Although I tend to pick some rather unconventional films to deem "my favorites" it baffles me to see very little about this movie anywhere on the net, and even more people who have never seen it. Brilliantly cast, beautiful cinematography, and the surreal (yet very real at the same time) timescape, make this movie unsurpassable and should be a staple in anyones top ten list. I can't find any information when or IF this will be out on video or DVD and it bothers me even more to see such negative comments about it. I'm beginning to think I saw a different movie. Yes, its long and it borders vaguely on magical realism at times, but I think these are necessary in capturing 40 years of a couples normal (yet uniquely personal) life together in the matter of one year. I still feel the knot in my chest at the end when the clock actually starts ticking again, signifying the end of this emotional landslide of tragedy and happiness.
One side note I would like to point out is the question of who actually has seen this movie!! The comments I've seen on the net and the reviews its gotten make me wonder what audience actually went to see it and why no one else did. There was one scene where the eldest couple of Bea and Hank finally grasped what they had been missing all along. In this beautiful scene a couple have finally fallen back in love after what seems like 40 years and they are laying in bed nude. In this scene I was on the edge of tears and people were actually laughing and snickering that there was nudity of older people sleeping together. So if you are offended by experimental film techniques, dramatic climaxes, and most importantly images of people over the age of 23 nude, then maybe you shouldn't watch this movie. If not, find a copy or a showing of this movie right now and watch it.
