I wanted to see this film when it was playing at the Toronto International Film Festival back in September, but the timing for the digital screenings overlapped with a work commitment I had at the time, so I haven't been able to see this until now. So, I finally watched it last night.

I was expecting to like it, but I ended up liking it even more than I expected. The style was different than I would have expected from a biographical film about a figure from the 19th/early 20th century. I really liked the style, I thought it was beautiful. As you said, Besley, it is kind of quirky, in a way that surprised me. The first part of the film had a lot of moments that made me smile or laugh.

I was actually not having the best day, emotionally, yesterday as a result of a couple different sources of stress that happened (they weren't actually a big deal, and even though I was reflecting on them that way at the time, for some reason the combination was getting me very upset). I was feeling quite bad about myself and my mental health issues (mild as they are compared to what some people unfortunately have to deal with). And then we sat down to watch this film after dinner and I found myself connecting with the characters of Louis and Emily a lot. Louis' varying interest, his attempt to fulfill all of them, this sense of sometimes feeling out of place in the world but trying to live in it anyway, finding moments of connection with others. Emily's own quirks and eccentricities. I liked how none of these were really portrayed completely as faults. Mental health is misunderstood in the film by society at large, and is a source of struggle, but found the characters were not portrayed as unlikeable or un-loveable as a result of those things about them that others would find strange. There's tension as a result of these things, but the characters are never seen as bad people, and still have people who love for them and do their best to care for them. I can imagine that the family in real life could have had these struggles and done their best for as long as they could, seeing their relative as a complete person even if greater society didn't. It made me sad for people in the past, but also for people today who still don't have as much understanding as they should even though in some ways understanding of these things have gotten somewhat better.

I'm not going to use spoiler tags, but I can add them later if asked. I also really connected with the scenes following Emily's cancer diagnosis. I'm not sure I've ever mentioned it on this forum, but my mom was diagnosed with cancer about five years ago. Not terminal, fortunately, but a type that never goes away. She's done well so far, but I have also worried about what I'm doing with the time we have left together, scared of what it will be like when she's gone. So, the conversation where Louis tells Emily about that feeling, I felt like I was hearing my own thoughts spoken and realised by him. I thought it touched so perfectly on those feelings.

I also enjoyed all the cats we got to see. My cat passed away at the end of this past year, so even though I already loved cats, I think seeing a cat now feels differently now that I don't have my cat in my life.

So, I guess what I'm saying, is there was a lot in this film that related to my life, in ways I wasn't completely expecting, and I thought it did it in such a beautiful way. I think it's too bad more awards haven't been recognizing this film. I guess the timing of its release could have meant it was overlooked, but I'm glad it at least got a bit of recognition from the BAFTAs. On a lighter note, I thought the age makeup was good. I also think that the makeup for younger Louis was subtle, it took me a while to realize that Benedict was wearing a prosthetic on this nose.

Thank you for the review, Yitzock. I haven't seen the film yet: sounds like I would enjoy it.  I'm sorry about your mom's diagnosis and about losing your cat.  I've lost many pets over the years and it's just awful.  I almost lost my cat last year but he just managed to scrape through, and I honestly don't know how I'll cope when his time comes!  And I hope your mental health issues improve: I'm guessing a lot of us have been through issues with varying degrees of severity and it's all difficult, no matter how mild.  I think you are so right that lack of understanding is not just a thing of the past.  Anyway, thank you, and I will see if I can catch up with the film.