Surprised by Oxford

This movie is based on a memoire of her life by Caro Weber who was born in the 1970s, so being a college age student the story would have taken place in the 1990s. The main character in this movie is Caro Drake. Some of it was filmed in Nashville but most of it in Oxford, England.

Caro is a very serious student who always seems to be more prepared than the other students, even in middle school. When philosophical concepts arise in the classroom she is never shy to challenge the teacher. When she is graduating she is surprised with a full-ride scholarship to Oxford, she plans to get her PhD in Early English Literature.

She quickly encounters an American student there (played well by an Irish actor) and he takes a keen interest in her. She is different from the other female students, her efforts to get rid of his attention only seems to energize him more.

Not a lot happens in this movie, the more interesting scenes are philosophical exchanges, some with other students, some with professors or administrators. All the while Caro is trying to sort ot her confusion about what is really important in life. There is a mild faith element but it isn't pushed, mainly to put your faith forward, believe in things, figure out what your life is about.

My wife and I watched it at home, streaming. We enjoyed it but it is not a candidate for a re-watch.

I did not know anything about the film or the book - friends invited me.

Absorbing film about an American grad student's intellectual, emotional, philosophical and spiritual maturation and change while at Oxford.

Great Oxford scene-scape, engaging leads Rose Reid and Ruari O'Connor and wonderful to see British actors such as Phyllis Logan, Simon Callow and Ed Stoppard in supporting roles.

I think the film could have benefited from additional short scenes marveling the beauty of Anglican churches, choir music as well as moments of introspection by Carolyn.

Apparently the film has been categorized as a Christian film but we did not feel that it was very religious - actually the film raises universal themes of community, connection and purpose.

We are regular movie-goers - and baffled that there was no publicity for this film and that it apparently was only screened for two days. Surprised by Oxford deserves a regular theatrical run and more/more targeted publicity.

Carolyn was an agnostic when she first went to Oxford. She learned, however, over time there, that faith and intellect are not oppositional, antithetical, or contradictory. As she experienced longing to be fully known, which no human could satisfy, God pursued her as He had C. S. Lewis. As she resisted faith, finding it inconvenient and an impediment to her longing, she, like C. S. Lewis, was a most reluctant convert. Like C. S. Lewis, she found that real life and God were in paradoxes, as we see throughout the Bible and the life of Christ. She learned that paradoxes are only seeming contradictions. She found that faith and intellect can coexist richly. She found that God could fulfill her longing to be fully known. This is a good movie for those interested in how faith and intellect can be "held in the same hand," as Carolyn learned.

I enjoyed the book so I was anxious to see the movie, but disappointed. In the book, among Oxford erudites, Caro learned there is more to life than the education of man, God and Jesus. The movie is more about her relationship with the man she falls in love with. I does give one a good perspective of Oxford which seems to have a culture if its own in 37 or 38 colleges. That was interesting and informative.

Admission was more than twice the price of regular admission and may have accounted for just 4 people in the theatre when I went.

I am sending the book to others. See the movie for the scenery.

I did not know anything about this film, I turned up, it had an intro by the writer of the book it's based on - Carolyn Weber, and the producer too. And I have to admit, this film is rather good. The intro goes on about it being a romance film, which it sort of is, but really goes into the lead character- Carolyn's life from a child in America and the years at Oxford, England.

Roes Reid is brilliant as Carolyn, who struggles with study, a strange romance and if she is a religious person, after meeting Kent Weber, played with proper conviction, by Ruairi O'Connor. He is a very religious person and his views and others make Carolyn, really question her life and what she really wants and what she thinks of others.

Oxford looks really nice, the direction by Ryan Whitaker is spot on, capturing the background of Oxford, along with the cast which has star turns from Simon Callow, Jordan Alexandra, Emma Naomi, a very memorable Lourdes Faberes, and the splendid Phyllis logan, who is quite changeable and starts off as very stiff, but really is a driving force too.

I give this 7.5 /10 as I was Surprised by Oxford. But I don't think I'd want to study or work there though..