“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” is the story of a man who is born in old age and subsequently ages backwards. The original tale, a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is notable for its whimsical, superficial approach to its content, as the title itself suggests. Eric Roth’s adaptation, however, disposes of such whimsy in favour of a more heartfelt approach.

The film, which is directed by David Fincher (Se7en, Fight Club), is in essence a love story of Benjamin (Brad Pitt) and Daisy, forcefully portrayed by Cate Blanchett, and the sense of poor timing that plagues their relationship for all but a few years.

It is a technologically stunning piece of work; Pitt’s reverse aging process is brought to life through the subtle magic of CGI. The deterioration of the human body over time is sensitively depicted in the character of Daisy. We follow Blanchett as she evolves from young adult to elderly woman and through her experience the apprehension caused by fading youth is illustrated.

The beautiful scoring, all swelling strings and delicate piano, perhaps better conveys the more emotionally charged moments than does the performance of Brad Pitt. Characteristically understated, and at times wonderful for its stillness, his performance mirrors the stoic timbre of the film as a whole, which resists indulging in melancholy or the overly sentimental. Daisy and Benjamin may share only a fleeting time of togetherness before time separates them again and this is where the sense of tragedy surfaces.

The film spans most of the 20th Century, beginning at the end of the First World War and ending in 2005 against the backdrop of Hurricane Katrina. Perhaps a half-hearted attempt at gritty realism, the inclusion of the approaching storm is an unnecessary and distracting device.

The themes of the film are inwardly reflective; though Roth has a century of social change at his disposal, he neglects to comment on many issues that present themselves, in particular those of war and race, choosing instead to focus almost exclusively on the personal concerns of the protagonists; the transience of youth and the tragedy of loss. The film comments most affectively on the effects of time and the powerlessness of those at its mercy.

Somehow its flaws are endearing and forgivable. Aided by seeming effortless performances, and stunning cinematography, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, in its strangely reserved sentimentality, is overall an affectingly poignant film.