Ashley Ryan
12/7/2011
Evaluation of “The Notebook”
It’s common to find most love stories come with a happily ever after. This predictable ending seems semi-unrealistic, but is also a fantasy for some. Disney movies often capture this ideal point of view of a relationship, perfect from start to finish. It overlooks the actuality and different series of problems that can occur between two people. The movie “The Notebook”, based off Nicholas Sparks’ best-selling novel, is a beautiful story that captures the emotion of a forbidden summer love remaining strong through distance and complicated times.
The movie begins with an elderly man and woman. This man reads the story aloud from an old, worn out book. The story is about a small town country boy, Noah, chasing after a city girl named Allie. Noah does everything it takes to become a part of Allie’s life. The two grew close, spending most of their time together even making dreams for their future. Noah and Allie had their share of arguments but nothing permanently damaging. The true conflict arises when Allie’s parents step in and demand the relationship to end. Noah and Allie come from two different classes with opposite standards and wealth. With the summer coming to an end, Allie’s parents force her to leave town. Within the blink of an eye the two teenagers are separated from each other, without any closure. Seven years pass and Allie is off meeting new people and creating a new life for herself. Noah on the other hand is coming home from WWII and follows his childhood dream of restoring the old plantation in town. This was also a dream he and Allie shared for the future. He designed it just as they had dreamed up one summer night. Shortly after the mansion is built Allie comes across an article on Noah and the renovated planation. She instantly felt the way she did that summer, seven years ago. With a wedding on the way she knew it was a risk to visit Noah, but she went anyway. At last Noah and Allie were reunited. The decision to see Noah became permanent. Allie learned to make her own decisions regardless of her parent’s opinions. Allie and Noah were exactly where they had dreamed of being. Within many scenes of story the narration cuts in, each time revealing clues of who the character reading and the character listening to the story actually are. In the end it becomes clear that the two older people are in fact Allie and Noah. Noah is retelling their love story every day to remind Allie because she has been diagnosed with Alzhemier’s disease. After many attempts Noah successfully helps Allie put the pieces together. She regains her memory for a short period of time, long enough to remember Noah and the love they shared. The story ends with the lovers passing away, together.
I found the narration to be one of the most unique aspects of the film. The different hints throughout the story indicate that the older gentleman is actually the character in his own story. It took me a while before I could realize the importance of the narrator. This technique that is used makes the story more powerful. Noah is constantly reliving and retelling his own love story. The couple’s love is shown on an even deeper level. Allie who can’t remember a thing is still being cared for by Noah. He could have easily given up but he was certain that their love could overcome everything even her loss of memory. It’s remarkable how Allie is able to finally remember with Noah’s help. They worked together and together they will always be.
The obvious theme in this story is that true love can linger forever. The couple demonstrated this because although they were apart for so long they were still capable of rekindling the strong love that they had when they met. The theme could give the audience hope that their own love would remain forever. Every relationship is different; Allie and Noah proved that a strong love can withstand many problems, distance, and even the separation from parents. Through the long distance and years passed those initial feelings didn’t slip away and with a little fate the love is brought back together. Throughout the film, during the story and narrations, three objects continually reappear. The first is the plantation house. This house plays a big part in Allie and Noah’s summer romance and their future plans. This is also where the narration takes place. Many scenes include the row boat Allie and Noah spent time in when they were kids. When they reconnect they go for a ride in the row boat. Birds were another important, repeating symbol. Noah and Allie play with the birds near the water during the summer. When they are older Noah explains to Allie how the birds migrate and always go back where they came from. I think this says something about the relationship of Allie and Noah. She came back for Noah just like the birds migrate for the weather. The theme and each of the three key symbols express a very similar meaning. One of my favorite scenes takes place in the old plantation, which is one of the three repeating symbols throughout the movie. One night Noah takes Allie to the old plantation. Noah spills his dream of creating a home out of it. Allie tells Noah she wants to be part of those future plans too. Together they dream up of how to renovate the plantation to make into their home. They plan to have a white house with blue shutters, with a room overlooking the water so Allie can paint. The house would have a big porch that will wrap around the entire house. Together in that old beat up house they make a promise to each other, a promise for the future. The happiness that is shared with the characters is what really moves me in this scene. Allie and Noah are head over heels for each other, I think that’s exactly how love should be. The movie, “The Notebook” Is filled with high and low points in all fully demonstrating true love.