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| Review by Caitlyn Thompson |
Note: Spoilers Within
And While We Were Here is about a weary couple who, while on a brief trip in Italy, are forced to confront their failing relationship when the wife has an affair with a younger man.
Kate Bosworth’s Jane is haunted by her inability to have children. She is stuck in a hapless marriage unable to move the relationship forward. Jane and her husband Leonard’s exchanges are short and harsh.
Leonard, played by Iddo Goldberg, never has time to engage with her. His time is overwhelmed with his career as a violist and when he is present he is condescending and dismissive. It’s difficult to tell at first whether or not his demanding work or his wife’s constantly dragging mood instigates his behavior.
Kate Bosworth’s stiff demeanor works well in this subtle role. Even though the script is weak, her portrayal of desperation is quite powerful. Her intense stares and fragile stature create a sympathetic character especially in contrast to her brutish husband.
Jane doesn’t speak much and when she does she is meek and passive. However, as the film progresses it becomes clear that Leonard’s abrasive self-centeredness is smothering her.
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