Shadowlands is the true story about C.S.Lewis, the author of The Chronicles of Narnia. Known as Jack (played by Anthony Hopkins) he teaches at Oxford College during the 1930's.

An American fan, Joy Gresham (played by Debra Winger) travels to England with her son for a meeting with Jack in Oxford. Jack lets Joy stay in his house, which he shares with his brother.

After divorcing her husband, Jack and Joy become close friends and developes an closer relationship - which turns into a warm friendship. Jack marries Joy "technically" so that Joy can stay in England. Jack then discovers happiness in later life through his marriage. When it turns out that Joy is struck by cancer, Jack's beliefs and new found fulfillment are shattered.

However, Joy's struggle against an unexpected and devastating illness brings them closer together, and they finally marry for love. Like Joy puts it; "We can't have the happiness of yesterday without the pain of today. That's the deal.… more »

Shadowlands is the true story about C.S.Lewis, the author of The Chronicles of Narnia. Known as Jack (played by Anthony Hopkins) he teaches at Oxford College during the 1930's.

An American fan, Joy Gresham (played by Debra Winger) travels to England with her son for a meeting with Jack in Oxford. Jack lets Joy stay in his house, which he shares with his brother.

After divorcing her husband, Jack and Joy become close friends and developes an closer relationship - which turns into a warm friendship. Jack marries Joy "technically" so that Joy can stay in England. Jack then discovers happiness in later life through his marriage. When it turns out that Joy is struck by cancer, Jack's beliefs and new found fulfillment are shattered.

However, Joy's struggle against an unexpected and devastating illness brings them closer together, and they finally marry for love. Like Joy puts it; "We can't have the happiness of yesterday without the pain of today. That's the deal. "

And I will always remember Anythony Hopkins's last words in the end of this film;

"Why love, if losing hurts so much? I have no answers anymore: only the life I have lived. Twice in that life I've been given the choice: as a boy and as a man. The boy chose safety, the man chooses suffering. The pain now is part of the happiness then. That's the deal. "

This is a film that touched me deeply and I guess I haved been as moved as this, since I saw The Color Purple the first time. I don't know whether it's the story which is true, or the dramatisation - or the characters. I only know that I know how it feels, because I've lost someone close myself in cancer.

I highly recommend this film and this is one of my personal favourites.