THROUGH NIGHT AND DAY REACTION PAPER

Through Night and Day is a movie about an engaged couple who traveled around Iceland as they
encountered events that tested their relationship along their journey. In this story starring Alessandra De
Rossi as Jen and Paolo Contis as Ben. They are in a 13-year relationship and are now to step up into
marriage. Before the marriage, they went to Jen’s dream and favorite country–Iceland.

Throughout the movie, I felt an immense rollercoaster emotion. Rolled first to a happy introduction of
Ben proposing, heartfelt, scary, spontaneous with regret and sadness. The two actors brilliantly
portrayed the emotions within the excellent storytelling letting the audience fell deeply into their
relationship on top of aesthetically pleasing cinematography, evoking an emotional connection between
the audience and the characters on screen.

As the story goes on, my best parts comes off the movie. Getting immersed in the movie from start to
end, my self-indulgent answer to why the title ‘Through Night and Day’ unfolds. Through night and day,
Jen and Ben had remarkable memories together. We had Ben proposing to Jen on their night out and
them happily walking home discussing their future, in contrast to the night out when the ex-lovers sang
heartfully with sadness. Their morning filled with adventures in Iceland and their disastrous burnt
lunchtime. Along with the time they spent watching Jen’s favorite sunset, in Iceland and the Philippines,
one full of fun romance and one with poignant feelings and the unforgettable dawn with Aurora Borealis
that Ben witnessed, but one stands out for me as my favorite part, Jen and Ben spending their last time
in sunrise pouring their hearts with gratitude and sentiments to each other bidding their goodbyes with
no regrets but happiness that it may not have been the smoothest relationship for them but they surely
made the most of it.

The story of Jen and Ben may be relatable to viewers showing that a relationship is more than love
itself, it requires a lot of patience, courage, and understanding. It portrays realistic issues in a
relationship that is not always rainbow and butterflies but is a road with arguments, misunderstanding,
and challenges. In love and in life, as told by Jen, always “Expect the Unexpected” you will never be
prepared for what may come along perchance of Jen and Ben’s 13-year relationship breaking apart and
Jen’s sickness and death. The movie also carries the lesson that a relationship will not work if only one
person works for it and love goes beyond linked with the regrets that one should’ve stayed and fought
through ups and downs, that love still flows within even when you let go of each other, to learn that
sometimes a long time doesn’t necessarily secure an ending together, that love is a constant choice, to
be happy for one another despite not being the reason of their happiness. And lastly, between love and
death, the pain and acceptance of inevitable loss, moments with them should be treasured and not be
taken for granted.

As given through, this movie suggested a nice and refreshing boost to life values around family and love,
the compassion between Jen and her Dad– Jen worries about who’ll take care of his Dad once she
agrees to go to New York with Ben, and her Dad who stays strong when Jen got sick and stayed by her
side, giving respect to Jen not to meet Ben and not letting him know about Jen’s condition giving her
space from the heartbreak. The spirit of forgiveness and acceptance is shown in the very last scene of
Jen and Ben, forgiveness for Jen’s shortcomings and for Ben’s heartbreak, and especially for Jen’s side
who moves on and genuinely becomes happy for Ben’s new love. Lastly, gratitude, for the 13 years that
they’ve taken care of and loved each other even after they broke up.

The movie also tackles a gender issue, highlighting how most men can easily leave the moment things
get too uncomfortable and unbearable. That men in nature want everything easy– including
relationships. Just like how Ben decided to break it apart just because of Jen’s sudden complicated
behavior, not giving Jen a moment to process things. As well as the different natures of men and
women. Men who are most chill and take it easy unlike women who are generally emotional types but
tend to be self-reliant when it comes to their feelings, creating unintentional gaps in the relationship.

Overall, the movie Through Night and Day served an excellent storyline with great characters depicting
relatable lessons in life and in love to the audiences; an awesome tear-jerker. The realization of the
reality of choosing who will stay with us for the rest of our lives, as time follows with unexpected events
will reveal new and different sides of their significant other that may bring questions to their relationship,
nonetheless to figure it out together is one fundamental in a relationship, and that as said by many your
greatest love can be your greatest lesson.