The relationships of couples are an effective embodiment of the precariousness of our lives. A very old friend of mine, who has been married for exactly 48 years, to a good man, says that in fact there is a formula: you just have to love each other. The problem, she adds in an amused tone, is that loving each other for a lifetime is really arduous. Sixth, you have to believe, finally, that loving – loving with your feet on the ground, not what you imagined as a girl – is a skilful juggling exercise, a permanent sacrifice, elegantly swallowing a bitter pill. Elena Ferrante: ‘Solaris is not Tarkovsky’s best film, but it made the greatest impression on me’ Read moreThere, my friend says, laughing, a relationship can last a lifetime.

Source: The Guardian September 22, 2018 06:00 UTC