Love Story

This is one of those rare films that I will never forget. It's vision is so original, it's honest, mischievously playful, bouyant and sweet. The director who stars in the film has an infectious personality. He meets a young Russian woman, Marsha, on the NYC subway (holding a perfectly balanced piece of cake) and convinces her to film their love affair. What happens next is decided by strangers the filmmaker spontaneously meets -armed with his camera. He disarms them with his charm (and pink pants) and asks them what should happen next in his story, and then goes and films it with his muse. Twenty minutes into the film, I was worried if this technique could carry the whole film, but what happens is remarkable and engaging. Love Story is Punk film making at it's finest and most enjoyable.

The cinema was full of guffaws, belly laughs and random applause. One of the love scenes (involving breakfast cereal, I will say no more) had the person next to me rolling on the cinema floor in hysterics.

The New Yorkers on the street (and Habicht's father via skype from Germany offering block-buster movie advice) come up with brilliant and strange ideas, like the Titanic inspired scenes. It's amazing what they come up with and how much the folks of NYC share with the audience. I felt like I was part of the film by watching it.

I think Woody Allen would appreciate this menage a trois between Florian, Masha & New York City. Will a film like this get a theatrical release? It certainly deserves it, but Love Story doesn't fit into any boxes.

What was interesting, and a little frustrating, was not knowing how much of the relationship in the film is real or staged. I wanted them to be a couple in real life and maybe they are.

There was one festival walk out, a woman behind me who thought she was coming to see the original 1970 Love Story.

My face hurt afterwards from smiling so much.