Had the title not already been taken, and with Anthony Hopkins in the lead role, this film might have been called "The Remains of the Day". Both were released in 1993, and I was caught off guard watching Hopkins in roles that were so similar to each other in both stories. His character in 'Remains' if anything is even more walled off from his emotions, and one becomes frustrated seeing his character unwilling to express his feelings or even his thoughts on subjects of major import. He's somewhat more forthcoming as author C.S. Lewis in this film based on the writer's passionless life, until he meets an American poet who challenges his perceptions and gradually wins his heart.
I'm always leery of Hollywood treatments of real life stories because they almost never treat their subjects truthfully, either by omission or commission. I read with interest the review posted here on IMDb by user 'Eric-62-2', who excoriates the picture for the way it diminished the importance of Christianity in the lives of both Lewis and Joy Gresham (Debra Winger). Oddly, I had a sense of that while watching the film, as Lewis's Christian faith profoundly affected his works, while the film barely touches on the subject. One also gets a sense that Lewis's marriage to Gresham ended quite suddenly due to her cancer, while in reality, they had four years together before she succumbed to her illness.
It's probably fair warning for prospective viewers to have a box of Kleenex handy for this film, as there are any number of scenes that tug at the heart and leave one feeling despondent over the fate of Ms. Gresham and the son who will be left without a mother. A final scene in particular with Lewis and young Douglas (Joseph Mazzello) coping with their loss is particularly moving, though in the tradition of achieving something positive out of tragedy, the very final scene is one of Lewis and his son walking contentedly in a Golden Valley of their own making.
I'm always leery of Hollywood treatments of real life stories because they almost never treat their subjects truthfully, either by omission or commission. I read with interest the review posted here on IMDb by user 'Eric-62-2', who excoriates the picture for the way it diminished the importance of Christianity in the lives of both Lewis and Joy Gresham (Debra Winger). Oddly, I had a sense of that while watching the film, as Lewis's Christian faith profoundly affected his works, while the film barely touches on the subject. One also gets a sense that Lewis's marriage to Gresham ended quite suddenly due to her cancer, while in reality, they had four years together before she succumbed to her illness.
It's probably fair warning for prospective viewers to have a box of Kleenex handy for this film, as there are any number of scenes that tug at the heart and leave one feeling despondent over the fate of Ms. Gresham and the son who will be left without a mother. A final scene in particular with Lewis and young Douglas (Joseph Mazzello) coping with their loss is particularly moving, though in the tradition of achieving something positive out of tragedy, the very final scene is one of Lewis and his son walking contentedly in a Golden Valley of their own making.