LOVE IS LOVE IS LOVE
US, 2020, 90 minutes, Colour.
Maya Kazan, Joanne Whalley, Rosanna Arquette, Rita Wilson, Cybill Shepherd, Chris Messina, Kathy Baker, Marshall Bell, Polly Draper, Elea Oberon, Alison Reed, Valerie Pettiford, Gloria Garcia Stanley.
Directed by Eleanor Coppola.
A film of three stories, two short at 20 minutes each, the third longer at 50 minutes. The stories were conceived and cowritten by the director, Elenor Coppola, best known for her documentary, Hearts of Darkness, the Filming of Apocalypse now, and the light romantic drama, Paris can Wait.
The plot of the first story is commonplace but it is treated with the light touch, especially with the wife at home getting ready for a dinner date, her husband in Montana, a film producer, and their sharing their weekly meal via the net. Each with their computer at the restaurant, each watching the other, quite effective. There is talk, there are memories, an invitation for the wife to come to Montana – and she finally does, arriving late at night unexpectedly, and the glimpse of another woman scurrying from the house. Joanne Whalley and Chris Messina are effective.
The plot of the second story, Sailing Lesson, is slight. A couple have been married for over 40 years, he ringing his wife to say he needed a girlfriend who would share is life and interests. The consequence is that the couple meet, go sailing despite the wife having been seasick in the past, they talk things over, bond, run out of gas and have to be towed back to the wharf. This story stars Kathy Baker and Marshall Bell.
The third story, Late Lunch, is a story about love and friendship. A daughter, Maya Kazan, invites eight of her mother’s friends to a lunch, a celebration after the mother has died in a car accident. The film’s conversation, stories from each of the friends (including Rita Wilson and Cybill Shepherd), mainly stories of love and friendship, one a story of betrayal and forgiveness. The performances by the friends in conversation are interesting and entertaining. The daughter has to cope with the death, some intense relationships with her mother, the revelation of her pregnancy and the women encouraging her for her future.
- Writing and directing by Eleanor Coppola, in her 80s? Her experience with Francis Ford Coppola?
- Three stories in one, too brief, one longer? The impact?
- Two for dinner, 20 minutes, establishing the characters, Joanne, at home, dressing, flirting, the use of the computers, Jack in Montana, producing the film, the weekly date, going to the restaurants, discussions about wine, food? The staff and support? Jack pleading for her to come to Montana? Her decision to go, at the door at night, Jack answering, the girl fleeing in the background?
- Sailing Lesson, establishing the characters, Diana, at home, Jon, phoning, the discussion about having a girlfriend, 41 years together, getting used to each other? The discussion about their work, pastimes, family? His suggestion they go sailing, her a green, packing the lunch, the need for cleaning the boat, sailing, together, bonding? Out of gas, the need for towing?
- Late Lunch: the death of Clare, the scent of her presence, talking about her, the stories, photos? Caroline, daughter, age, relationship with her mother, love, tensions, her legal career? The accident, her mother’s death? The decision to gather her friends? The meal, the talk amongst the women, friends, others getting to know the others? A story of conversation? The effect on Caroline, and string the door, the neighbour concerned, the maid and the meal?
- The range of friends, Rose from France, memories of Paris, bringing the chocolates? Nancy, memories of the writing retreat and sharing writings, the pregnancy at 42, decisions about the abortion, weeping for a week, Claire taking her to the surgery? Mary Kay and her songs, singing? The old friend from school days, renewing friendships, the photos? The friend, the betrayal with Claire’s husband, forgiveness? The doctor, conversations on planes, charity to causes? The friend whose husband came out as gay? Close support? The friend, gay, the ceremony in the desert, Claire supportive?
- The overall effect on Caroline, the women supporting her, to be herself, the revelation of her pregnancy, not telling the father yet? The final exhortations?
- The shrine, the altar, the women putting their mementos?
- The fulfilment of the title? Marriage, betrayal, reconciliation, mother-daughter, lover friends?
