Movie Review: And While We Were Here (2012)

Genre: Romantic Drama  

Director: Kat Coiro  

Starring: Kate Bosworth, Jamie Blackley, Iddo Goldberg, Claire Bloom  

Running Time: 80 minutes  

Synopsis: British married couple Jane and Leonard (Kate Bosworth and Iddo Goldberg) arrive in Naples, where viola player Leonard has an assignment with the local orchestra. The couple's relationship is strained by the fallout of an unsuccessful pregnancy. Left alone during the day, Jane listens to tapes of her grandmother (Claire Bloom) recounting World War Two memoires. She also explores nearby Ischia Island, where she meets 19-year-old free-spirited drifter Caleb (Jamie Blackley). They spend time together and start an affair, with Jane questioning her life's trajectory.

What Works Well: The on-location filming in Naples and Ischia is scenic and laid-back. In contrast, the cold corpse of Jane and Leonard's marriage is portrayed with effectively cruel starkness.

What Does Not Work As Well: The sparse content struggles to meaningfully occupy the short running time, resulting in plenty of dreamy montage interludes. Kate Bosworth mostly stares into the mid-distance, and the behaviour of all three central characters is more annoying than convincing. Caleb stalks rather than romances Jane, and Leonard's abject cluelessness about his wife's needs makes him a deserving dumped husband. While central to her psyche, Jane using Caleb as a convenient toy boy adds to the sense of emotional detachment.

Key Quote:

Caleb: You make me nervous.

Jane: You make me calm.

All Ace Black Movie Blog reviews are here.