The Age of Adeline

November 22, 2020

Movie lovers have been lapping at the fountain of youth ever since cinema has created. I am a movie lover as well as it becomes my way to escape. But there is a significance in this escapism, it is more than simple eluding. Moreover, it has a common link to humanity, in all of us.

The common movies we watched are usually about love, drama, comedy, horror, thrilling, sci-fi, fantasy, etc. But some are really beyond our imagination, so fictitious. That is because we have great story writers and movie directors. Filmmakers make way to cater to our desires, fears, and necessities.

I want to share here this movie about Aging I have watched more or less five times. It is not the usual type of movie. And the story is truly award-winning with the great acting skills of the characters. The scenes are frequently unbelievable, just enough pixie dust that it ought to find a fan base among romantic types.

"Age doesn't matter" In this movie, it is not about the age differences of the involved characters. But some kind of a twist in the aging process that is impossible to happen in real life.

@LovelyJane01 who has the same name as my sister (but she is not my sister as I checked her profile 😅), made an article about this film and so I was inspired to make mine.

This is like some sort of a vampire film without the bloodsucking. But there is no vampire. 😅

THE AGE OF ADELINE

A romatic fantasy film premiered last 2015 in New York City, directed by Lee Toland Krieger and written by J. Mills Goodloe and Salvador Paskowitz. The story is about a young woman who miraculously survived a car wreck and remains the face of 29 years old for eight decades.

The film received different reviews and praises from different critics. It has made a modest box-office success with a gross of $65.7 million worldwide from a $25 million budget. The film also received two nominations at the 42nd Saturn Awards (Best Fantasy Film and the main character Lively for Best Actress).

Here goes the story...

Adeline Bowman, portrayed by Blake Lively from the "Gossip Girl", was the first baby born in 1908 in San Francisco during New Year's Day. Then later she married and give birth to her daughter Flemming, but loses her husband and become a widow due to an accident during the construction of the Golden Gate bridge in 1937. After ten months, Adaline died in a car accident when she swerved into a ravine during a snowstorm, but she was revived by a lightning strike. After that moment, her centenarian trapped in 29 years old body.

Who doesn't want to stay young nowadays? Of course not in her case, and not in her time.

Her daughter ages normally that she even appeared older than Adeline. And so people get suspicious about her looks and the FBI attempted to capture her for study. She then realizes that she needs to spend the rest of her life on a run. Whenever anyone gets hip to the fact that she does not get old, she slips away, changed her address and identity according to the era. Adeline has lived a solitary life and never allow anyone to get close to her, afraid that her secret might be revealed.

Until one night at a New Year's Eve party, he met Ellis Jones (portrayed by Michiel Huisman) and introduced herself as "Jennifer," her current alias. Ellis wanted to win her heart, but Adeline refuses as she can never fall in love and have a good future with someone. In the past, Adeline had fallen in love with someone as well. But she just runs away when the man was about to propose to her. Because of her condition, she stayed loveless and lived a solitary life for 80 years.

But due to Ellis's consistent supply of energy to make up for Adeline's personality deficiency, and Flemming's advice to give it a try, the charismatic philanthropist reignites her passion for life and romance. Then Adeline later realized that she wants to have a natural life again.

Ellis invited Adeline to attend his parent's 40th anniversary on weekend. When Ellis introduced her to his father, William (played by Harrison Ford) who instantly recognized her as Adeline.

She happens to recognize William as well, but she lied and told him that Adeline was her deceased mother. Flashbacks show revealing how William and Adeline met and came to be in love with each other, and how Adeline didn't show up at the time William wants to propose to her.

The next incident uncovers the truth about Adeline's secret when William saw the cut on her left hand. A flashback reveals were William stitched up the cut she got from their hiking then confronted Adeline. Through her confession, William finally understands why she suddenly left without any notice and Adeline decided to leave. William begs her to stay for her son but to no avail.

Adeline packed her things and return home while Ellis was in the shower. Once Ellis saw her note, he immediately rushed and followed her. While Adeline was driving home, many thoughts came into her mind that changes her decision, and called her daughter and told her that she do not want to run anymore. But when she turns her car around, a truck plows into her car. Helpless and freezing Adeline dies again.

Ellis who was worried about Adeline passed by and saw a car accident, only to find out that it was Adeline's car. He rushed down and saw Adeline's dead body trying to revive by the rescuers. Through the electricity of the defibrillator, Adeline was revived from death for the second time.

Adeline wakes up in the hospital and saw Ellis on her side. The two affirmed their love for one another. She then confessed everything to Ellis who seems to accept her nonaging life. A year later, Adeline and Ellis were going to a party when she noticed something different on her in the mirror. It was her first grey hair. Proving that she has started to age naturally again.

The ending was ludicrous, but also perfect!

What if you stopped aging? Would you continue to run from it or face the circumstances?

I absolutely love the idea of romance over the decades. A love story between a lady born in 1908 and a man in the 80s. It's a great movie indeed and I was mesmerized by the characters portrayed in the story.


For those who haven't watched the movie yet, here is a trailer for you. And it is up to you to search for the full movie. 😊

I was supposed to share two movies here about aging. But this one seems that long enough for one article. So I will tackle the other in my next article. 😊

Written by: @Jane