LOVERS & LEAVERS A film review by Steve Rhodes Copyright 2003 Steve Rhodes RATING (0 TO ****): **
Aku Louhimies's LOVERS & LEAVERS (KUUTAMOLLA) is a terminally bland film that its likeable lead, Minna Haapkylä, can't save. It even has a muted color scheme to match its mediocre mood. Every color is washed out just like most of the story's emotions.
The plot does have potential. Iiris Vaara (Haapkylä) is a painfully shy, 30-year-old woman who lives her life through movies. Watching them non-stop is about all she does other than work. Her friend Anna (Anna-Leena Härkönen) sees sex as Iiris's salvation. Having no Mr. Right, much less a Mr. Almost Okay, Iiris idles away her time watching films and videos rather than getting out and meeting people. Her few dating attempts are disasters.
Eventually, she meets a guy named Marko (Peter Franzén), who, like her, can spew out lines in English from one American movie after another. Although it might look like a relationship made in heaven, it isn't. She is just one in a stream of girlfriends for him, even if he is (just about?) her first.
When, as expected, he dumps her, will she win him back? Who cares?
LOVERS & LEAVERS runs a long 1:59. The film is in Finish with English subtitles. It is not rated but would be rated R for brief nudity and sexual situations and would be acceptable for teenagers.
The film is being shown as part of San Jose's Cinequest Film Festival (www.Cinequest.org), which runs February 27 to March 9, 2003.
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