O Retrato do Amor

A truly beautiful movie in stunning Ireland. It was done so softly, so touching, unlike many Hallmark movies that just go bluntly. Don't get me wrong, it's still a predictable romance with a touch of mystery, but we all love it for this, of course, otherwise you wouldn't be here.

I must say that while the main actor was a bit rough and stiff (understandable from the context of the movie though), the lead actress is purely angelic and so so beautiful. She was so sweet and caring, like a fairy of an elf. I would be disappointed if Peter Jackson doesn't call her for the next movie. The secondary character of Saorsie was nice too with a lovely message.

All in all, it's a nice movie to spend an evening with, absolutely recommend.

Museum curator Lily (Aubrey Reynolds) has not dated since the death of her husband. Her boss is desperate to get her back out there. The whole work family gets involved when the museum gets a portrait that looks exactly like her. They have no artist name but they do have Ireland. Postal siblings William Murphy (Richard McWilliams) and Saoirse Murphy (Kathryn McKiernan) gives her the name J. O'Brien which is not that helpful. They know the truth, but is keeping it from her.

I like the gentleness of the journey. The Irish countryside helps a lot. I would like William to have more energy. I get that his subterfuge does leave him a bit hesitant. It doesn't explain after his reveal. She really shouldn't make it all the way back to America. If he doesn't stop her at the airport, he doesn't deserve her. That's the one thing I would change.

I enjoyed the movie a lot and everything about it - the interesting romantic plot, the talented and handsome actors and the beautiful scenery. It is about the idea of soulmates, do they exists and seeing your soulmate in your dreams. I loved this idea, because like William, who saw Lily in his dreams and painted a portrait of her before they met, I "saw" my sweetheart a long time before we met. However, I described him in detailed writing and even described one of our trips, which would take place eight years after I wrote about it. I was wondering, is this random. How can it happen, but perhaps we are true soulmates.

I love the idea in the movie that if you meet your soulmate, you can't let them get away, and you have to do something to make your dream a reality. Lily and William almost missed each other. What happens, how your dreams correspond to reality is up to you.

I would highly recommend this movie!

In this Hallmark movie we first see a group of ladies who work at a museum. They receive a painting of a lovely lady and it looks exactly, not similar, yes exactly like one of the curators. They are all puzzled and dumbfounded when she tells the others that she has never posed for such a portrait. Is it really "Love's Portrait?"

They manage to find the shipping receipt and figure out it came from Ireland. So the lady who is boss really tries to convince her that it might be fate, she should go to Ireland and figure it out. At first very reluctant, when she relents her boss presents her with the travel itinerary, airline tickets and all.

Fortunately most of the movie is filmed in Ireland with Irish actors. They make excellent use of the beautiful Irish scenery.

Though, I must remark that they cheat a bit. Hallmark movies are noted for waiting until one minute from the end for what my wife and I call "The Hallmark Kiss." Well there is one, right at one minute from the end, but that is the second one. The first one comes at about 15 minutes before the end.

Oh, well, we will forgive them. It is a suitably entertaining movie. At home, streaming on Peacock.

I enjoyed this film very much. The accents were real and not faked as in many Hallmark movies. I recognized many places they visited as sites we traveled to on our tours in Ireland. The scenery and music made me feel as if I was back there again. The story was sweet and fanciful without need to be realistic - it was like an Irish story being told where you don't know how much is real and how much is fantasy but it doesn't really matter in the end. All that matters is the love and connections made. I think the main characters had chemistry and were believable. I don't understand why the female lead carried an umbrella while the male lead did not since it didn't look like it was raining at the time that they were visiting each O'Brien in the area.

One annoyance was the friend/boss Michelle who acted wooden and unrealistically pushy.