Roger Michell’s “Enduring Love”

Enduring Love (2004)

Discomforting psychological drama of existential horror is a bitter but effective work more akin to Yorgos Lanthimos than Michell’s own “Notting Hill”

Adapted from Ian McEwan’s novel, Enduring Love is a far more intense experience than Michell’s filmography implies. Opening with Joe(Daniel Craig) on a picnic with Claire(Samantha Morton) with the intention of proposing, their idyll is interrupted by a rogue hot air balloon to which several lives intersect. Though this initial conceit feels a tad contrived what follows is an uncomfortable spiral as Joe comes to terms with the aftermath of the incident.

Featuring a slew of now familiar actors in addition to Craig and Morton including Rhys Ifans, Bill Nighy, Ben Whishaw, Andrew Lincoln and Susan Lynch, the film ratchets up the tension well supported by some terrific cinematography. The soundtrack however is distracting and feels out-of-place.

The tone of the film is excellent and it’s disappointing that Michell hasn’t done more in the genre. Saying all that, it doesn’t quite stick the landing and there are couple of questionable caricatures but is overall an excellent mood piece with interesting ideas and great performances.