Ladies in Lavender

Watching a Judy Dench movie (Ladies in Lavender) tonight, I really related to Judy Dench's character -even though her character was in her early 70's.

Her character revealed that older women, so often seen as boring, dull, and maybe even stoic, actually do have emotions and internal conflicts, regrets too. Much of what her character goes through -or at least, how I perceived it- is regret and almost jealousy for never falling in love and having a significant other. She realizes her time has passed for a love affair, a deep and passionate relationship, but cannot help but secretly wish it were otherwise. Her sister had had a wonderful man, though their time was cut short by his untimely death during the war. Ursula (judy) tries to imagine what would have been, knowing that it cannot change, when Andreas comes (she finds him when he uh...washes up on shore after a storm). No matter what Ursula does, she will never be able to have Andreas because Andreas is not even 25 and she is so much older. She has no chance but still chooses to be kind and show maternal love to Andreas.

In other words, it's sad because there is no such thing as true love for Ursula and she has to come face to face with that fact when Andreas comes. He represents everything she could have had but never will and she has to come to grips with that harsh reality even in her old age. Even when she meets love, it is past due and can no longer be redeemed.
According to Ursula, it is possible to experience heart ache because of unrequited love -even in your 70's.