Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.


She happens to be only one of France's best actors. And she has once more appeared in a vehicle that uses her unique thespian gifts to wonderful effect. I refer to none other than Nathalie Baye. If you still don't know her - well, it's about time you did.

‘Une Liaison d'Amour’ / ‘An Affair ofLove’ (1999), a French-Belgian-Swiss co-production, would be an excellent place to start. (You'd think there'd be loads of chocolate sweets flooding this movie, what with all those confection-producing countries involved - but alas, no). Just for the record, the original French title was ‘Une Liaison Pornographique’, which needs no translation, but apparently required some modification for easily offended audiences this side of the pond.

But let me first tell you about the plot (trust me, this won't ruin your enjoyment of the film at all): Elle (She) places an ad in a magazine for a man interested in sharing some sexual fantasies with her once or twice a week. Lui (He) answers the ad. They first meet at a small café. The anxiety, awkwardness and discomfort that attend a first meeting are all perfectly captured in the scene's little fidgety gestures, the nervous smiles and glances, and the hesitant words. He is a bit surprised to learn that she has already reserved a room at a hotel just around the corner. She gulps down her coffee, moves as if ready to go, when he decides to have some cognac. She then goes through a few quick changes of mind about what to have next, finally settling on some tea. Shy, funny, light conversation follows in which each tries to read the other's thoughts and intentions, until finally, 'tis time, and off to the hotel they go.

We are not privy to their sexual fantasy trysts. The camera remains outside the red hotel room door through which they disappear. We see them only when they meet at the café, and when they exchange brief goodbyes afterwards.

This is also supposed to be a purely sexual affair. Well, so far, so good. Except that when He and She decide to go out for dinner one evening, the nature of their liaison begins to change, and we watch as that ordinarily trite phenomenon called ‘falling in love’ transpires. The new twist in their relationship surprises them both, especially the woman. It was certainly *not* part of the plan.

However, we do know from the very beginning that they will eventually part ways. Why? I’m still not sure.

Young Belgian director Frédéric Fonteyne begins by showing separate interviews of each character with an unnamed off-camera questioner purely as a filmic device, and intercuts these after-the-fact recounting with extended flashback scenes of the unfolding affair. It works fairly well for the most part. She has unnaturally black hair in the interview scenes (the hair color choice was jarring), while He sports a neatly trimmed beard. It would behoove you to pay attention to what each character says during these scenes. It illuminates what I think is an elemental message here about personal recollections.

We learn nothing about these two middle-aged, average Jeanne and Jacques, not their names, their jobs, whether they were married or not - nothing. The characters themselves know little more about each other than we do about them, and seem to have a tacit agreement about not knowing. Do we, the viewers, lose anything by that? Not at all.

She was seeking only a partner to indulge her sexual fantasies, and He, the same - perhaps. But funny things tend to happen without anyone asking our permission, and so love enters the picture. Although this turn of events may seem hopelessly trite and clichéd on paper, it's far from banal as depicted in this film.

Why? For starters, ‘An Affair of Love’ is a pure delight to watch, with sparkling, intelligent, engaging, and completely natural dialogue and interaction between the two leads. The conversations take place not just at the café, but in the bedroom as well. The audience is brought into the bedroom during a shift in the plot midway through. There is a lengthy scene or two of lovemaking and talk (lots of it) between the couple which I can only describe as terribly funny, charming, even touching. I doubt seriously the chances of a script like this ever hatching in some Hollywood scriptwriter's noggin. And if you're looking for the slick, steamy, fantasy romance novel kind of sex involving a pair of hot bods - well, sorry, this isn’t that sort of film.

Nathalie Baye (‘Le Retour de Martin Guerre’ (1983), ‘La Balance’, ‘I Married a Shadow’ (1982), ‘The Green Room’ (1978)), who plays the woman, is an actress possessed of a rare gift for meaningful understatement, brought to light so splendidly here. The slight curl of the corner of her mouth, the sparkle in her soft eyes when she smiles warmly at the man, the quick turn of the head and averting of the eyes, the musicality of her speech - all are subtly powerful hints that give her acting an appealing, unforced and unaffected quality. She deservedly won the Best Actress award for this role at the 1999 Venice Film Fest. Ms Baye, like all actors I admire, not so much ‘acts’ as simply becomes the character she plays.

Sergi Lopez is a sweetly handsome Spanish actor I hadn't heard of before this film, whose dancing eyes and impish smile that causes nice dimples to form were all that I needed to love this fella. (Yes, I do admit to a weakness for the type. And he does remind me a little of the beau. But I digress.) Señor Lopez holds his own here, his polite charm and ease matching Ms Baye's in their authenticity. Although this is the first film of his I've seen, it certainly won't be the last. (And, incidentally, he looks good either way, with or without the beard).

The on-screen chemistry between Ms Baye and Mr Lopez is undeniable, and the two are so clearly comfortable in each other's presence that it isn't hard to believe when a deeper, more affectionate attachment later forms between them. A favorite scene is at the café, when She asks whether He's ever truly declared his love to anyone, simply out of a compelling need to do so. In this scene we witness the most tension-filled yet tender moment between the two, and take pleasure in watching the Man's totally unexpected, yet wonderful reaction to her words.

It's a truly sexy film, and not just because of the sexual element in the story, which is unquestionably interesting for the film's fresh approach to the matter. But that is of secondary import. Its real sexiness derives from the intelligent, insightful and poignant portrayal of two average, normal people whom you might know (might one of them be you?), just merging and colliding with one another, bumbling at it like the ultimate fools we all are in the real world of complex intimate relationships. Director Frédéric Fonteyne deserves credit for allowing these two superb actors to create a perfect symbiosis on-screen, with neither actor outshining the other at any given moment. It's also refreshing to watch two adults behave like adults on film, and not lovestruck, silly teenagers-posing-as-adults who make cute to the point of barfsville.

And why the lost star in the rating? I (and most other critics) had a big, bad bone to pick with the way the relationship ended. Screenwriter Philippe Blasband could have done better. Hugely disappointing in that department, I must say.

However, it would be a terrible waste to throw out the baby with the bathwater. Its minor imperfections aside, there's still the warm and authentic performances of the two leads, the enchanting evolution of their relationship, and the charming and captivating conversation in every scene here that are all worth your time and money. I can't be any clearer about this: go and rent this video NOW (but put the kiddies to bed first)! The adolescent- and prurient-minded need not apply.


*****************

Note: In true titillating fashion, the DVD's cover art displays the couple in bed in closeup on the front and inside flap, and a naked backside on the back. The absurd stereotype of European films as being nothing more than movies with lots of sex and nudity continues to be promoted by the puerile minds of video distributors. Well, okay, there IS sex and nudity here (quite tastefully presented, I might add), but what truly distinguishes this film is its charm and intelligence.

Well, come to think of it, can you even resist a film possessing all four elements at once?

One thing more: the PROPER way to watch this is in the widescreen format, in the original French language with English subtitles (the latter for those handicapped like me).



[ This is a reworked, resurrected oldie from my earlier Eps account. ]


Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good Date Movie
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age