Before watching this film, I was curious about how the director would go about it. The original novel is just a collection of scattered correspondence, no twists and turns, no exciting climax, and even the hero and heroine of the story have never met. How to express people's deep love for books contained in the original work, the 20-year love between people and bookstores, the sympathy and warmth between people.
I am amazed at the courage of director David Hugh Jones. He did not make major changes to the plot of the original book, and even most of the actors' monologues were mostly excerpted directly from the letters. But the effect is still not bad, impatient I patiently watched the whole movie. The reason is that the director is good at constructing the plot and subtly filling in some details, such as Ms. Hanff sending ham and other meat to the bookstore clerks in London-Hanff's life was also quite poor at that time- This bold move won the gratitude of the bookstore clerk. The United Kingdom restricted the supply of food at that time, and ordinary people could be described as "not knowing the taste of meat in March". The camera focuses on the surprised faces of the clerk's family enjoying the gift, and Hanfu's act of giving charcoal in the snow does not need to be commended. The second is the shaping of the atmosphere. The progress of the whole film is not in a hurry. It uses social events similar to "Forrest Gump" to describe the passage of 20 years, and changes the scene of the hero and heroine reading letters from time to time, which may reduce the boring degree of the film to the greatest extent. The third is the superb performance of the male and female protagonists. When Mr. Frank Del appeared on camera, I was taken aback - after all, my impression of Anthony Hopkins is still that of Dr. Hannibal in The Silence of the Lambs. In this film, Hopkins portrays a suave, wind-bellied and conscientious bookstore owner in a penetrating manner and yearns for it. Helene Hanff, played by Anne Bancroft, is humorous, carefree and book-loving and approachable.
In fact, there is no need to talk about these successes. Much of what we appreciate or like about a movie is that it hits our inner vulnerability, reflects our hidden feelings, and expresses our repressed desires. What book lover doesn't wish to have a friend like Frank Del and a confidant like Helene Humph? We indulge in the plot of the movie, and sigh with emotion over the 20-year correspondence between Hailene Hanff and Del. More than 20 years later, Hanff came to the Max and Cohen Bookstore at 84 Charing Cross Street. It was empty and about to be demolished. Mr. Del died of illness more than 2 years ago and was translated into another language. At the end of the film, in Del's office, with documents scattered all over the place, Hanf smiled and said: Here I am, Frank. Finally met it. This kind of deep-seated emotion, this kind of wordless tacit understanding, isn't it a victory but countless people in the world?
If you want to send colored papers and rulers, where do you know where the mountains and rivers are? Although Jinshu can no longer be reached, before Hanff's death, "84 Charing Cross Street" had already been sold in many countries, becoming a secret code among book lovers, and the movie was twice on the big screen. Although people have passed away in the past, this book love and love will always flow in the hearts of book lovers.
If you happen to pass by 84 Charing Cross Road, kiss it for me? I owe it so much.
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