Intelligent, we'll-acted drama set in and around Naples. Makes its point unhurriedly. Only criticism is that plot had only one way to go. Oh, and the sepia colour of the print - obviously to align with the mood of the characters but it's a pity that it dulled the stunning setting.

When I first read the brief yet non-revealing plot of this movie, I thought it would be very interesting. So, I watched it, and this movie was the type of movie you think about for days after; it just has that hold on you.Jane, portrayed beautifully by Kate Botsworth, and her husband, Leonard, travel to Italy for Leonard's job. It is revealed that their marriage is anything but lively, and is failing. Whilst Leonard is at work, Jane walks around the city, and meets the adorable Jamie Blackley who captivates the audience as wanderer Caleb. Jane and Caleb share a magical night, and the hold they have on you while the movie is playing is incredible. When you watch, it's like you're there with them at the beach, or at the small café.Jane doesn't come home one night, and Caleb and her affair continues. Her husband is incredibly upset, and it is revealed they only got married due to the baby Jane conceived and later lost to miscarriage. Jane reveals she'll leave her husband (Thank the LORD), and wants to go to Tibet with Caleb. However, Leonard gives her the choice to meet him at the train station when their train is set to leave. Jane goes to the station, without Caleb, and is on the other side of the platform. The train goes by, and she disappears.This movie was everything and more. A drama with romance, and just super raw. The setting in Italy is incredibly gorgeous to look at, and it just helps mix everything together into this beautiful, whirlwind story of a romance that just can't be. Beautifully portrayed and done, "And While We Were Here" will be captivating for years to come.

I'm 'SICK-&-TIRED' of Hollywood doing their best to make men look bad, while portraying women as wholesome & trust-worthy!! I can think of more than a dozen films, &, I'm SURE there's many more, which portray women in a positive light (i.e. 'justified'/condoning their indiscretions/betrayals, with the LAME excuse of being lonely or from some kind of 'victim-mentality'. WHY..., does Hollywood want peeps to condone female infidelity yet they want us to be angry & un-forgiving if a male strays...??? What's with the double-standards??? Ohhh, yeah...; it's called the "P***y-pass" ("I'm a girl, so, I can do whatever I want & get away with it, because, I have a internal reproductive organs"). Seriously...??? W-T-H?!? I challenge ANYone to name 1 film which purports to exonerate a male when/if he has strayed.Also, many years ago I realized another commonly used ploy to sell movies. Yeah, I know; it's meant to "garner sympathy" for the female character (annnd, I've lost my ability to care....). It's the part in SO many movies where, often for inane reasons, a female is up-set (insert petty reasons here). It's the scene I call: "here's the part, where we feel sorry for the girl". Hey Hollywood!! Hows about making a movie (for once) where we can empathize with (or sympathize for) the male character (e.g.: after his un-faithful tramp becomes fully aware of the pain she's caused)?? Oh yeah--right. That doesn't 'sell' because, men aren't supposed to 'feel' anything. We're just supposed to DIE in wars, or, from saving the "fair maiden" (macho crap!) in your horrendously formulaic, NON-realistic films. Pathetic!!!I could write a book on your double-standards....

If you asked me to summarise And While We Were Here briefly, my answer would be inspiring chick-flick. Though using the word inspiring is solely theoretical. In practice And While We Were Here does not deliver as it emerged itself in a cliché we've seen time after time.Set amongst picturesque Italian locales, freelance writer Jane (Kate Bosworth) is searching to complete her first book in the company of husband Leonard (Iddo Goldberg), a touring classical musician. Though their visit to Italy takes a back seat as their relationship is explored. It's established early that their relationship is lacking fullness from Jane's perspective as Leonard has contrasting interests and opinions. Jane's dissatisfaction, highlighted by an unsensual sex scene, tells us all we need to know.This begins the build-up to Jane's journey of life's meaning, attempting to inspire the audience. During a day of sightseeing Jane meets free-spirited Caleb (Jamie Blackley), a younger man whose zest for life puts a spring in Jane's step. In typical click-flick procedure Jane feels she has met the man of her dreams excited by Caleb's knowledge of culture and life. Inevitably Caleb causes a three-way tension between himself, Jane and Leonard leading to predicable sentimentality and drama.Reflecting over And While We Were Here there are criticisms to be made. Firstly Jane's lust for the younger, exciting Caleb is a worn concept. Does life's fulfilment always have to result in seeking adventure with strangers? This platitude continued with Jane occasionally listening to her Grandmother's war experiences where she learnt to make the most of life in dire circumstances. We get it...It was hard to see what Jane saw in Caleb beyond his rebellious nature. This is not to say Caleb was not portrayed well with Jamie Blackley giving an energetic performance. Despite Caleb's personality relating to And While We Were Here's theme of fulfilling life, I could not to disagree with Leonard reference of Caleb as "that child". If Caleb seems immature then why should audiences emote towards Jane? In addition Jane and Leonard's deteriorating relationship was one-sided. Only Jane's side is portrayed with Leonard's reasoning being antagonised rather than explored. His only defense comes in a revealing confrontation near And While We Were Here's climax. Whilst we're supposedly meant to sympathise with Jane's raw emotions, Leonard did make some convincing arguments which lent sympathy towards him. Rather it's Jane who comes across as hostile. She conducted herself harshly towards Leonard and her reasoning within their argument did not deliver. Either this was the fault of Bosworth, the script or both. This only adds to my argument of And While We Were Here trying but failing to be inspirational though it was certainly a chick-flick, by no means a positive praise.