't compare this to military couples; no woman just puts her life on hold, waiting for her husband's return. There needs to be something that gives her happiness, like loving parents, in-laws, friends, a business—a life of her own. Also, the man wouldn't be an *sshole and ask her to fix him!
I just wanted to see a small hint of Claire having a moment of happiness or peace afterward that didn't relate to Henry. But she had none:(
Your opinion is very much respected.
I think what I and @ernestopg are both leaning on here is just that both character's lives revolved around each other.
Henry having another girlfriend doesn't mean he was happy tho, clearly he was pretty much avoiding anything long-term.
Also, Claire did have a life outside Henry, and even Henry did ask her to not keep herself for him as younger Henry wasn't keeping himself, and she didn't, even though ultimately she yearned for Henry.
And if I may, I don't see anything wrong with a person's life being all about another person. We make our lives about so many things that aren't even worth wasting it away for all the time e.g depressing jobs, so I wouldn't mind the idea of making one's life about being with someone.
At best, happy moments is earned, at worst, well, same results with everything else in life.
You two have completely fried me. Are you siblings? 😩
Haha, first time interacting with both of you actually.
Your comment is upvoted by @topcomment
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Time travel movies and series are always a thriller. I played the trailer you left, and it seems like it's got action too. My favorite time travel TV show is 12 monkey.
Yes, action scenes come in whenever the main lead needs clothes! 🤭
12 Monkey sounds interesting, I will like to watch it too.
Greetings!