Shadowlands
Tags: philosophical

Plot synopsis:
C. S. "Jack" Lewis (Sir Anthony Hopkins) is a serious professor of literature at Cambridge University. He also write some famous books for children and young teenagers entitled The Chronicles of Narnia. He is also a renown conference speaker and supports his Christian views strongly. He still shares a house with his brother, also a bachelor.One day, he receives a letter from a person who seems to know and understand him, the American poet Joy Gresham (Debra Winger). She is travelling around the UK in search of an editor for her poems and her son Doug (Joseph Mazzello) would very much meet him. The meeting happens in an old-fashioned pub. Jack has gone there accompanied by his brother Warnie, (Edward Hardwicke) who is also a Cambridge university professor. First, they greet an English-looking lady (Carol Passmore) and Joy looks incredibly modern and different to all the rest of the parisioners, old, male... when she enters the place and shouts aloud if any of them is C. S. Lewis. They invite her to a visit to their home. There, Doug shows to be vivacious and is especially interested in the penthouse, where there is an old wardrobe, the same which opens the way to the magic land of Narnia into Lewis's first novel. Warnie shows it, they unlatch it, and to Doug's disappointment, there are only common coats and jackets. Doug says he had always known it was going to be a normal wardrobe.Joy and Doug come back to the USA. Jack goes on living as usual: a predictable boring life in which he only talks to other professors, -whom he has philosophical discussions with- and keeps on giving his lectures. In one of these Joy re-appears. She has just come back to the UK after her divorce with her always-unfaithful husband and wants to settle down in London. They meet again, and Jack introduces her to his fellow professors, so everybody thinks they are having an affair. Joy doesn't let cynic Desmond Arding (Julian Fellowes) -and Arnold Dopliss (Roddy Maude-Roxby)- humilliate her, and replies back, which the professor must accept, as he was left speechless.Jack starts also noticing the motions of student Peter Whistler (James Frain). He is kind of rebellious in his own way although he is also a bright student. One day, he falls sleep during one of Lewis's lessons. Also, Jack sees him stealing a book from a book shop and visits him in his home to offer him some money. Peter rejects it, as it is not a matter of having the means to buy it or not. Peter will leave his studies soon afterwards, and also it isn't lack of money, it is that he considers it useless to finish his studies and move onto teaching at university. Jack will find Peter some years afterwards. Peter has become a school teacher, the same as his late father, and seems contented with his chosen path of life. This makes Jack even more thoughtful about his life, and he has the temptation of wondering about the futility of it all.Joy and Doug spend Christmas Day at the Lewis'. Joy wouldn't let Doug phone his father, because she knows he's such a careless father.Some little time after, Joy is finding it hard to be a published author. She asks Jack to marry her so that she can stay in the UK. Jack agrees, and Warnie watches all these motions surprised, although he doesn't oppose it openly. Jack and Joy get married by a judge in a civil wedding, as they don't intend to live together as husband and wife. Joy can now settle down in London with Doug, although she and Jack become the best of friends.One day, Jack phones Joy. She stops doing whatever she's doing and steps into the corridor in order to answer the phone. Suddenly, she breaks her leg. This is not an accident, because she didn't fall the stairs, of stumbled down, or anything. It just happens like that. It's so painful for her that she can't even crawl to pick the phone up. When at hospital, Jack and Warnie go to see her. It's cancer, and it's very advanced. It's attacked her bones, and that's why her leg bone broke like glass. She has surgery. While his mother is at hospital, Doug goes to live with the siblings.This makes Jack ponder about his life once again. He changes his Christian speech a little bit, talking about Joy's pain. He proposes to her, as he has realised he's in love. They have a religious wedding, the only one which Jack believes in. Joy and Doug move to the Lewis' for ever as soon as Joy is discharged. Doctors say that her cancer is very advanced, so that it'll probalby reappear. Meanwhile, Joy stays at her new home, and asks to travel around the UK in her honeymoon. First, she moves in a wheelchair, then she uses clutches. Jack and her have many happy moments.However, she will fall sick again. Doug watches how she gets worst and worst. She will finally die.His brother and his fellow professors can't sadly offer Jack any consolation. Doug becomes sadder and lonelier as well, and it's not clear if he really approves of her mother having married a different man to his natural father. Although he's never said clearly that his mother is going to die, he knows that it's going to happen. He and Jack have the opportunity of saying goodbye to Joy before she finally dies at her home, not in hospital.Doug keeps on living with Jack as his father. The last scene shows Jack walking down the same countryside path he had walked by when Joy was sick but still alive.Doug and a dog run down a green hill while flying a kite.

Review: This picture is a beautiful, thought provoking, and highly effective meditation on how love, death, god, joy, and pain all coexist in the strange universe that is life.
Yes, the film's magnificently depicted scenes of death and grieving never fail to jerk tears from my eyes, but Lewis's closing lines regarding the choices he made as a boy and a man make me sob.
Lewis is making a bit of a comeback with the "Chronicles Of Narnia" movie of late, but here's a film portrait of him made in 1993 starring the great British actor Anthony Hopkins.To Christians, Lewis has always been a familiar name: one of the greatest and most well-known Christian apologists theologians ("Merre Christianity," "The Screwtape Letters,"etc.) and fiction (the Narnia series) writers of all time.
But this film - no surprise - doesn't really deal with that: it's mainly a love story, the love he had toward his American wife, played by Debra Winger.Being a Brit, the film takes place in England and features some wonderful landscapes of that great country.
I particularly enjoyed the by-play of dry wit between the professors and Winger's various comments to her husband.Nice films like this are unusual and should be treasured, as Lewis and his works are by so many people, Christian or non-Christian..
CS Lewis was very quick, I think, to recognize this and embraced it completely once he found it out.Douglas Davidman Gresham (Joy Gresham's son), has said that the film is perhaps not completely factually correct, but the emotion representation is "spot on".For me, no truer words could be spoken.
Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger are perfectly cast in this beautiful film that contains what maybe the best and most haunting scenes in the history of motion pictures.I didn't realize that there was almost no music until the third time I watched it.
Hopkins delivers a career-best performance and Joseph Mazzello (as Winger's son) is terribly underbilled (his performance is superb), and I have no idea why Shadowlands didn't even land a Best Picture Academy Award nomination, it's certainly worth the price of the rental.+ (GOOD THINGS)  1.) Death scene   2.) Chemistry between Hopkins and Winger 3.) Richard Attenborough's direction 4.) Hopkin's performance   5.) William Nicholson's script 6.) Winger's performance 7.) Joseph Mazzello's performance(BAD THINGS)   1.) Winger's accent
(FYI, Douglas is Joy's son -- thus C.S. Lewis step-son -- played by Joseph Mazzello in this film.) I had recently seen Shadowlands, and so I asked Douglas how "true to life" the picture was.
Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger bring a wonderful love story to life..
S. Lewis who, despite his comfortable bachelor life, falls in love with a lively, spirited American poet played extremely well by Debra Winger.
But you tell me: when he was 10 his mother died; when he was in his late teens he entered the army, endured trench warfare, and was wounded; he saw his best friend killed in battle; honoring a pledge, he moved in with the friend's mother and sister and supported them for many years; he had a sexual relationship with his friend's mother, and although she was an extremely difficult woman he remained with her until her death; and during all these years his much-beloved brother Warnie was a binge drinker who often ended up face down in the gutter.
When Lewis goes through his crisis after her death, we hear quotations from his moving "A Grief Observed" that helped him regain focus on his faith, and the film ended with a powerful image of Lewis planning to tell his stepson Douglas about the meaning of faith.Alas, this important element is completely missing from this ultimately pointless theatrical version of the story.
To be sure there are fine performances by Hopkins and Winger, but in addition to the altered factual details (unlike the original telefilm, Joy's elder son David Gresham is zapped from existence this time out), this movie in typical arrogant Hollywood style decides to remove the importance of Christianity from both the lives of C.S. Lewis and Joy. The end result is something that is blatantly dishonest in the worst form, and one can only note that if Lewis and Joy were practitioners of any faith other than traditional orthodox Christianity, we would no doubt have not seen Hollywood (which will always have nothing but contempt for those of traditional faith) try to downplay this into meaninglessness.Leave it to Hollywood to find a way of turning a story about the 20th century's greatest apologist for traditional Christianity into what is ultimately another of their typical backhanded anti-Christian swipes.UPDATE: Four years later, I am amused to see the reasons for my negative view validated in so many of the positive reviews of this film, which again operate from the conceit that the importance of Christian faith in the lives of both C.S. Lewis and Joy is something that can be easily ignored.
This was the point that the original BBC telemovie did NOT forget, and it accomplished it without giving us a non-stop sermon (which is what the apologists for this movie seem to think a critic like me would have wanted to see) but by judiciously inserting the moments of Lewis and Joy talking about faith, and giving us that poignant ending that lets us know that Lewis is serious about teaching Douglas the meaning of how to find the true faith in God that he has now recovered in the wake of Joy's death.
Richard Attenborough has directed many ambitious but beautifully made films like Oh!What a Lovely War, Cry Freedom and Chaplin, and I will say that Shadowlands deserves to be up there with his best, it is a heart-rending film of true love and the consequences that left me speechless(I am 17), that I don't think has had enough praise.
The two leads' chemistry is the main reason why I love this movie, I confess I cried when Lewis held the dying Joy in his arms, the reason being it reminded me of Mimi's Death Scene in La Boheme.
The scene where he and Lewis are crying in each other's arms made my eyes well up with emotion, never until yesterday did I see Hopkins look so tender with anybody on screen, not even in The Elephant Man. As Warnie, Edward Hardwicke best known for his appearances as Dr Watson in the 80s-90s Sherlock Holmes series was remarkable, a minor character but one with feeling and understanding.
Anthony Hopkins, playing Lewis, doesn't seem quite into this role (his performance consists mainly of faraway glances and noble little smiles), but Debra Winger comes through with a strong characterization.
S. Lewis.STRONG WORDS AND VIOLENCE ETC N/A.MUSIC 92% Classical variations to bring the BIG church traditional music to life and glorious wonder.SOUND 10% Natural sounds for natural people.HOOKABILITY 79% Love the music, love the start!LASTABILITY 85% If you don't already know the story you will want to see the end.OVERALL 82% Good adaptation of a true story, not disappointing but could have been better if more of his personal christian experiences were related to the viewer..
Yes, I was a bit disappointed that there was so little of Lewis' grief and shaken faith, and I'd certainly have preferred that they'd have touched on some of Lewis' many books beyond the Narnia series, but on balance this is a well-done film about a limited portion of this great man's life.
The film tells the supposedly true story of CS Lewis' love and marriage with Joy in a slow manner that only lets out the feeling as slowly and as shielded as Lewis himself.
Another is at the end of this movie, when a brilliantly played Joseph Mazzello (Douglas) tells Anthony Hopkins (Lewis) that he just wishes he could see her again.
Based by writer William Nicholson on an episode in the life of author C.S. Lewis, every scene is like a warm and meticulously sculpted syllabub, a little slice of human interaction that, whether joyful, angry or sad seems shot through with affection and universal truth.The picture benefits considerably from the sublime tranquillity of its lead man Anthony Hopkins.
One of the strangest things about it all was that when he helmed this movie he had just come back from playing a man with a bad Scots accent in Jurassic Park.Despite being all about the man, Shadowlands barely mentions the high fantasy of Lewis's Narnia novels for which he is best-known.
Immensely moving, with a stunning, complex performance by Anthony Hopkins, and a very good one by Debra Winger as his slow developing love.
A 'tearjerker', but elevated way beyond that by the writing, direction and acting, into a profound examination of the way we need love to lift us up, while that very thing makes us so vulnerable.Ironically, while this may be the strongest of Attenborough's films, with a stellar cast, great reviews, a fascinating main character (The novelist C.S. Lewis), and powerful universal emotions, it has long been unavailable on DVD.
For years I was hunting for it and today I finally found a unique copy in my local videostore of all places and bought it straightaway.A beautiful movie about a man who finds love late in life.The key scene near the end between Anthony Hopkins and Joseph Mazzello (who interestingly also starred alongside Richard Attenborough in Jurrassic Park that same year) still brings me to tears..
Wonderfully touching story, great performances from Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger, strong supporting performances and directorial effort, in a film that genuinely moved me.
As Anthony Hopkins as C.S. Lewis says himself in the film: `We read to know we are not alone.'As the movie opens Lewis is alone.
The novelist and critic CS Lewis (author of 'The Chronicles of Narnia' and members of the Inklings writing group alongside Tolkien) met poet Joy Gresham late in life and for the first time found himself in love.
Alongside them in the cast are Michael Denison, John Wood, Edward Hardwicke (memorable as Lewis' hard-drinking brother), and Joseph Mazzello as Gresham's young son, Douglas.The play focuses first on the meeting of the two leads, then into their awkward marriage, and into the onset of Joy's fatal illness.
Married American fan Joy Gresham (Debra Winger) comes to England with her young son Douglas to meet C.S. Lewis.
C.S. Lewis (Anthony Hopkins), a world-renowned Christian theologian, writer and professor, leads a passionless life until he meets a spirited poet (Debra Winger) from the United States.One would think the story of C.
His role as Mr. Stevens in "Remains of the Day" was one example and in the same year (1993), Hopkins gave a similar interpretation to the role of C.S. Lewis in "Shadowlands." The reasonably contented old writer/professor might have died without ever knowing romantic love, that is, until a younger woman with no time to waste delivers a telling blow straight to his heart.
Debra Winger, as Joy, makes an increasingly convincing fit to Hopkin's Lewis, and as others have noted, the supporting cast is also quite good.
My favorite author is C.S.Lewis (played masterfully by Sir Anthony Hopkins), and like Joy Gresham, the American poet (played by Debra Winger) I have read everything Mr. Lewis has ever written.
This film deals with several subjects: love at an older age, fantasy versus reality, self-sacrifice, the meaning of suffering, the life of poet and writer C.S. Lewis, to name but a few.
(The young Joseph Mazzello appears in both films as well.) This is about the love affair and marriage of Joy Gresham (American poet) and C.S. Lewis (Professor, writer, and probably best known for his children's "Narnia" series of books).
He lets the characters tell the story and reach out the viewer through the story, making you feel as if you are a fly on their wall.Anthony Hopkins is superb as "Jack" Lewis, life-long bachelor, more set in his ways than he cares to admit, and Mr. Hopkins, who acts so much with his eyes, makes us believe that he really IS Jack.
In light of the story arc, one might wonder if Ms. Winger has been typecast, but if so, only because she sharpens the soft tones of the location, plays a character that brings new life to the Lewis brothers, and makes one believe that if the real Joy was as Ms. Winger plays her, then her name was apt.And watch for a scene near the end of the film between Mr. Hopkins and young Joseph Mazzello as Douglas.
Edward Hardwicke as brother and fellow life-long bachelor "Warnie" is a delight, especially in his scenes with Douglas, with whom he develops an especially endearing relationship.Maybe it's because I enjoy the classic romances so much that I enjoy this film, but I've had male friends enjoy the film as well, set as it is in 1950s Oxford, which was, at the time, a all-male institution, with the typical male banter and pub-crawling.The only reason I don't give this film 10 stars is that the momentum of the movie is lost in a couple of places, where a subplot appears that does not at first seem connected to the story.
An emotionally exhausting, yet spiritually energizing film, Shadowlands tells the story of renowned author C.S. Lewis' (Anthony Hopkins) relationship with American poet Joy Gresham (Debra Winger).
That, it accomplishes spectacularly.The idea of Debra Winger and Anthony Hopkins becoming involved in a romance seems somewhat silly considering their difference in age, but this only adds to the power of the movie, since in real life, Lewis was 17 years older than Gresham.
Shadowlands focuses on the personal life of one man (C.S. Lewis) and one woman (Joy Gresham) and their unique relationship.
Then, of course, there is the remission of her cancer, its return and her death, which forces Lewis to re-evaluate everything he believes about God, in the end, coming back to the realization that pain is a part of happiness, and that God is not to be blamed for Joy's death, but thanked for her life.Although the movie is spiritual, it's not in your face religious.
After a good start I lost interest about forty five minutes in and upon reflection, felt that the film needed a little bit more character development before plunging into the start of a relationship between writer CS Lewis and a married American woman.
A very solid biopic about writer C.S. Lewis and his relationship with a spunky American.This is one of two great performances Anthony Hopkins gave in 1993, the other being "The Remains of the Day." Debra Winger had a bit of a career comeback playing said spunky American, and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for this role.
Hopkins Great, the Rest Bad. One can assume that most people are not yearning to learn about the life of C.S. Lewis, or as his friends call him, Jack, the writer famous for creating `The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' and wrote philosophical thoughts such as `The Four Loves.' If any person would remain slightly interested in the biographical film `Shadowlands,' based on Lewis, he would have to give appreciation to Anthony Hopkins, who plays the English scholar.
The acting of Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger is good but that doesn't make it a good movie.
This film, based on the love story of C.S. Lewis, noted author, scholar and religious apologist, and Joy Gresham, American poet, is so very haunting and beautiful.
S. Lewis (Anthony Hopkins), and his relationship with American Joy Gresham (Debra Winger).
I think that the general thrust of C.S. Lewis and Joy Gresham's friendship turned romance is portrayed accurately but the film takes some liberties in depicting her as only having one son as opposed to two and in having their entire relationship play out over the course of a year or so as opposed to eight.
In the early days of the Oscars, actors and actresses could be nominated for more than one performance and this is the first time that I have regretted that this system was abandoned as Hopkins deserved Best Actor nominations for both performances.Overall, this is a wonderful, extremely intelligent and deeply moving film which shows that love makes the world go around.
Based on a play which in itself became a film 'Shadowlands' follows Narnia writer C.S Lewis as he realises what love is, only when he then in turn loses it.I wasn't convinced I'd enjoy this film when I put the DVD in, but with such strong performances from Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger I was soon swept along in the warmth and heart of the story.At times it can make you laugh and then its ending leaves you in tears and it is that balance that to me makes a good film.I'd highly recommend this film and it is the type of film we rarely see these days.
When Joy walks into his life, it takes her sickness to make him realize how he truly feels for her.Anthony Hopkins is amazing in the role of Lewis and adequately portrays a man who doesn't know how to love and is crushed when he learns that after loving he will lose the woman he loves.
'We love to know we're not alone,' says Lewis in a part of the movie, and Hopkins shows how Lewis is able to be alone, and at the same time not be alone, when Joy Gresham comes into his life.
...and it was of course even more tragic when Joy (the American wife) died, as love had come to C.S. Lewis so late in life...The reasons I give the movie "only" 9 stars instead of 10, are two.
Acclaimed Christian writer C.S. Lewis is the focus of Sir Richard Attenborough's gentle but moving film about the realisation and discovery of love.Anthony Hopkins (an actor who has movie-goers waiting with baited breath for his next performance) plays the aging lecturer and philosopher who meets an American divorcée whom he takes under his wing.