Quite a disappointment (spoilers)

I love Tornatore, but I found this movie a little boring and unbelievable. The age difference makes no sense, and if it does, all those messages that creeped in after he was dead, were so weird.
I understand love has no boundaries, still I found no chemistry between the protagonists due to their age difference. Both are great actors, but I did not buy the big love after one partner is gone. She is very young, and I assume she had a lot of colleagues at the university. Was Ed so irreplaceable?
And he appears extremely narcissistic. If he really loved her he should have let her go.
I loved all Tornatore movies, but not this one. All the stars go to Morricone's sublime music.