The Sense of an Ending

The Sense of an Ending is a 2017 British drama film adapted from the Booker Prize-winning novel of the same name by Julian Barnes. The film is directed by Ritesh Batra and stars acclaimed British actors Jim Broadbent, Charlotte Rampling, and Harriet Walter in the lead roles. It tells the story of a man who receives a mysterious letter from the past, which forces him to confront his deep-rooted regrets and secrets.

The film begins with Tony Webster (played by Jim Broadbent) receiving a letter from a solicitor named Sarah Ford (played by Emily Mortimer) informing him that the will of his former girlfriend's mother has left him a diary. This revelation is startling for Tony since he did not expect to have any involvement in the life of his old flame, Veronica (played by Charlotte Rampling) after their break-up. The letter dredges up Tony's memories of their college days in the 1960s and his stormy relationship with Veronica, which had resulted in their bitter separation.

Tony is a divorced man living with his single daughter, Susie (played by Michelle Dockery), and running his own camera shop. Despite the passage of time, he still has unresolved feelings and grudges towards Veronica, as well as his old school friend, Adrian Finn (played by Joe Alwyn), who was Veronica's other boyfriend. The diary left to him by Veronica's mother reveals some unexpected details and forces Tony to revisit his past and reconsider his assumptions about his life and those around him.

As Tony embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about a befuddling incident fifty years ago, the film shows a series of flashbacks that reveal the complicated love triangle between him, Veronica, and Adrian, and how that event irreversibly changed their fates. Tony's reminiscences of his past are distorted by the passing of time and the vagaries of his memory, jeopardizing his attempt to find out what really happened. Moreover, Tony discovers that some of the people he thought he knew are not who they seem to be, and that his understanding of the truth is much more complicated than he initially thought.

The Sense of an Ending is a reflective, introspective film that poses big questions about the nature of memory, regret, and the way we come to understand ourselves. The film touches upon themes of aging, mortality, his life's endeavors, and the often-painful attempt to come to terms with the past. The script is exquisite, and the acting is superb, with Broadbent, in particular, delivering a splendid portrayal of Tony as a grouchy, apologetic, and self-absorbed person. The chemistry between Broadbent and Rampling is palpable, and the two actors convey a sense of passion and regret that pervades every scene they share.

The Sense of an Ending is a poignant and thought-provoking film that invites viewers to reflect on their own lives, the memories that shape us, and the ways in which our past informs our present. It leaves you with more questions than answers, but that's precisely the point: we are all the sum of our memories and experiences, but the past is often elusive and shrouded in obscurity. The film captures this realization in a poetic and powerful way, making it a must-watch for anyone seeking an engaging, poignant drama.