She Is Love
Indie romantic comedy drama has language, drinking, smoking.
Kids say
Based on 1 review
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She Is Love
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that She Is Love is a romantic comedy drama about a divorced couple who find themselves thrown together at a country hotel. One half of the couple, Idris (Sam Riley), has a new partner, Louise (Marisa Abela), and the dynamics between them and Idris' former wife, Patricia (Haley Bennett), become increasingly complicated during the movie. There is frequent strong language, including "f--k" and "s--t," and characters drink alcohol to the point of intoxication for a significant portion of the runtime. The death of a father and miscarriage are both mentioned. The film takes place mostly within a hotel and over a short period of time. It will appeal to those who enjoy studying the complexities of characters and relationships, rather than viewers looking for a traditional beginning, middle, and end to the narrative.
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What's the Story?
In SHE IS LOVE, a divorced couple are unexpectedly reunited when Patricia (Haley Bennett) unknowingly arrives at a hotel run by her ex Idris (Sam Riley) and his new girlfriend, Louise (Marisa Abela). As the former couple reconnect, emotions are rekindled and ghosts are dragged up from their past.
Is It Any Good?
Like much of writer-director Jamie Adams' work, this romantic comedy drama was developed with an improvisational approach to character and dialogue, which lends it an experimental feel. Unfortunately this also adds to a sense of She Is Love losing its way at times. Music is also used clumsily to create playfulness and tension in moments where it isn't quite captured by the characters. But the handheld filming works well as the film progresses, mirroring the characters' descent into drunkenness and psychological haze.
There is a chemistry between Bennett and Riley that keeps things entertaining, too. Scenes where they dress as ghosts, smearing each other in white makeup add an artistic flair to the claustrophobic shots, which vibrate with a sense of impending chaos as the night unfolds. There is a feeling of witnessing something real between two people during the short 82-minute runtime, but very little in terms of depth, understanding, or message as the credits roll.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the relationship between Patricia and Idris in She Is Love. What do we learn about them as a couple and as individuals during the movie?
The film shows a divorced couple reconnecting, when one has a new partner. How did Idris behave differently with his ex-wife and new girlfriend? Did the movie approach the ethics of the situation in any way?
Discuss the strong language used. What did it contribute to the movie? Is a certain kind of language expected in a movie like this?
How were drinking and smoking depicted in the film? Were they glamorized? Why does that matter?
The film was developed using improvisation for some aspects of character and dialogue. Could you see it in the performances? What do you think are the pros and cons of working in that way?
Movie Details
- In theaters: February 3, 2023
- On DVD or streaming: February 3, 2023
- Cast: Haley Bennett, Sam Riley, Marisa Abela
- Director: Jamie Adams
- Studio: Brainstorm Media
- Genre: Romance
- Run time: 82 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 11, 2023
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