Our Souls at Night (2017)

Directed by: Ritesh Batra | 103 minutes | drama, romance | Actors: Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Matthias Schoenaerts, Iain Armitage, Judy Greer, Phyllis Somerville, Bruce Dern, John C. Ashton, Randy Moore, Audrey Walters

You’re old and you want something. Inspired by that thought, the elderly widow Addie rings the doorbell one evening at her equally elderly neighbor Louis. Addie feels a bit lonely, especially at night, and she asks Louis if he wants to spend the nights with her from now on. No sex, no, just a little klessbes before going to sleep.

In the romantic drama for the elderly ‘Our Souls in the Night’, we see that few of those good intentions come to fruition. In no time, the old turtle doves get into a relationship, after which all kinds of issues arise. Both bring with them a troubled past, both have children to be reckoned with. And then one day a grandchild comes along who can no longer be cared for by his parents.

What immediately stands out in this slightly too sweet drama is the cast. We know Robert Redford and Jane Fonda as film icons from the 1960s and 1970s. Although they were both around 80 at the time of shooting, Redford looks many times older than the plastically modified Fonda. That doesn’t make the couple any more believable. In addition, Redford isn’t acting at his best here, something that becomes painfully apparent when the energetic Judy Greer shows up as Louis’s daughter.

Also striking is the lack of ambition and the complacent tone. Where the younger characters have to fight against life here, the old ones have it all just fine. Beautiful houses, stable characters, deep wisdom and (sigh) casual sex. If something goes wrong, it’s fixed in no time. Also, those old people really know what life is all about. So when Louis gives Addie’s grandson a set of craft toy trains, the kid has forgotten his cell phone. Oh yeah.

It only gets interesting when Addie and Louis talk about their past. Things seem to have gone wrong there. It makes these characters just a little more human and less complacent. That’s not enough to save the film. Lovers of rippling and toothless drama can still enjoy themselves with ‘Our Souls in the Night’. But a little more spice, pain and depth wouldn’t have hurt.