Le Chansons d'Amour has thwarted me since I first saw the trailer for it at the Curzon in December. I was excited when I saw that it was finally being released here in NYC earlier this month. It's being distributed by IFC Films in the States and is playing in the West Village at the IFC Center. Somehow, though, actually getting down there to SEE it has eluded me at every turn. THEN, last week it actually came to the Cinemart theater in Queens. I hauled my cookies all the way over there Thursday night only for them to tell me that showing was CANCELLED because "they" were coming to take the movie away that evening. Thwarted. Again.
Convinced the universe deemed I was not meant to see this film, I went home to sulk and see what Time Warner Cable was offering On Demand. It then dawned on me that TWC On Demand has this amazing feature (one of few) called IFC In Theaters where IFC theatrical releases are available to view on demand for a slightly higher price than regular OD movies. By some serendipitious turn of events, I was able to watch Love Songs just as I intended to that evening, but for much cheaper and with the luxury of sprawling out on my couch.
This was a charming, quintessentially French film which lovingly nods, in more ways than one, to the Nouvelle Vague. Paris dazzles in the movie as do the young stars who weave this musical tale of love and loss and grief together. The stand-out is Louis Garrel who, with a familial background steeped in French Cinema, is on his way to becoming one of this generation's most important actors in the same vein as Ryan Gosling.
The actors sing the lovely songs themselves and adeptly so, achieving the difficult feat of making the musical aspect seem entirely uncontrived and convincing. They each bring their own nuances and imperfections to the tunes.
The NY Times recently ran a profile feature on up-and-comer Garrel which you can read HERE.
If you've got IFC In Theaters on demand, you're in luck. If not, Love Songs is definitely worth catching at the movies or eventually on dvd.
3 comments:
oo i havent heard of this film. i miss curzon!
agh dude....I remember seeing the trailor for this and freaking out...I will have to see it!!!the singing in french the agh!!!xox
Will this be out on DVD soon? Do you think I can watch it and pretend it's french revision? :p
Post a Comment