The Lake House

To be honest, I don't care for Keanu Reeves, but I LOVE Sandra Bulloch, and so this movie makes my romantic movies list.  It's about two people who are living very solitary, somewhat lonely lives.  The one thing they have in common is the lake house.  As Kate (Sandra) moves out, she leaves a note in the mailbox, welcoming him to the house and asking him to forward any straggling mail that comes for her.  When Alex (Keanu) moves in, he finds her note, but is confused because as far as he knows, the house has been empty for years.  Through correspondence, they learn that they are actually living two years apart, that is, Kate's character is two years in the future.  Confusing, I know, but an interesting complication for the two, who are quickly falling for each other.  When Kate discovers that in the two years that separate them, he dies, she struggles to change the past (his future).  What does this movie teach us about life, and love?

1. Sometimes you have to wait.  For some people it seems that love comes easily, even frequently.  But for many of us, love is elusive.  We catch small glimpses of it, have a few magical moments where it seems like everything is coming together, only to have love steal itself away again.  But we have to keep believing that when we are ready, love will find us... and stay.

2. Sometimes you get a second chance.  Like the lovers in Persuasion, Kate and Alex have several encounters and attempts at love with each other before things finally come together, about three years later.  When the first attempt fails, Kate is very discouraged and wonders if it means things just aren't meant to be.  Fortunately, she gives him a second chance, and things work out.  We never know what the future holds, but if we are lucky, it holds love.