To my pleasant surprise, I enjoyed this romantic film immensely. Far from the cloying clichés of the genre, it managed to move me with subtlety through believable performances.
I went to the cinema without high expectations, attracted by the curious premise of a photo saving a soldier, but I witnessed a story that was less predictable than expected, capable of conveying feelings without exaggeration.
I was powerfully struck by the restraint and maturity with which Zac Efron played his role, so easy to spoil with overacting, he understood the introversion of a young character in a dramatic role.
Taylor Schilling also shone, portraying with versatility the different facets of her character throughout the film - anger, sadness, joy. Her role provided a lot of playfulness, and was a match for the actress.
The grandmother was another highlight, with Blythe Danner's grace. The child was endearing, and although the police plot lacked originality, the performance was nuanced.
I don't consider the lightness of the war scenes a flaw. The film focuses on the healing process in the face of loss, not war; indeed, Logan's greatest suffering comes more from the death of his comrades than from the confrontation.
By focusing on conveying life as a gift, and portraying an optimistic spirit, it would be contradictory to include bloody sequences. It does not aspire to faithfully portray reality.
It is the performances and the cinematography that are most successful.
However, I found the conclusion of the police plot rushed and forced: the antagonist is eliminated in an expeditious manner for a happy ending, tarnishing the coherence of a story that deals with the tragedy of loss.
All in all, I recommend this emotional and beautiful film to anyone looking for an endearing story at the cinema, well directed and supported by credible talent.
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