Seven years and seventy-five drafts later, Derek Cienfrance’s Blue Valentine was finally released to the public at certain independent-film-friendly theaters for our viewing pleasure. The film exposes the relationship of a married couple by interweaving their present deteriorating state with flashbacks from their more happy beginnings as a couple.

Blue Valentine wasn’t afraid to take a raw look at the more painfully honest moments that many find uncomfortable or unsatisfying as it departs from the usual Hollywood movie frame. It explores what happens when feelings that were once in bloom start to wither away, and how that may affect the family as a whole, and the individual family members as well. The main characters, Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams), serve as a sort of warning sign to couples viewing the film. According to Ryan Gosling in an interview, he hopes that Blue Valentine will encourage people to talk to their loved ones before their relationship goes off into a downward spiral right before their eyes. While the ending left me personally a bit uneasy, I reminded myself that there’s still hope for the Deans and Cindys in the world. Constant communication is key in order to avoid the pain and anguish of a fragile, crumbling relationship.

–Diana S

(Wind Chimes, Wednesdays 6-7 p.m.)

P.S. Ryan Gosling does a rad cover of The Mills Brothers’ “You Always Hurt The One You Love.” Check it Out