Cold Mountain

Directed by Anthony Minghella
Starring Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Renée Zellweger, Philip Seymour Hoffman

The story of a beautiful woman, Ada Monroe (Kidman) capturing the heart of a builder, Inman (Law) in the small town of Cold Mountain. Before the relationship moves on from meaningful, longing looks and before many words are spoken, the American Civil War breaks out and Inman becomes a soldier.

A long passionate goodbye kiss and her gift of a photograph and a book are the start of a long separation. The stream of letters, the memories, the promise of her waiting, keeps him alive. Wounded he deserts the army and starts the journey back to Cold Mountain, to find his love.

Ada deals with the death of her father, Reverend Veasey (Hoffman) and many of the people she grew up with. Ruby Thewes (Zellweger) arrives at Ada’s farm to help her with managing it, they become close friends.

Up until now the film is really good. Very passionate, romantic, whilst at the same time the harsh reality of war and death. The perfect love is just out of reach, both lovers holding on to a glimmer of hope. A reunion would have been welcomed, if only it wasn’t so far fetched and unlikely. I was laughing at the end, instead of tears streaming down my face, which surely, a film like that ought to do! The end, although awful, justifies it a little bit.

Nevertheless, the film is definitely worth watching. Pure romance. The acting is superb too, I enjoyed it.