Revisiting The Lake House

The first time I saw The Lake House starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, I was distracted by attempting to figure out the plausibility of the story. The second time I watched it, I knew enough about the premise to be swept up in the romance. And then it occurred to me: it’s a modern-day version of An Affair to Remember with a paranormal twist.

At first glance, this may not occur to you. After all, most online movie databases summarize the meaning of the movie as follows:

When two people "connect" the bond between them can be so pure and simple as to stir hearts in heaven. When they connect in all the right places at all the wrong times, heaven weeps for broken hearts. To heal these broken hearts, heaven breaks time--Blithe Spiritus

But if you look beyond the paranormal elements, you’ll see some similarities between An Affair to Remember and The Lake House.

As in An Affair to Remember, The Lake House starts off with two people meeting one another when both are somewhat committed to other people. And just as they’re about to make a move toward righting their life and reaching out to one another, disaster steps in and separates them.

In An Affair to Remember, the couple parts on the cruise ship and promise to meet in six months at the Empire State Building. In The Lake House, the couple plans to meet at a romantic restaurant on a future Valentines Day. In both cases, one of them doesn’t show up due to dire circumstances. And in both movies, fate steps to overcome seemingly impossible circumstances and brings them together for a happily ever after ending.

Kathy Holmes
www.kathyholmes.net

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