LIKE CRAZY

It’s a familiar yarn. Boy meets girl. Studying together at a college in L.A, they fall head over heels in the kind of love that makes you want to skip class and stay in bed with your paramour all day, whispering wildly romantic endearments beneath the bedsheets.

But trouble looms for boy, Jacob – an aspiring furniture designer, and girl, Anna – a fresh-faced, talented writer. Anna is English, and when her student visa expires she can no longer legally remain in the United States. Foolish and madly in love, she makes a decision that will haunt the couple and push their emotions to a critical point.

Like Crazy brings to mind Lone Scherfig’s 2011 film One Day, but this is a far superior effort. The performances are great, notably from Felicity Jones as Anna, and the loose indie style suits the tale. This is a story about young people in love, but the question it raises is far more grown-up: are relationships worth the sacrifices we have to make? (KSo) ***1/2