Although not shot in black and white, but converted in post, While We Were Here captures wonderful shades that are reminiscent of film noir. Rather than shy away from the beauty of the landscape of Italy, writer/director Kat Coiro uses it to emphasize the characters.
Leonard (Iddo Goldberg) brings his wife Jane (Kate Bosworth) with him on a trip to Naples, Italy where he’s performing as a viola player. From the very beginning, Leonard treats Jane delicately and there is a sense of tragedy between the couple. By day, Leonard works and Jane explores the city listening to tapes of the interview with her grandmother talking about her experiences during World War II. An encounter with a young man sparks something inside her which she had been suppressing and calls into question her current relationship.
I really enjoyed how Coiro examines the relationship between Leonard and Jane by simply not showing it. There are several scenes of the two in the same room, but not speaking. It’s unclear whether they’ve discussed anything at all, and as your mind races with thoughts of what happened between them, you get the sense that their minds are racing as well. I understand that Jane is troubled, but I found Kate Bosworth to be too cold in the role and even when her character is happy, it’s hard to experience it with her. Iddo Goldberg on the other hand is extremely tragic and frail as he tries to give his wife the distance he thinks she needs. He never wants to upset her, and by pulling back too far, he is unknowingly ruining their relationship.
The young man of nineteen, Caleb (newcomer Jamie Blackley), knowing nothing of Jane’s past, gives her the attention she is desiring from Leonard and with him she can be who she wants. As the film starts out, Jane wears solid colors with her hair pulled back, and after a few days with Caleb, she lets her hair down and starts wearing striped shirts. The change is subtle, but just noticeable enough to make a point.
The scenery is so beautiful that if it was in color, it would almost distract from the story, instead it keeps you focused on the characters. The shadows and lack of color add to the timelessness of the story as Jane and Caleb walk the cobblestone streets of Italy.
My favorite scene was at the plaza when Leonard and Jane are discussing her first encounter with Caleb, a young man from the states that stayed after a charity mission. She tells Leonard that Caleb reminds her of what it was like to be young, with so much possibility. This is a turning point in the film and the events of the next few minutes represent a clear decision on her part. She makes a choice right there and Leonard chooses to not see it.
An examination of a couple in trouble, the film is accessible to almost anyone who has fallen out of love. The pace of the film was slow but deliberate as Jane becomes increasingly distant from Leonard. The story is one that isn’t new, but the profile of Jane is compelling.
Rating: Audiences might shy away from the black and white, but those choosing to give it a chance will likely enjoy the journey (7/10)
POSSIBLE SPOILER I found the ending to be terribly cruel to Leonard and it negated any empathetic feelings for Jane. Leonard was a man that was tiptoeing around her because of what happened. He did love her, and took care of her, but she was tired of that and wanted him to change without him knowing, so it was unfair to him in the end. However, she didn’t know that’s what she wanted until Caleb came along and gave her attention. Tricky. END SPOILER
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