Of Things Past

This is a story about the tension between staying together and letting go. In Of Things Past, the couple must decide if their love can survive the cracks formed by grief and time. The thirty-five-year filming approach lets us see the gradual changes in their relationship. Mammoth Lakes, with its serene beauty, often contrasts with the turmoil inside their home. The film does not offer a perfect ending, but it offers a truthful one, showing that love can remain even when the dream changes.

Well-crafted, thoughtful story that follows the intersection of 2 families who each experience the trauma of their young kids' accidents. Filmed in both '85 and '22, earlier events are reflected on by key characters who meet later in life. Outstanding performances by Ms. Clark and Mr. Moriarty. The latter acts, sings, plays piano. Beautifully shot and with a soundtrack that supports the struggles the primary characters wade through coming to terms with indecision. And indiscretion.

A flaw may be that the "miracle" conversation that Moriarty's character has with a doctor feels extraneous.

A unique production. Calls for a 2nd viewing. And a wider audience.

This film is more than a romance or a drama. It is a chronicle of a relationship over three and a half decades. In Of Things Past, the move to Mammoth Lakes is a symbolic attempt at renewal. However, time reveals deeper truths. Some years are full of quiet companionship, others are tense with unspoken resentment. Watching the characters physically and emotionally age makes their journey feel profoundly real. It is a reminder that relationships are never static and that love must be rebuilt again and again.

There is a rare intimacy in watching characters truly age on screen. Of Things Past offers this experience, making the emotional weight of the story even stronger. The couple's decision to move to Mammoth Lakes after their loss sets the stage for decades of change. Secrets, betrayals, and small reconciliations shape their bond. The pacing is slow but deeply rewarding. By the end, we feel as though we have lived alongside them, sharing in their joys and sorrows.

Few films attempt to capture the reality of a relationship across decades, but Of Things Past succeeds beautifully. The loss of a child is the catalyst for the couple's journey, but it is the passing years that test their love. The real-time aging of the actors adds an authenticity that deepens every scene. Watching them navigate trust, betrayal, and reconciliation over thirty-five years is an emotional experience that lingers long after the credits.