Blackthorn Rose (1998)

Blackthorn Rose is as much a mystery film as it is a love story. The principal characters, through the very act of loving each other, begin to discover a mystery that must be unraveled - a mystery which could destroy their love forever. The film begins with Sean, a man in his late twenties, sitting alone on the patio of a bustling coffeehouse. Through flashback sequences, he recounts the tale of his relationship with Miranda, the love of his life - the love that has left him, perhaps forever. At first, the flashbacks reveal the couple's intense yet tender love - the scenes are sweet and passionate. But then a flashback reveals how, after Miranda twists her back, the doctors discover a childhood injury that has never properly healed. Upon this revelation, Miranda begins to recall repressed memories of how the original injury occurred. From this point on, Miranda begins to recall more and more of the memories she had for so long buried in her subconscious - memories of a father who sexually abused her and even her childhood friend, who is now in a mental ward because of the effects of the abuse. As the horrifying memories increasingly invade the couple's life together, especially when making love, we witness the painful unraveling of this once beautiful relationship. Miranda ultimately leaves Sean, adopts the generational denial and pathology of her family, and returns home. Will the intense bond of love between these two true soul mates lead them back together someday?