‘Longing’ Review: Richard Gere Flounders in Remake

Richard Gere stars in Longing an English version of the 2017 Israeli film by writer director Savi Gabizon. The film takes place in Canada and is about a busy New York businessman named Daniel (Gere). The story uncovers that Daniel has a son, Allen, from his exgirlfriend Rachel (Suzanne Clément), which he learns of 19 years after Allen’s birth. He also learns that Allen has died in a car crash.

The Story Unfolds

Daniel goes to Ontario to attend Allen’s memorial service. His stay gets extended because he wants to know more about his son’s life. He starts meeting people who knew Allen including Mikey (Wayne Burns), Lillian (Jessica Clement), Alice (Diane Kruger), and school principal (Stuart Hughes).

• Daniel discovers Allen’s intelligence and musical talent.
• Daniel comes across some red flags like drug dealing and stalking issues related to Alice.
• The search for answers leads Daniel into strange dreams featuring his son.

How Critics Viewed the Film

The film doesn’t connect with modern viewers well. Many criticize Gere’s character for being shallow and lacking sympathy, making it hard to like him. His effort to feel connected with Allen’s memory appears more creepy than emotional.

According to Ben Kenigsberg, the story appears unrealistic at times. The specific actions of Daniel, especially his unusual fixation on Alice seem out of sync with reality. Strange dream sequences including one where Alice is seen as a giant don’t make sense or have impact.

• The movie includes strange dreams featuring both Allen and Daniel.
• Daniel dreams eccentrically about Alice being a giant, which felt weird and misfit.
• Daniel sharing personal information in front of Alice’s class was inappropriate.

Acting and Direction

While Gere’s performance is calm and expressionless, it falls short in showing required emotions. Diane Kruger, as Alice, adds excitement to her role. She describes the movie as both outlandish and emotional.

Director Savi Gabizon’s decision to recreate his own film doesn’t make much sense. The story fails to convert well into English language context and several scenes are mismatched with modern times. The film quality by Paul Sarossy and piano score by Owen Pallett don’t add value either.

• Gere’s acting faced criticism for lacking emotion.
• Kruger liked the uncommon yet emotional nature of the film.
• The camera work and background music were disappointing.

Audience Review and Themes

The film’s key areas around grief and parenting don’t shine due to clumsy execution. Daniel’s transformation from a cold businessman to a mourning father is hard to believe for audience. Though the movie tries to depict complexity of parenting and loss, it still misses its mark .

Diane Kruger wishes that viewers learn how “to make the best of any situation” from this movie. According to her though it’s fantastical, yet it presents a thoughtful vision on life aftermaths .

• The movie puts light on themes related with grief and rearing a child.
• Daniel ‘s change appears insincere.
• Kruger believes that this film compels audiences to ponder about life.

In Summary

In sum, Longing stumbles in making its impact . Failures from both Gere and Gabizon don’t do justice with the original film. Although narrative has promise , it lacks proper execution. Problems in the movie such as strange elements and clumsy scenes take away its emotionalfeel , making it a hard watch for viewers.

You can find longing in cinemas beginning June 7 and on video on demand platforms starting from June 28.

Featured img src – Arielaortizb, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons