Based on the 1989 book "Hemingway in Love and War" by Henry S. Villard and James Nagel, this is an extremely effective and often very moving depiction of the teenage Ernest Hemingway's relationship with the 26-year-old nurse Agnes von Kurowsky in Italy during the latter stages of the First World War. They fell in love and were planning on getting married after the war ended but Agnes broke up with him as she thought that he was too young. The experience left an indelible mark on Hemingway and it directly inspired several of his works, most notably "A Farewell to Arms". The film has a very strong script and it is extremely well and sensitively directed by Richard Attenborough, who was the obvious choice to handle this material. It bears some superficial similarities to his previous film "Shadowlands" in that it likewise concerns a famous author who has his first real experience of romantic love but then has to deal with the loss of that love, albeit in an extremely different way. It is not on the same level as that film, one of Attenborough's absolute best, but it nevertheless a very good film.Chris O'Donnell is very good as the 18/19-year-old Hemingway. He is depicted as a brash, arrogant, headstrong young man who joined the Red Cross in search of adventure. Considering that it was the War to End All Wars, he did not believe that he would get another chance to fight. However, the reality of the situation hits home when he receives a severe leg wound in the process of saving a young Italian soldier named Roberto, who dies shortly thereafter. He is taken to an American Red Cross-run hospital where he meets Agnes, who is played very well by Sandra Bullock, for the first time. Hemingway is immediately smitten but she maintains a polite disinterest for him for some time until she realises that she has fallen for him as well. The two of them have a very sweet, understated romance. Seven years is not much of an age difference in most adult relationships but it's a very big one when it is between 19 and 26. Hemingway is very brave and certainly very intelligent but he is still a teenager and occasionally does stupid things, most notably when he lies to his friend and rival Harry Villard and says, in her presence, that he and Agnes slept together. She slaps in the face - I'd have probably done the same thing in her position - but eventually forgives him.The main problem is that Agnes is a mature woman while Hemingway is very immature in many respects. He rushes headlong into their relationship and proposes marriage with only a vague and fairly unrealistic plan for their post-war life. Given that she accepts his proposal, she is initially swept away by the romance of the situation but she soon develops doubts about it. When Villard tells Agnes that she will be good for him as she can take care of him, she points out that this is what his mother is for. While Agnes is not quite as strong a character as I would have liked, O'Donnell and Bullock have great chemistry and many of their scenes together, particularly the last one, are very affecting. The supporting cast is very good, particularly Emilio Bonucci as Hemingway's more serious romantic rival Dr. Domenico Caracciolo, Mackenzie Astin as Villard and Ingrid Lacey as Elsie MacDonald.The film was aptly titled as it also explores the horror of war, something which Attenborough previously did, albeit more extensively and effectively, in "Oh! What a Lovely War" and his masterpiece "A Bridge Too Far". This is best handled in the case of Hemingway's friend Jimmy McBride, who suffers horrific injuries to most of his body. He eventually loses the will to live and commits suicide as the pain is just too great. The discovery of his body is the most moving scene in the entire film. As far as I can tell, McBride is an entirely fictional character so it is possible that his fate was intended as a reference to Hemingway's own suicide in 1961. Hemingway shows a softer side as well as his writing ability when he dictates the perfect letter to McBride's parents, supposedly from their son. It was a very kind thing to do.I've read several of Hemingway's novels but I am certainly not an expert on either his body of work or his life. However, I learned from a New York Times article published to mark the film's release that it took some liberties. In reality, according to her "Dear John" letter, she came to realise that she was very fond of him as a son rather than a sweetheart whereas she truly loved him in the romantic sense in the film. Their relationship is consummated in the film but they probably never did so in real life and the article argues that they were probably both virgins when they returned to the United States. I'm of two minds as to whether it was a good decision to have them sleep together in the film. Finally, they never saw each other after Agnes sent him the "Dear John" letter but they have one final meeting in the film. While the two of them never seeing each other again would have been a more poignant ending, their last brief encounter is necessary given the way that the film is structured. At the end of the film, Hemingway is as most people would picture him: bearded, brooding and drinking.Overall, this is an extremely strong film on the subject of first love, doomed love and the problems associated with notable age gaps in relationships. That said, it is more of a February-March relationship than a May-December one! The film's biggest problem is that it loses a little bit of its momentum in the last 20 to 25 minutes.

Love in WarThis is a movie about war and some challenges that people face there. The events unfold in Intaly during World War I. Ernerst Hemingway, the main character, is a young man who serves as a reporter. War is always connected with risk, so one day Ernie appeared in the hospital. Here he mets his love, Agnes von Kurowsky. She is a beautiful and talented nurse who can't stay indifferent for this handsome and charming youth. I can not say that this movie became my favorite one, but I like it. This is a romantic story. However, «In Love and War» touches many issues that are actual even now days.There are a number of positive moments for me. As it was already mentioned, the problems appeared in the movie can be interested for many people. Such topics as friendship, love, bravery, betrayal and pride are reflected in the movie. And now a few words about the way the film was shot. I like the director's work. The movie contains many interesting foreshortening. There are a lot of scenes with nature and we can enjoy different landscapes. The choice of actors is good. The main character, Agnes von Kurowsky, is created by a brilliant actress, Sandra Bullock. She is so aristocratic and realistic in the film that I believe her for 100%. Besides, the ending of the movie is unexpected.Nevertheless, there are some negative moments either. The beginning of the movie is overextended and some scenes seem unnecessary. My strongest disappointment is in the fact that this movie does not cause any strong emotions. Of course, it makes you sympathize with the main characters but you are not immersed in the atmosphere entirely. As a result, the movie won't stay in memory for a long time.Despite of the boring beginning, the film is worth watching. It is a thought-provoking and touching love-story. Moreover, it is based on the real events. So we can get some details about Hemingway's life. If you want to create your own clear impression of this story, I would recommend you to read a book ''A Farewell to Arms'' at first.

Excellently cast, poignant movie. Sandra Bullock as always shines and is given a part that lives up to her quality. Attenbrough directs with unfailing dignity and control.I know nothing of Hemingway except what this movie tells us. I've never read his work. This tender story of late-teen Hemingway in WW1 and the somewhat older nurse he falls in love with is wonderful viewing. You may wonder why she decides in the end not to marry him, but I suggest it is because he is still so very young and she's afraid he will grow bored with her after a few years. After a war, so many men have died, and there are so many surplus women vying for the attention of the men who are left. I would assume the Agnes was uncertain that she could hold him, or uncertain that he could hold her. In any case, she's rightly tempted by the doctor's offer to help run his new hospital, though I can't say I'd have thought that would make a good personal marriage as well so thank goodness it didn't really happen. Apparently, the real Ernest and Agnes did not meet again after the war although there was a little correspondence, but the movie shows Agnes visiting Ernest and finally telling him to his face that she loves him and clearly hoping the relationship will recommence. Unfortunately there has to be a reason why in the movie it can't since in real life it didn't, so Ernest is shown in a childish rage and she has to walk away, humiliated and despairing, never to see him again but saying, "I love you. I will love you for the rest of my life..." whilst he's left weeping - out of her sight. Now just suppose if she'd turned back..... I can't say I thought it would be wise for this relationship to continue - Ernest's rage is too intense, it wouldn't bode well for a marriage. He was either too immature or in some other way unsuitable to become her husband and she had been mistaken to be tempted to go back to him, so I would suggest, in the context of the movie, she had a very lucky escape. What she will think, after a while, is "Well, I've seen him. I was right the first time. It wouldn't work. This gives me closure." And she'll move on.This scene is so beautifully handled by the actors that it saddens me to have to object strongly to it being included and that's why I drop my rating from 10 to 9. In all other ways but this one unfortunate scene, this movie is a 10-star.Of course, it suits a movie maker to leave the ending bitter and hurtful to both of them, a ghastly final meeting when they are both despairing even though it's clear a reunion would have been more likely, or at least a relationship for a while, seeing they both actually seemed to want it. How frustrating this kind of scene is once you've got over the tear-jerking reaction, typical irritating aspect of movie making trying to extract every last emotion, not all that realistic sometimes.So then I looked on the internet for information re the real people. I see Agnes wrote to him explaining she had firmly decided he was too young for her and the marriage would be a mistake. That's how this movie should have ended - Bullock writing this letter and Ernest perhaps slinging it into the lake, but then rescuing it and putting it somewhere safe. And then an indication that they corresponded a little more for a while. A gentle, realistic ending that didn't humiliate either real person. But please, still go and see the movie as it's otherwise completely wonderful and if you can forget the real people you may love the finale as well.

I thought the acting was perfect and the story very true. As I watched this film I googled Ernest Hemingway and read what I was actually seeing on the screen. To capsule this mans life in a little under two hours is almost impossible-but I liked the way we were able to see the early life of this great writer. Sandra Bullock always in top form as an actress gives a sweet performance as Agnes and Chris O'Donnell was a good catch for the young Hemingway-if you look at his early photos you will see that he was not as gruff as in his older years. A bit more sensitive and caring than his older years. Might be a bit slow for some but the war moments were very real and the scenery of Italy was stunning!