this be a masterful piece of film making and with many theme simmer and occasionally boil over in this wart and all study of the poet bohemian and self indulgent wartime year that span the aerial bombardment of london and the outward tranquillity of a welsh coastal retreat the borderline between friendship and lust and love and dedication to art and experience versus practical concern and jealousy and rivalry and cowardice and egotism versus heroism and self sacrifice and more . a mature and subtle script that suggest and occasionally bring into dramatic focus the underlying tension be well serve by perfect performance ( apart from the odd inappropriate smile that keira knightley be prone to and though perhaps under direction this time a the other character themselves often mention it ) . but above all the exquisite visual composition of each moment and with inventive and elegant use of close up and camera angle and lighting and include pointillistic faux home movie footage and be a wonder and joy to behold . it a continuously beautiful to look at a a bertolucci and but the relationship here be more convincing and the narrative more engaging than some of that master work . a very rare type of film these day it hold the attention and stir the emotion without abandon artistic integrity and succumb to manipulative and superficial shortcut .