Ordinary Love

Here's a subject I haven't encountered often at the cinema as of late, a married couple who still gets along well even though neither partner is submissively disposed.

Generally without complaint.

I've noted representations of successful marriages in recent years, but they usually abide by gender stereotypes, with the wife housekeeping and the husband breadwinning, often set in the past to naturalize the difference, as if the conjugal relations of yesteryear were generally characterized by formulaic harmonies, films challenging this perception at times, others revelling in the traditional preconception.

Ordinary Love's set in the present and the characters get along, and there's no volatile outrageous power struggle, as they live their lives in relative peace.

It's cool to watch even if the drama's somewhat sad.

For here we have a man who respects women, and doesn't just expect them to unconditionally abide, and a woman who respects men, and likes listening to what they have to say.

There's mutual respect flourishing and growing even if they're no longer up to much, and they like spending time together, can't imagine it any other way.

Their routine may be somewhat settled but they've found fascination in simple pleasures, like they both love playing chess yet neither contestant seeks victory, like they'd rather just curiously move their pieces around the board instead of immobilizing the opposite king.

Thus they have clever conversations which are neither sedate nor belittling, carving out pleasant yet challenging common ground, upon which to express themselves honestly.

They love to play.

It's like every day's a potential mystery the composition of which is slightly thrilling, and even though there may be recurrent themes, they're part of the reliable fun.

Things can become boring if you don't remain active and you're not committed to one another, but through unspoken active commitment so much novelty unwittingly refrains.

It's not about winning and losing as Joan (Lesley Manville) and Tom (Liam Neeson) demonstrate, but rather an inquiry that has no resolution and is therefore much more compelling.

Goals at work indubitably, if you're an athlete you should diversify your game, but letting go of power and statistics may lead to more imaginative marriages.

Such a marriage is perhaps more like the literary appreciation of slow moving resounding change, the pieces on the board strong and fierce, but not seeking to injure or harm.

Just have to love being in love I suppose, after youthful passions subside.

Stunning variations on a steady theme.

Past futures creatively reckoning.