Ordinary Love Movie Explained / Understanding The Ending And Story - Ro1 2020

Did you know that love has the power to transform even the most ordinary of lives?

Just like the crows, known for their remarkable intelligence, the movie Ordinary Love takes us on a journey that delves deep into the complexities of human emotions.

Directed by Lisa Barros D'Sa and Glenn Leyburn, this 2019 romantic drama film explores the extraordinary strength of love in the face of adversity.

With Lesley Manville and Liam Neeson delivering powerful performances as Joan and Tom Thompson, Ordinary Love captivates audiences with its raw portrayal of a couple's unwavering devotion amidst the challenges of a breast cancer diagnosis.

In this article, I will unravel the intricacies of the film, diving into its ending and unraveling the story that lies within.

Get ready to be moved, inspired, and perhaps even find a newfound appreciation for the ordinary love that exists in our own lives.

Key Takeaways:

  • "Ordinary Love" is a 2019 romantic drama film that tells the story of a couple, Joan and Tom Thompson, who have been married for many years and are navigating the world of serious illness.
  • The film follows the couple as they try to find a way to support each other through Joan's breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
  • The movie explores the theme of enduring love and devotion, highlighting the power of love to endure even in the face of adversity.
  • "Ordinary Love" received positive reviews from film critics, with praise for the strong performances from Lesley Manville and Liam Neeson.

Enduring Love and Devotion in the Face of Illness

"Ordinary Love" is a movie that explores the theme of enduring love and devotion through the story of Tom and Joan, a long-married couple in their 60s. The film portrays their daily routines, such as walking for exercise, shopping for groceries, and trading affectionate pretend insults, which are disrupted when Joan discovers a lump in her breast.

The movie shows how Tom and Joan's love for each other is tested as they navigate the challenges of Joan's diagnosis and treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.

The film depicts the couple's unwavering devotion to each other as they face these challenges together. Tom is shown to be a supportive and caring husband who is always there for Joan, accompanying her to doctor's appointments and holding her hand during treatment.

Joan, on the other hand, is portrayed as a strong and resilient woman who remains optimistic and determined to fight her illness.

Overall, "Ordinary Love" explores the theme of enduring love and devotion by showing how Tom and Joan's love for each other is tested by illness, but ultimately endures through their unwavering support and devotion to each other.

The film portrays the couple's love as a source of strength and comfort during a difficult time, highlighting the power of love to endure even in the face of adversity.

Challenges Faced by the Couple

"Ordinary Love" is a movie about a married couple, Tom and Joan, who face the challenges of dealing with a cancer scare. Throughout the movie, they go through medical tests, surgeries, therapeutic treatments, and their side effects.

The challenges they face include:

  • Fear and uncertainty: Joan discovers a lump in her breast, and the couple must navigate the fear and uncertainty that comes with a cancer diagnosis.
  • Medical procedures and treatments: Tom and Joan must go through a series of medical procedures and treatments, including surgeries and therapeutic treatments, which take a toll on them physically and emotionally.
  • Relationship strain: The stress of dealing with Joan's illness puts a strain on their relationship, leading to arguments and disagreements.

Despite these challenges, the movie also celebrates the couple's love and devotion to each other. The movie focuses on the small, everyday moments of their relationship, highlighting the beauty of intimacy and familiarity in a long-term relationship.

The Impact of Breast Cancer on Relationships

The movie "Ordinary Love" portrays a long-married couple facing breast cancer. The impact of the breast cancer diagnosis on the couple's relationship is not explicitly described. However, research suggests that the quality of a relationship before breast cancer is likely to have a large bearing on how a couple copes with the experience of a diagnosis and treatment.

Breast cancer can often aggravate existing problems in a relationship, and if there were problems before, they may not necessarily have gone away.

Some people may decide to end an unhappy relationship, while others may feel they need the security of their relationship even if it isn't entirely happy.

Research has also shown that some issues related to breast cancer can bring a couple closer together, while others can disrupt the relationship. The diagnosis can make or break a marriage, but most women find that it makes their marriage stronger.

It is important for partners to be involved in the process and to support each other in any way they can.

Overall, the impact of breast cancer on a couple's relationship can vary depending on the quality of the relationship before the diagnosis and how the couple copes with the experience of diagnosis and treatment.

The Characters in "Ordinary Love"

The main characters in the movie "Ordinary Love" are Joan and Tom Thompson, played by Lesley Manville and Liam Neeson, respectively. They are a middle-class couple who are still mourning the death of their only child.

The story follows their relationship as they navigate the challenges of life together, including Joan's breast cancer diagnosis.

Other characters in the movie include Peter, played by David Wilmot, and Steve, played by Amit Shah.

Peter: A Fellow Patient

Peter is a character in the film "Ordinary Love" who is also a cancer patient and meets Joan in the hospital waiting room. He was a teacher who once had Joan's daughter Debbie in his class. Peter reveals to Joan that he has terminal cancer.

Joan and Tom meet Peter's husband, Steve, in the hospital cafeteria, and they discuss their shared experiences around love and loss.

Peter's character serves to show the instant intimacy of fellow patients and the comfort that they get from being able to be frank with each other.

An Emotional Journey

"Ordinary Love" is a movie that portrays the emotional journey of a couple, Tom and Joan, as they navigate the world of serious illness. The film is inspired by the experience of Irish playwright Owen McCafferty's wife with breast cancer, and the smallest details are thoughtfully observed and portrayed with sympathetic honesty.

Tom and Joan have an amiable, affectionate relationship with a lot of gentle teasing that may sound like bickering but is really their form of banter, clearly honed over decades together.

As the story progresses, the couple goes through a kaleidoscope of moods and emotions, and every one of them is precise, fearless, and searingly real.

Health care professionals are sympathetic but removed, and random encounters with other patients somehow become vitally important.

The emotional journey of the characters is portrayed with realism and intensity, as they face the gloomy, gray uncertainty of modern breast cancer treatment.

Despite the challenges they face, Tom and Joan's relationship remains strong, and their love for each other shines through.

The Power of Love and Support

"Ordinary Love" is a movie that tells the story of a couple, Tom and Joan, who are navigating the world of serious illness, specifically breast cancer. The movie is filled with scenes that test their bond, but it also shows the couple going about their daily lives, supporting each other through the ups and downs of the illness.

Some key moments or scenes that highlight the couple's love and support for each other include:

  • Initial tests: When Tom and Joan receive the initial test results that are "concerning," they hold hands and support each other.
  • Surgery: After Joan's surgery, Tom helps her put on her bra and they share a tender moment.
  • Chemotherapy: During Joan's chemotherapy, Tom shaves her head and they dance together in the living room.
  • Random encounters: Random encounters with other patients become vitally important to Tom and Joan, and they support each other through these interactions.
  • Daily life: Throughout the movie, Tom and Joan support each other through their daily life, whether it's cooking dinner together or just sitting on the couch.

Overall, "Ordinary Love" is a movie that shows the power of love and support in the face of illness. The movie portrays the couple's relationship in a realistic and compassionate way, highlighting the ups and downs of their journey together.

The Ending and Reflections on Life

The movie "Ordinary Love" takes us through a year of medical tests, surgeries, therapeutic treatments, and their side effects, and the aftermath. The story is bookended by two Christmases, and the film's true subject is the mundane, not the melodramatic.

The film brilliantly captures that strange sense of everything and nothing happening simultaneously - to everyone.

The smallest details are thoughtfully observed and portrayed with sympathetic honesty, and the emotions of the characters are precise, fearless, and searingly real.

The ending of the movie ties up the story's loose ends by showing Tom and Joan sitting together on a bench, looking out at the sea. They are holding hands, and there is a sense of peace and acceptance between them.

The film does not provide a neat resolution to the couple's struggles, but rather shows them continuing to face the challenges of illness and mortality together.

The ending is a poignant reminder that life is full of uncertainty and difficulty, but that love and companionship can help us face even the toughest of times.

Performances and Screenplay

Lesley Manville and Liam Neeson deliver notable performances in "Ordinary Love". Manville portrays Joan, a woman going through a range of emotions as she navigates the world of serious illness, while Neeson plays Tom, her amiable and affectionate husband.

Reviewers praise Manville's precise, fearless, and searingly real portrayal of Joan.

Neeson's performance as Tom is also well-received, with his gentle teasing and banter with Joan showing the couple's deep connection honed over decades together.

The supporting cast, including Esh Alladi, Melanie Clark Pullen, Matthew Sharpe, David Wilmot, and Amit Shah, also deliver strong performances.

The screenplay of "Ordinary Love" by Owen McCafferty contributes significantly to the overall storytelling of the movie. The screenplay is inspired by McCafferty's own experience of supporting his wife through breast cancer.

The movie is a deeply moving, frequently funny, and piercingly insightful drama that captures the strange sense of everything and nothing happening simultaneously.

The smallest details are thoughtfully observed and portrayed with sympathetic honesty, and the characters' amiable, affectionate relationship with a lot of gentle teasing is clearly honed over decades together.

The screenplay uses clean lines and well-observed tiny details to build up a deeply moving, nuanced portrait of a marriage under strain after a cancer diagnosis.

The movie's true subject is the mundane, not the melodramatic, and the heavy conversations between the characters are freighted by their reciprocal fears and insecurities.

The screenplay is an honest reflection of marriage in sickness and in health, and the movie is an intimate portrait of love, survival, and the epic questions life throws at each and every one of us.

Similar Films and Themes

"Ordinary Love" is a deeply moving drama about a middle-aged couple facing up to a diagnosis of breast cancer and a year of medical intervention. The film explores themes of love, grief, and mortality, and it does so with a mixture of sorrow and laughter.

Here are some other films that share similar themes and storytelling styles as "Ordinary Love":

  • "The Fault in Our Stars" (2014): This film is about two teenagers who fall in love while battling cancer. It explores themes of love, loss, and mortality, and it does so with a mixture of humor and heartbreak.
  • "Still Alice" (2014): This film is about a linguistics professor who is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. It explores themes of memory, identity, and family, and it does so with a mixture of sadness and hope.
  • "The Theory of Everything" (2014): This film is about the life of physicist Stephen Hawking and his relationship with his wife, Jane. It explores themes of love, perseverance, and the human spirit, and it does so with a mixture of drama and humor.
  • "A Walk to Remember" (2002): This film is about a high school student who falls in love with a girl who has leukemia. It explores themes of love, faith, and mortality, and it does so with a mixture of romance and tragedy.
  • "The Bucket List" (2007): This film is about two terminally ill men who escape from a cancer ward and embark on a road trip with a wish list of things to do before they "kick the bucket". It explores themes of friendship, adventure, and the meaning of life, and it does so with a mixture of humor and heart.

Overall, "Ordinary Love" is a unique and powerful film that explores universal themes of love, grief, and mortality with a mixture of sorrow and laughter.

Frequently asked questions

1) Who are the main characters in the movie "Ordinary Love" (2020)?

The main characters in the movie "Ordinary Love" (2020) are Joan Thompson, played by Lesley Manville, and Tom Thompson, played by Liam Neeson. They are a couple who are facing the challenges of a breast cancer diagnosis and navigating their enduring love and devotion.

2) What is the storyline of "Ordinary Love" (2020)?

"Ordinary Love" (2020) follows the journey of Joan and Tom Thompson as they navigate the challenges of a breast cancer diagnosis. The movie explores their enduring love and devotion as they face the emotional and physical toll of the illness.

It delves into their everyday lives, their fears, and their determination to support each other through this difficult time.

3) What role does Peter play in the movie "Ordinary Love" (2020)?

Peter, played by David Wilmot, is a close friend of Joan and Tom Thompson. He provides emotional support and acts as a confidant for the couple throughout their journey. Peter offers a listening ear, advice, and a shoulder to lean on during their challenging times.

4) Who is Steve in the movie "Ordinary Love" (2020)?

Steve, portrayed by Amit Shah, is a medical professional who plays a significant role in Joan's breast cancer treatment. He is compassionate, knowledgeable, and provides guidance to Joan and Tom as they navigate the complexities of the medical system and make important decisions regarding her treatment.

5) What is the overall theme of "Ordinary Love" (2020)?

The overall theme of "Ordinary Love" (2020) is the power of love and resilience in the face of adversity. It explores the strength of a long-term relationship and the ability to find beauty and strength in ordinary moments.

The movie also sheds light on the challenges faced by individuals and couples dealing with a serious illness and the impact it has on their lives.

I have imagined continuations for 'Ordinary Love'. If you are interested in knowing what will happen, check the link below or in the sidebar.

Final reflections and implications

So, you've just finished watching Ordinary Love, huh? What a rollercoaster of emotions that was! I mean, who would have thought a movie about a couple facing the challenges of breast cancer could be so captivating and heart-wrenching? But here we are, trying to make sense of it all.

Throughout the film, we follow Joan and Tom Thompson as they navigate the ups and downs of Joan's diagnosis. Lesley Manville and Liam Neeson's performances were nothing short of extraordinary, capturing the raw emotions and complexities of their characters' journey. It's hard not to feel a deep connection to them, as if we're right there with them, experiencing every moment of their pain and love.

One of the most striking aspects of Ordinary Love is its portrayal of the ordinary. We often associate love with grand gestures and epic romances, but this film reminds us that love can be found in the simplest of moments. It's in the way Tom tenderly brushes Joan's hair, or how they share a laugh over a silly joke. It's in the quiet moments of vulnerability and support, where their love shines the brightest.

But what about the ending? Ah, the ending. It's a bittersweet culmination of their journey, leaving us with a mix of emotions. Without giving too much away, it's a reminder that life doesn't always tie up neatly with a bow. It's messy, unpredictable, and sometimes unfair. But even in the face of tragedy, love endures. It's a testament to the strength of their bond and the power of ordinary love.

As we reflect on the story and its ending, it's worth pondering the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing every moment. Ordinary Love serves as a poignant reminder that we never know what tomorrow may bring, and that love, in all its ordinary glory, is what truly matters.

So, my dear reader, as you close this chapter of Ordinary Love, take a moment to appreciate the love in your own life. Embrace the ordinary moments, for they are the ones that truly make life extraordinary. And remember, love is not always about grand gestures or epic romances. It's about the small, everyday acts of kindness and devotion that make our hearts sing.

In the end, Ordinary Love leaves us with a profound question: What does love mean to you? And how will you choose to embrace it in your own life?

Ordinary Love Trailer(2020) | Movieclips Trailers

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Links and references

If you want to know the complete story, visit this article:

Ordinary love movie / synopsis + complete story - RO1 2020

If you are looking for a different ending, this is the article for you:

Ordinary love movie / alternative ending - RO1 2020

Or maybe you haven't watched it and are trying to figure out if the movie is for you:

Love's unbreakable bond, a journey of endurance and devotion - RO1 2020

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