Restless ☆☆☆☆

I have wanted to see this film since I saw the trailer last year on IMDB, I find a fair few movies that way.
It stars Mia Wasikowska (one of the stars of my most recent review, The Kids Are Alright) and Henry Hopper (son of the late great Dennis Hopper) as Annie and Enoch, a pair of teenagers greatly troubled with death.

For Annie death is imminent as her brain tumour has returned with no hope this time for treatment to work, as for Enoch he crashes other peoples funerals because of his preoccupation with death and being able to say goodbye. They meet at the funeral of one of Annie's fellow 'cancer kids', and she takes an interest in the strange boy who clearly knows nobody at this memorial, not even the deceased.
The relationship tentatively develops, they reveal their secrets - Annie's terminal cancer, Enoch's ghost kamikaze pilot friend - and take advantage of life while they can.

It is an incredibly sweet love story and beautifully acted. I have said before I think Mia is a remarkable actress, but the film showcases Henry Hopper's talent too and I have to say, like father like son. Henry's Enoch is sensitive but on edge, and the anger that bubbles over has glimpses of his Dad's extraordinary ability to embody emotion.
The relationship is so fragile, you feel as though a sudden gust of wind would break them apart. Previous films covering the same topic, Love Story and A Walk to Remember, have a tendency to be overly dramatic and bordering on cheesey. I think because of Enoch there was no danger of it becoming cheesey, his own experiences with death (his parents and the ghost friend) creates an aura of mystery about this boy - how on earth will he cope with a dying girl?

Annie is an exceptional girl, dying but is the strongest person around her, taking lifes experiences as she finds them, not shying away from the strange boy and joining in with his conversations with his dead parents.

Safe to say I cried quite a lot. Not racking sobs, the film never goes that far to torment the viewer, rather just sad tears that fell without warning. I cry at adverts though, I'm that girl.
It is a gentle movie, despite the theme of death, and boasts two rather wonderful performances. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I highly recommend giving it a try if you enjoy quiet and thought provoking films.