Love and literature: turning the pages on the heartfelt journey in 'My Oxford Year'

The transformative power of romantic relationships has, for generations, formed the premise of classic movies, the arcs of beloved television series and the inspiration behind hit songs.

“My Oxford Year”, a new Netflix romantic comedy, is the latest offering which chronicles a love story so heartbreaking, you will be wiping your tears long after the credits have rolled.

What elevates this production, which remains one of the streamer’s most popular movies since it was released at the beginning of August, is the gut-wrenching plot twist, which has sparked a fierce debate online.

Its fresh cast of American and British talents has done an excellent job at portraying the vast range of emotions - from comedy to bliss and heartbreak - that the genre demands.

Sofia Carson, the film’s leading lady, has also been receiving raving reviews, and she commands the role with the same enigmatic grace which earned her plaudits for “Purple Heart” and "The Life List", other Netflix movies which had viewers in their feels.

She is brilliantly complemented by UK actor Corey Mylchreest, who plays Carson’s love interest.

Their chemistry is electrified, and their dynamic makes for a convincing young couple who are trying to make their mark in the world while being delivered a cruel bout of fate.

Meanwhile, the supporting cast, which includes Poppy Gilbert, Dougray Scott, Harry Trevaldwyn and Catherine McCormack, also brings a vibrant yet poignant edge to this captivating story.

And behind the camera, director Iain Morris, who helmed this riveting film, which is based on  Allison Burnett’s original screenplay, has done wonders to provide a fresh spin on a hugely popular genre.

“My Oxford Year” opens with Anna De La Vega (Carson), a highly ambitious American student, travelling to study Victorian poetry for a year at the University of Oxford in England.

On her first day, she meets Jamie Davenport (Mylchreest), and their first few initial meetings were anything but a fairytale.

Jamie drenches Anna in a puddle of dirty water as he speeds past the pavement she is walking on. They later meet at a fish and chip shop, and Anna is not impressed when she finds Jamie trying to hide from his ex-girlfriend.

Thinking he is a playboy, she doesn't think much of him and is instead determined to fulfil her lifelong dream of studying poetry at Oxford.

Things take another unexpected turn when Anna realises that Jamie is going to be teaching one of her classes.

Looking for a way to blow off some steam after things don't go as she had always envisioned, Anna goes to a local pub with her new friends.

She ends up spending a romantic night with Jamie as he shows her around her new surroundings, and they share a star-lit stroll.

After weeks of trying to deny their connection, a grand romantic gesture around their mutual love of books sees them kick off a steamy romance.

This takes them out of their comfort zones and forces them to re-evaluate everything in their lives

Anna and Jamie bond over their love of literature as they begin to integrate themselves into each other's lives.

The couple introduce each other to new passions as they challenge each other to grow and rid themselves of past traumas.

In this typical case of how opposites attract, Jamie teaches Anna to be less obsessive about taking control and to live in the moment while she teaches him to confront his emotions and to repair his strained family relationships.

But as their love story continues to strengthen, Anna is devastated when she learns of a secret which Jamie has been keeping - one that threatens to derail the rest of her life forever.

With its themes of love, loss, mortality and the power of dreams, it is no wonder that “My Oxford Year” has been moving up the trending list.

Despite its intense emotional storyline, the movie’s intelligent infusion of comedy helps to reflect a multi-faceted story which includes an abundance of both heart and humour.

And when you are not sobbing at the fate of the leading lovers, it also does a stellar job of transporting viewers into the idyllic world of Oxford, dubbed the "City of Dreaming Spires”.

It gives streamers the chance to escape into this love story, which plays out in this historic English, its prestigious university and its stunning architecture.

Overall, it teaches us that while not everything we love is meant to stay, even the fleeting can mark an entire life.

* I give it a four out of five stars.