The Notebook (2013)
In a village on the Hungarian border, two young brothers grow up during war time with their cruel grandmother and must learn every trick of evil to survive in the absurd world of adults.
Details
Budget
$0
Rating
7/10 (68 votes)
Status
Released
Production Companies
Hunnia Filmstúdió, Amour Fou Filmproduktion, Filmfonds Wien, Hungarian Motion Picture Fund, CNC, MEDIA Programme of the European Union, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung
About The Notebook
Set against the backdrop of wartime Hungary, The Notebook follows twin brothers as they are sent to live with their grandmother in a remote village near the border. The film depicts their struggle for survival under harsh conditions and their exposure to the cruel realities of adulthood and conflict. As they adapt to their new environment, the brothers are forced to develop a hardened view of the world.
The film explores themes of childhood resilience, the impact of war on innocence, and complex family dynamics. It touches on topics such as child abuse, separation from parents, and the intense bond between siblings. The narrative centers on their resourcefulness and the moral compromises they make to endure their circumstances.
The Notebook garnered a 66% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 57/100 on Metacritic, with an IMDb rating of 7.0 from over 3,200 votes. Its portrayal of struggle and survival during World War II, alongside its focus on the brotherly relationship, defines its dramatic and wartime classification.
Why you might be searching for The Notebook
Many people are searching for this title due to confusion with the American romantic drama of the same name. Searches often relate to specific plot points from the romantic film, such as a couple kissing in a jeep, intimate moments, or a man remembering his life story to a woman, rather than the Hungarian war drama. Other searches reflect distinguishing details like a boy making a wish on a shooting star or a girl throwing bedding from a tractor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about finding and identifying movies
You can stream The Notebook on Netflix in the US. The film was originally released in theaters on June 25, 2004. It has a runtime of 2 hours and 3 minutes.
Yes, "The Notebook" is based on the true love story of author Nicholas Sparks' ex-wife Cathy Sparks' grandparents. While Sparks has not publicly shared the real couple's names, he has spoken about their relationship, which included falling in love as teenagers, being separated by parents, and the grandfather writing letters until they reunited.
In the present day, the elderly man reading the story, Duke, is revealed to be Noah, and the woman listening is Allie, who has dementia. The notebook he reads from is her journal, detailing their romance, to help her remember. In the film's ending, after Allie briefly recognizes Noah but then experiences a return of her dementia, Noah suffers a heart attack. After his recovery, he sneaks into Allie's room, she recognizes him, and they die peacefully in their sleep, holding hands.
While critical reception for "The Notebook" was mixed, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting 54% positive reviews and an average rating of 5.7/10, the film has become a cult classic. Audiences gave it an "A" grade on CinemaScore, and the performances of Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, as well as their on-screen chemistry, received significant praise.