FALLING INTO PLACE

Germany/UK, 2023, 113 minutes, Colour.

Aylin Tezel, Chris Fulton, Alexandra Dowling, Rory Fleck Byrne, Juliet Cowan, Samuel Anderson, Olwen Fouere, Michael Carter, Cian Barry.

Directed by Aylin Tezel.

Perhaps calling Falling into Place romantic comedy suggests that it is a light presentation of a relationship. It is a touch more serious. And, by the end, the two characters, we know, will fall into place.

One of the surprising features of the film is to discover that the writer and the director, Aylin Tezel, is German, and has featured in the number of German films. However, while she brings her German perspective to characters and situations, the setting is British, some scenes on Isle of Skye, some of life in London.

But, even more significantly, Aylin Tezel also plays the central role of hero, an artist, set designer for the theatre, tensions in relationships, insecurities in her own life, getting away from London to the Isle of Skye. On the same train from London, but separately, is Ian, a musician, also getting away from a relationship in London but visiting his parents on Skye.

The different feature of this film is that we spend the first almost 30 minutes sharing the initial encounter of the couple, in a bar, chatting outside, and a gradual development of acquaintance, beginnings of a friendship, sharing talk, confidences, jokiness, competitive running, being comfortable with each other. But, a crisis, Ian having to go home, his sister alienate, attempting suicide.

Then, back in London, for a long section of the film, the story of Kira, the story of Ethan, no connection between the two. The audience sees Kira’s insecurity, fragility in relationships, breakups, yet people confident in her talent for the theatre and her getting an exhibition at a Gallery for her art. The audience also sees Ian’s insecurity, the conversations with a very patient girlfriend, the steps towards breaking up, his work with his music.

There is one of those coincidences, made quite plausible, in which the two characters come together again, a re-acquaintance because they had never expected that they would encounter each other after the time on Skye.

Perhaps more than a happy ending because in those first 30 minutes we saw how compatible Kira and Ian were, so some confidence for the future, everything falling into place.

1. A romantic comedy for 30-somethings?
2. The contribution of the writer, director, star?
3. German perspective? The British settings, the Isle of Skye? London? European? The musical score? The songs?
4. The introduction to Kira and Ian, on the train, separate, their brooding, the arrival, Kira at the hotel, at the bar, the situations, the man chatting up Kira, noticing Ian? His going off with the girl? Both outside?
5. The scenario of having the two encountering each other, starting to talk, interact, share, click, the running, the different situations, locations, the night passing, comfortable with each other?
6. The crisis, Ian going home, the welcome from his mother, the reaction of his father, the news about his sister, in the car, rushing away? Keira and her return to London?
7. The focus of the film on the story of each of them? The present, the range of flashbacks, building up the story?
8. Keira’s story, her art, the paintings, portrait of Ian? A relationship with Aidan, broken, yet her dependents, meeting him, weeping, his reactions, the separation? Her indecisions, the theatre, the commission from Lewis, meeting the cast? The meeting with Aidan’s friend, leading him on, the sexual encounter, breaking off? Judy, the art gallery, praise for her art? And the continual meeting with her friends, confidantes? The exhibition, praise?
9. Ian’s story, in London, the relationship with Emily, open relationship, her tolerance, his treatment of her, his not talking about his sister, gradually opening up, some kind of understanding between them, his breaking with her? The importance of his sister, her suicide attempts, not having seen her for years, change of heart, going to visit, her reaction, the repeat visits, the growing understanding between them? Visiting his mother and father? And his playing the piano?
10. The irony of his walking along the street, seeing the white piano, going into play, meeting Judy, apologising, seeing his picture, at the exhibition, encountering Kira again, Kira with the flowers, the talk, the dancing? His leaving, her following him into the street, the kiss, the running…?
11. A romantic comedy for an older audience?