If you feel uncomfortable watching Love, then probably you are having a very different perspective regarding love and relationships
First off, I have to be honest: I also found Love when looking for movies with real sex scenes. And this movie was just satisfying: it’s almost 2 hours full of “hot” closures.
But at the same time, it will be so ignorant and subjective to compare Love with any pornography or cheap movies with some hot scenes, because this piece by Gaspar Noe contains something that differs itself.
Something like, a living soul with unburden pains. Sex, even though occurs many time throughout the movie duration, was not the main focus. It serves as a knife, or a low piano key – that cuts deeper through the agonies of the main characters’ bleeding hearts.
I was having a butterfly stomach when watching Love. It filled my mind with regrets, nostalgia, and raw, uncut love. It was so beautiful, that can make you sad, putting yourself to the characters’ shoes, and take what had happened between them.
The plot
Love (2015) depicts the “used to be” relationship between a US movie student – Murphy, and a French artist – Electra, in Paris. They used to be the happiest people in the world together, until they fucked up and lost each other. However, the feeling is always there – in their mind, they have never been separated.
The plot was quite simple, but that’s what I like about Love. There is no paranormal activities took place, no wars or big things that change the world – it has been very daily problems that caused the breaches. And this can happen to any couple in reality – don’t be afraid of aliens or earthquakes, because one day, even the smallest thing can push you forever off each other’s life.
Another depiction of love
For a long time, love has been well accompanied with the definitions of possession, loyalty, jealousy, and mono-affection, which means you can only give your affection (sexual, mental) to one partner only. The concept of third person, or giving affection to someone else than your partner, is considered to be unacceptable.
However, in Love, this concept has been challenged by the Parisians – those who live in the city of love, liberal, and freedom:
Here, people have a different depiction.
For us, love is possession. We keep what we have.
For them, love is love. We let things go free.
Like the policeman explained to Murphy: “…You are in France; forget your American feelings with possession, violence…in the 60s, people used to love each other. Here, you have sex with her and the other women: it creates confidence, trust. The same goes to her; just let she has fun, and she will come back to you”
In Murphy, we can he that he is struggling maintaining these both tradition culture and French style. He himself was also having fun, but can’t stand knowing that his girlfriend does the same behind his back. We don’t judge how people decide to love; we understand what they believe, that’s all.
My perspective
This movie upset me, first of all.
“How can something so beautiful, can hurt so bad?”
Well, that’s how life is, isn’t it? What cheered you up once can be the thing that tear you down the most.
People talk a lot about the hot scenes, about the affair of Murphy and the blond neighbor. I personally don’t give a shit about those. All I care was the time Murphy and Electra were together.
They meant to be together, since the first time they met. If you have been in relationship to the extend that you two are totally used to each other, as if he/she is definitely a part of your life, then you will understand how peaceful and simple it can be, being together:
Wake up together.
Take some silly photos and messing around.
Have a walk, a dinner, a night out.
Meet the other’s relationships: Family, friends..
Sex, lots of sex.
Cuddle and dream about a happy ending.
For me, I am empathetic with Murph and Ele – I meant, whenever we are really in love, we always love the same way – passionate, charming, and became vulnerable at some points. That was why it hurts when you see the happy moments pass by, but only in form of memories – they are all there, but like a loop; they is nothing added anymore.
That’s how it came up to the second thought: what to do in a relationship?
I don’t believe in forever love or some happy ending by chance. Instead, I have a faith in efforts. Love is like doing business: you have to learn from mistakes, to find new approaches, to spend time and dedication with a determination toward it.
Don’t cheat, no matter how attractive it may be. Real love is hard to find, and when you have broken someone’s trust, it never heals. If you want another partner, just think about how far you have gone through with the one you are having, and ask yourself if it’s worthy.
When you’re mad, shut-up. The world has been a hard place enough. Imagine the last person whom you would find love stabs you by his/her words. They deserve better.
You only regret things that you could haven done better. So try to do things better while you are still be able to.
Ending
Like Shame (2011), Love (2015) is the story of a modern world, where people are trapped with their own sorrows and regrets deeply within. These days, it’s hard to find someone who’d love with all his/her heart, as the world can use the sincerity to hurt one so bad. That’s why, if we can, try to bring faith in love back, at least to the one we belong to.
Khanh Tr.
moink20.com 