Midwinter Break at Luna

Lesley Manville (as Stella) and Ciarán Hinds (as Gerry) in Midwinter Break
Photo Credit: Maslow Entertainment

On a balmy summer’s evening I headed to Windsor Theatre to watch Midwinter Break.

The trailer had caught my attention – about a middle aged couple who go on holiday to Amsterdam and their relationship challenges which could result in drastic life changes.

Based on the novel by Irish author Bernard MacLaverty and directed by Polly Findlay who has a theatre background, it tackles beautifully the inner workings of a long time relationship and its ensuing intimacy.  Midwinter Break also examines the conflicts that come with knowing a loved one well, and the process of a reflecting on long term relationship to consider what the future might hold.

The film’s cinematography with its beautiful shots of Amsterdam (its canals, arts and history, and the hustle and bustle of a big city with its busy cycling traffic) combined with the powerful performances and interplay between the two main leads, Lesley Manville (as Stella) and Ciarán Hinds (as Gerry), make this a stunning directorial debut for Findlay.

It has a bit of a twist during the movie – the motivations of Stella for the trip – beyond just surprising Gerry with a holiday together.  This fleshes out how different the female and male perspective can sometimes be in a relationship.

Film goers who enjoy a tender relationship drama will appreciate Midwinter Break’s subtlety and heart breaking moments.

The film moves along at a steady pace and engrossed in the movie as I was, it had come to its end before I knew it.

Midwinter Break opens on 5 March at Luna with a first look screening on 1st March with a Dutch afternoon tea.

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