Another story in a series of ‘Never too Late’, ADELINE is a short French film that came out all the way in 2018 and I have had the trailer for ages, but I just couldn’t find it!

Turns out it was on gagaoolala all this time! With subtitles no less! What are you waiting for? Go there now and watch it!

 
 
 
 
 
 

ADELINE is about an elderly woman who is close to death, being in the third stage lymphoma – which is a cancer of the germ-fighting system and every doctor ready to sign her off as a lost cause, Adie (her nickname from Helene), gets flashbacks to her young life at a catholic school after receiving a letter from Helene (her friend and love back then).

I love stories like this so much! The hope they give is boundless because they show that love stays true and with you for all time! It’s kind of like the cure to the disease that gayness is a phase that you outgrow when you leave adolescence (I am looking at you Japan!!).

The first movie we saw that has this cure was THE GLASS HOUSE (aka THE AFFAIR) and the other we will see soon, which I also found on gagaoolala titled CALL ME SIS – This one is a gem of gems!

Back to ADELINE, as you would expect in a catholic boarding school (I attended one for half my primary and secondary but mine were mixed, so I know the feeling well) falling in love is a no-no, given that it is catholic and worse yet, a girls-only school! So of course, you can imagine how Adie and Helene falling in love went over!

In case anyone needs it spelt out for them, it went very badly!

Running at just 7 minutes, there is of course no time to cover much, given that the time is split between present and past so, we not only don’t get to see how it begun or how Adie and Helene first met, unless that bench scene is their first meeting, which might be given that it is the first and last scene we see of their past, it still leaves much to the imagination. The way they were looking at each other did not seem like they just met, unless it was love at first sight. The only reason I think it can pass as their first meeting is because maybe Adeline hurt herself and Helene came to her aid, like, maybe she hurt her hand in a fall which was why Helene was holding it and sparks flew!

Again, that is too much to the imagination!

Despite being only 7 minutes though, it was a wonderful, emotional and fulfilling little story! We managed to feel for Adie and her longing she has had all her life to complete that love that was cut short and abruptly! We got to see the hardness of it and finally, we got to see her wish granted at the very end when Helene came to the hospital to visit her, thanks to her nice nurse that got into contact with Helene for her.

Seven minutes were enough to close my throat up! And the more you think about it, all those years going by with that deep longing! And then God, probably someone she loathed because it was him that denied her the love, then god to make her wish come true and give her a chance to meet Helene again before she left this world…

Yep, totally crying now! Yes, I am aware that I am a softie sometimes but I can’t help it!

Just beautiful!

Just go watch it. At this time of Christmas and Merry, what better way than to feel hope and happiness like Adeline felt at the end as she held Helene’s hands again!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Ja