Since this Friday is my Daniel’s and my 16th wedding anniversary, I thought I’d pick one of my favorite romantic movies, a lesser-known gem from 1985 called Ladyhawke.
It features an all-star cast including Matthew Broderick, Rutger Hauer, Michelle Pfeiffer, John Wood and Alfred Molina in a medieval, magical world of love, deception, sacrifice, and survival.
Broderick plays Phillipe, a pickpocket who converses audibly with God on a regular basis. When we meet him, he’s escaping from the dungeons of Aquila and making deals with his Maker that if he’s successful, he’ll be a changed man. He does make it, but only after being pursued by the imperial guard and rescued by a beautiful hawk and a mysterious man riding a black horse.
Phillipe, in gratitude and to get as far away from the prison as he can, travels with his rescuer, Captain Navarre, formerly of the imperial guard. Soon, however, Phillipe finds out that the Captain is on a quest back to Aquila to kill the ruling priest, Imperius. Eventually, Phillipe discovers the reason for this revenge – Imperius wanted Navarre’s love, Isabeau, for himself and so cast a curse on them rendering Navarre a man by day but a wolf by night, and Isabeau a hawk by day and a woman by night. Forever together, eternally apart.
Navarre has lost hope that there’s any remedy for their situation and so has determined to kill the one responsible. Phillipe’s arrival and curious meddling revive the promise that a solution, though risky, is possible.
I love this movie because it’s clever and mysterious, a good story for telling around a campfire or at bedtime. It’s got knights and knaves, romance and heartbreak, determination and despair. The writing is particularly entertaining because of the witty remarks, mostly from Phillipe’s lips, that keep us smiling. It offers us a few sword fights, some nail biting pursuits, and groundbreaking (for 1985) special effects that transport the viewer into its fantastical world. The ending is one of my favorite story endings of all time, and even after watching it dozens of times still brings tears to my eyes and a thrill to my heart.
I also like this movie because it whispers of spiritual principles and the quest my Perfect Lover went on to release me from bondage. Explaining it now will give away too much of the story, which is more effective when watching it first hand. But if you watch it, you’ll know what I mean!
One thing – I don’t know if you’ll notice this or not – but the background music is hysterical because it’s so out of sync with the genre of the movie. I mention this so that you are prepared, and might not hold it against this wonderfully romantic and adventurous movie!
Happy movie-watching, Dry Ground friend!
2 comments:
Great choice, Lori. This is one of my favorite movies. I guess I need to find it and watch it again.
This is a fun movie. It's been so long since I've seen it, I can barely remember it. My hubby likes it, too! :)
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