Discovery of Heaven Details

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provoking fable

this surprising flim based on the wonderful novel of the same name, just about works due to captivating performances from two male leads, Fry and Wise. 'surprising' because it is serious and engaging, with humor and intelligence - Fry's family is a political family and we see, as he ages, that he grows into that, and Wise's essential other-worldliness, as an astronomer, seeking physical connection, but wholly satisfied with friendship with the Fry character is the best part of the film - the unorthodox relationships just work, and make you feel again what we ought to know, that people create famlies with the people sent to them - the cellist girl friend who maneuvers between the two friends is an authentically beautiful woman and we share with her the positives and negatives of both these men who are ultimately devoted to each other. very convincing all 'round - the framing device is rather weak, and perhaps the last section where the Fry character is rejoined to his son (or is it?) is feeble - but it is the repository of the author of the novel's humor, in a way; it is the comedic underlay - but too outrageous - almost works (similarly to Ewan McGregor film with Cameron Diaz - i forgot the name - where heavely figures manipulate humans below). in any case, i was surprised and intrigued by this - a big theme despite its small pallet...good directing, refreshing altogether.