Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

Paul Cox's film Innocence is so refreshing because it dares to do what Hollywood never does:  It allows seniors to have leading roles, to have love affairs, and, yes, to have sex.  Compared to mainstream movies, where anyone over 40 is useless, this movie is a breath of fresh air.

Andreas (Charles "Bud" Tingwell) and Claire (Julia Blake) were lovers nearly 50 years ago.  Circumstances drove them apart, and each went their separate ways.  Until Andreas decides to write to Claire, and they agree to meet.  As if no time has passed, they fall back in love, and into an affair.  This would be fine and dandy were it not for the fact that Claire's married.  That's right - a woman in her 70's cheats on her husband and falls for another man.  But in a turn of events that was surprising to me, she decides she's too old for lies.  So she tells her husband and her son what is happening.  Thus we see the effects her actions have on the rest of her family.

The movie gives us deep, meaningful discussions among the characters.  It explores themes of fate, God, and the notion of settling for contentment versus striving for true happiness, even if there is a cost associated with that happiness.  In other words, the characters go through all of the same stages that anybody would, given this situation.  It makes no difference that they're seniors.  The emotions of the situation are the same as if they were 30.  And I think that's the point of the movie.  To show us that the under-40's don't corner the market when it comes to affairs of the heart.  Even though Hollywood would have us believe otherwise.

The movie, itself, is beautiful.  With bright colors and gorgeous scenery, it is a visual delight.   There are a lot of flashback scenes to the couple 50 years ago.  Most of those scenes are silent, we simply watch them being in love. 

The intimacy shown between Andreas and Claire is always tasteful, never over-the-top, although some people might disagree.  After all, they do quite a bit more than hold hands.  However, when they really get going, we'll suddenly switch to a flashback scene from when they were together 50 years ago.  So, there's no 70-year-old nudity shown.

The scenes from 50 years ago are, of course, shot with different actors.  Kristine Van Pellicom plays the young Claire, and I think this was a marvelous casting decision.  The resemblance between Pellicom and Blake made it easy to believe they were the same person.  Not so for the choice of Kenny Aernouts for the young Andreas.  There was no resemblance between him and Tingwell.  In fact I found it quite a distraction as I couldn't tie the two together in my mind, and accept them as the same person.

The reasons for the separation 50 years are shown only briefly.  Very little detail is given.  While my curiosity wanted a bit more information, it really isn't necessary for the story.

There were a few weird scenes in the movie, scenes that looked like they might have suffered from a strange editing job.  There's a scene at a cemetery that's very bizarre.  It revolves around an exhumation, but why was the body not in the coffin?  Then there's another scene in a church that shows a woman grieving.  Claire starts to go to her, then backs off.  No explanation is given for who the woman is, or why Claire backed off.

Still, these are minor complaints.  Overall this is a beautiful film that shows a slice of life not often witnessed on the screen.  The main performances were terrific.  While kids would be bored to tears, adults will probably enjoy this one, finding it a breath of fresh air.

A certified Lean-n-Mean review, and eligible for the Good Movies Write-off

Recommended: Yes