The Lake House (2006)

Although there is not one word of technical terminology for worm holes, time warps, alternate universes, or even the power of a spiritual connection to make destinity a reality, this movie is one of the most believable experiences I've ever had outside the standard rules of time. Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves play Kate and Alex, two people exchanging letters through the lake house mailbox... two years apart in their own realities.

The structure of the house on the lake, built by his father, is a subject of criticism for architect Alex. He says the house is about "control and containment" and wasn't built with the intention that a person "connect" with any of the beauty surrounding it. For example, there are no stairs to the water it is perched over, but its walls are all made of glass. This "look, but don't touch" mentality dominated his relationship with his father and Alex longs for more. His time at the lake house brings him an understanding of his father and himself.

As a doctor, Kate is always "hands on." However, the demands of work mean that she must lock her heart against her patients suffering (to a point) so she will be able to heal them more efficiently and let go when someone dies. She escapes to the lake house on her days off, following the counsel of a senior doctor, "...get as far away from this place as you can. Go somewhere you feel most like yourself..." It is in this peaceful place, jutting out above the water, that Kate is able to find herself. But, it is in the mailbox that she finds her heart.

One of the things I love about this movie is the letters. The intensity, the humor, the personality of both characters comes through in their words. They are seperated by two years. They haven't seen or smelled each other, but love is built between them. Our culture values physical attraction far too highly... these loves are like the difference between the red flame and the blue one. The blue burns slower and more deeply.

Each of these characters is kind and thoughtful. They give gifts that are meaningful to each other beyond the words that they write and these are beautiful acts to witness and inspire the audience to live with love, every moment that we can. "What if you get to the end of your life, and there is no one waiting for you to come home?"