Late Bloomers

Mary and Adam seem to live in paradise: Their three children are grown up and thriving. Mary's mother supports the couple with great dedication and practical wit. Adam has enjoyed great recognition as an architect in London for years. Mary can afford to stop working. She, the daughter of an Italian father, occasionally translates texts into English. They have settled in, their life is harmonious. But suddenly paradise crumbles: Mary and Adam have arrived in the so-called second half of life. Accepting this is not always easy. Mary tries to tackle her brooding with pragmatism and self-irony. Adam surrounds himself with youthful employees and is more than flattered when a colleague who could be his daughter falls in love with him. But even Mary is not immune to the advances of a younger man. Slowly but inexorably, disaster is brewing. Both have to pass a few tests of maturity before they can enjoy the adventure of life again. n. "'Late Bloomers', despite its cheerful overtones, is a real punch in the gut that won't leave anyone cold, no matter how old you are.The little episodes, the increasing wrinkles, the creeping signs of age and irritations that Gavras weaves into her story with great sensitivity get deep under the skin.Especially in a world where ageing is a stigma, Adam and Mary's journey into old age makes it clear that you can't stop it, no matter how hard you try.People will grow old, people will die.What remains is the question of a dignified way to the end of one's days.(...) The film thus clearly places itself in the tradition of European arthouse cinema as a socio-critical forum and opens up another side of the debate that Andreas Dresen's 'Wolke 9' and (...) Michael Haneke's 'Liebe' are also conducting." (kino-zeit.de)