Life, love and the ups and downs of a long relationship are at the center of Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other. Directed by Jacob Perlmutter and Manon Ouimet, the film is named after Maggie and Joel, 75 and 84 years old respectively. Although they realize they are in the twilight of their lives, they still fight for each other while battling with their own needs within the relationship.
Joel Meyerowitz was an internationally acclaimed Bronx-born photographer who met British-born artist and writer Maggie Barrett on a chance encounter thirty years ago. As much as they adore one another and enjoy being together after all these years, there remains some uneasiness between them which becomes even more challenging when she falls down breaking her leg thus making him become her caregiver temporarily.
The story begins in Italy at a hospital where Maggie has been taken after her accident. They hold hands talking quietly about their wedding day, kiss softly saying “I love you” repeatedly followed by “we have got to dance again.” Back at home in Tuscany there is an extensive period during which she undergoes rehabilitation, however just as she’s brought back into their bedroom for the first time since it happened so that she can explain what exactly does she need from him now, irritation starts showing up on his face as he picks up phone call interrupting her mid-sentence “just say no,” says angrily Joel.
“I’m exhausted” Joel tells his friend Gianni who responds sympathetically but then changes topic because he doesn’t want to dwell onto this anymore longer than necessary; meanwhile Maggie complains how low are her spirits ever since getting hurt because that prompted thoughts about dying being closer than before: “It is coming closer. Close to end! It fucking pisses me off.” Their lovely funny doctor Rossana distracts them both while taking stitches out telling jokes like there aren’t any doctors like herself back in America which leads couple’s decision for leaving Italy and moving back to New York: “I don’t want life in Tuscany to end,” says Joel, “but with Maggie’s leg and her osteoporosis, this place is too challenging for us.”
They play ping-pong sitting down together at a table; she plays piano while they lean against it gently swaying and dancing; when time comes for packing up though she points out that there is much more of his stuff than hers “I feel overwhelmed by you.” Then deeper problems are hinted at once she voices fears: “We have to leave Tuscany that’s obvious,”adds after pause,“ for me that is stepping back into a place of pain and isolation and rejection.”
Once returned home from the trip where he had been preparing an exhibition of his works due soon opening in Tate Modern London Museum among other venues worldwide known as ‘The Street Photographer’ retrospective show curated by Simon Baker former Photography Curator here now serving as Director until 2023 when he left post holding position since 2009 considered one if not the most important living representatives within this field having published over 30 monographs including ‘Cape Light’, ‘Legacy: The Preservation of Wilderness in New England’ or lately ‘Joel Meyerowitz: Where I Find Myself’ (2018), Maggie starts feeling increasingly nervous. She destroys her journals on camera saying something like: “Fifty or sixty books filled with pain utter angst! And I held onto them all these years believing they would serve as some sorta record once became famous writer.” He tries being nice but only ends up annoying her more leading then into stunning moment when suddenly very angry begins explaining what exactly does she hate about their apartment neighborhood city life everything around really everything!
After selling their apartment in New York, the couple moved back to Maggie’s home of Cornwall. He takes photographs while she paints the craggy coastline; they seem as the movie ends, them dancing atop a cliff to have found peace and equilibrium with their abiding love. They talk in bed about how they want to be remembered and where their ashes should be scattered. Their views remain very different, but there’s also an understanding as they hold one another. It is a film of candor and finally kindness. There are hard truths in any relationship, but finding balance and comprehension becomes all the more vital against mortality.
At moments of love, pain and conflict with this couple whom we never see apart from each other co-directors Manon Ouimet and Jacob Perlmutter have also unobtrusively made a tender hearted film about living and loving that asks tough questions and stylishly (and beautifully: thanks for that goes to Perlmutter’s cinematography) suggests that as one strives for peace, life is never simple.
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