Everyone has something they want to achieve in life. Be it our career or for the greater good of everyone. But for Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling), there’s only one thing that he ever wanted. It’s not a monument or a plaque. Not even a pile of money or a vast land. His success only meant one thing to him – and that’s to love his sweetheart with all his heart and soul. Which he did, until the end of both of their lifetimes.
No doubt that when we talk about classic films, especially Nicholas Sparks adaptations, the first movie that may come into your mind is ‘The Notebook’. It is Nicholas’ most successful adaptation that earned $116 million worldwide according to Box Office Mojo. What makes its success even more meaningful is that the said book is also Nicholas’ first-ever published book. Talking about beginners’ luck, are we?
The film revolved around the cliché summer romance where two young people met through fate, but of course, were hindered by the big gap in their social statuses. A laborer who was satisfied with all he has and a wealthy lady who has the world under her feet. Bounded to fall deep and foolishly in love only to be separated not only by their family’s differences but also by their own childishness and innocence. Nevertheless, even after 7 years of separation with no news and contact at all, they were still able to piece back all the remaining and fleeting feelings they have for each other – like it wasn’t even forgotten at all.
Though the story started with the typical poor boy falling in love with the rich girl who only came for the summer and undeniably became madly in love with each other, the director Nick Cassavetes was able to make the film as enchanting and warming as it can be. Starting with the old Noah rowing through the infamous river under the orange sunset together with the birds which Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams) wants to be reincarnated into in her next life, and then finally unfolding the story with Allie looking at that specific view.
The film is filled with symbolism and hints about how painfully beautiful their love has been. Like Noah building his dream house accordingly to what Allie has asked him like they just talked about it yesterday when in fact, years have already passed. Not leaving the fact that the said woman is already bound to tie the knot with someone who is a universe away from who he is. A white house with blue shutters and a patio surrounding it and of course, her own room adjacent to the river so she could paint. This moment proved to Noah that the love that started from a manipulative stunt on a Ferris wheel will give him the privilege to imagine his future with his one and only. And I think that is enough for the common man to embed Allie in everything that he is and everything that he will be.
I personally think that what makes the adaptation so special is how stubborn their love was portrayed. Like what they both said in different settings and times, dialogues that lie in between “It’s not over” or “It wasn’t over for me”. Clearly, both of them did not want to move on and were only unfortunately forced to do so. Partner it with lovely and soothing elements of a piano as background music, then you’ll have the perfect formula for a hopeless romantic film.
More than the plot itself, the movie takes pride in its direct but impactful lines. This is especially shown when the old Noah tells their story in a poetic-like technique and the famous confrontation after Allie decided to back off from their twisted reunion after giving mixed signals to the devastated man. It is surely an incredible scene for Ryan, the actor behind Noah, who actually improvised his passionate line “what do you want?”. Even though Noah shouted his feelings due to his frustration that the love of his life is close to leaving him for the 2nd time, the scene actually showed clearly that Allie, will only come to terms with what she actually wants in her life by being with Noah and that she’s the only one who can decide for it.
The film is actually inclined in subtleness where the watcher is given the chance to freely think why a certain scene happened or why the actor acted that way or said some things. Since the circumstances are still relevant even in today’s generation – the protective parents, the innocent doted only daughter, the brave and persistent suitor or lover, the consequences of not having closure, the miracle of being in pure or painful love – the details that involve the audience to reflect is a great way to make the film last more than a decade.
Timeless.
Just like any love, “The Notebook” somehow solidified that it will transcend different generations. A love that is pure and passionate enough to secure its spot in the hall of the cinematic industry. And just like Noah and Allie’s love, it isn’t over. It will never be over until a love like that fully disappears from our world.
So, if you’re tired of reviewing your own notes, you should definitely watch ‘The Notebook’ where the laborer and the rich daughter’s love is forever engraved.
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