Das Leuchten der Stille (2010)

Das Leuchten der Stille: Directed by Lasse Hallström. With Channing Tatum, Amanda Seyfried, Richard Jenkins, Henry Thomas. A romantic drama about a soldier who falls for a conservative college student while he’s home on leave.

“Lasse Hallström, the Swedish director who gave us Chocolat (2001), Gilbert Grape (1993) and Hachi: A Dogu0026#39;s Tale (2009) is at it again – making chick flicks for guys. This means, unlike your stereotypical chick flick whose leading man is a hollow beefcakey stud with as much personality as the scenery, here we get a complex beefcakey stud whom the chicks can swoon over whilst the bros say u0026quot;duuuuude heu0026#39;s cool.u0026quot;u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn this case the protagonist is u0026quot;Johnu0026quot; (Channing Tatum) who plays an Army Special Forces character who can kill you with a toothpick but has total control over his emotions. Until, of couse, he meets u0026quot;Savannahu0026quot; (Amanda Seyfried) over his 2 week furlough before going back to war.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAs you might guess, the story explores the ultimate long distance relationship as John completes his 1 year tour as a soldier while Savannah waits at home. Sounds boring? Well wait, there are complications. Johnu0026#39;s father is autistic and his mother abandoned them years ago. So John is forced to be the responsible one, but the whole war/love thing throws him out of whack.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eMeanwhile Savannah has a few secrets of her own (and I gotta admit I totally didnu0026#39;t see it coming). And on top if it all, 9/11 hits and this forces John to make a decision whether to stay with his platoon and most likely get his butt blown off, or retire once his initial tour is over. Oh, and the movie begins with John getting blasted by gunfire, meaning the story unfolds in a huge flashback leaving us wondering the whole time if John dies or not.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis is a very sentimental flick, much like the other Hallström movies I mentioned, but it doesnu0026#39;t get sappy or predictable. In fact at least 3 plot twists took me by total surprise. And Iu0026#39;m talking like u0026quot;whoa duuuuude I never saw THAT comingu0026quot; surprise.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;Dear Johnu0026quot; focuses on interpersonal relationships when duty comes into play – and Iu0026#39;m not just talking about duty toward your country (a cleverly woven parallel), but duty to parents, children and those who need help. This is juxtaposed against selfish happiness, or the storybook love. Pay close attention to the charactersu0026#39; choices u0026amp; sacrifices, and how these choices are based on duty/selflessness rather than u0026quot;getting the girlu0026quot;. I think thatu0026#39;s what makes this a unique romance. Whereas most Hollywood romance flicks focus on the problems of 2 lovers, u0026quot;Dear Johnu0026quot; presents us with an ideal love that is complicated by external loyalties.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe trademark of Hallström movies is some other issue (not just love) driving the characters, and thatu0026#39;s why these films arenu0026#39;t sappy or predictable. Another trademark is is use of gorgeous scenery, in this case the beaches of Charleston SC. He achieves a very nostalgic beach feeling, even for those of us who have only been to the beach once or twice in our lives (see also his film u0026quot;Safe Havenu0026quot; filmed in Southport, NC).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;Dear Johnu0026quot; is a quiet, sentimental film, so donu0026#39;t expect action, car chases u0026amp; robots. But it delivers a few tricky plot twists, so itu0026#39;s never boring. If youu0026#39;re not familiar with Hallströmu0026#39;s style, Iu0026#39;d say itu0026#39;s artistic without being over-the-top artsy. Think of Kieslowsky (Blue, White, Red trilogy) or Wim Wenders (Paris Texas, Wings of Desire) or possibly even Steven Soderbergh (Sex Lies u0026amp; Videotape, Solaris, Magic Mike) and youu0026#39;ll have a general idea of how this film feels.”