For Lovers Only

It's one the most hauntingly beautiful movies I've seen in a long time. Just fell in love with it during the first scene itself. True many say that there is nothing much to the story, but I loved how it ended: open for interpretation. The other fact that made it such a wonderful experience was how realistic it all felt. It could have happened to any one of us. Plus haven't most of us had that love who somehow got away, despite the many opportunities? Having followed Stana Katic's career ever since she starred on 'Castle', I feel so grateful that she took time off of her summer holidays to shoot a movie that started off as just a travel & shoot movie but ended up touching a lot of our hearts!

What can I say after seeing utter perfection!

This film has an excellent cast, heartfelt storyline and a beautiful score. But to me It didn't feel as though I were watching a film; it was more like visiting an art gallery and seeing the works of art move in front of your eyes. Its visually stunning, perfect lighting and location.

I can't recommend this film more then I do. Its just so refreshing to see a film, not some Hollywood blockbuster that makes no sense, but a film, about love, life and sacrifice.

Don't miss out on this one, you'll die with regrets..

This movie was visually beautiful, the music was incredible, any movie that uses Jeff Buckley is a win for me. There was not much of a story to speak of, lovers reunite, travel, etc. It was more a series of very wonderful shots of the scenery and Stana Katic as much as it was a movie. You could basically watch the first 20 minutes, then the last 10 and you have the gist of the movie.

Anyway the biggest reason I could never recommend this movie, the sound/audio is impossibly bad. I wanted to stop watching from the first scene on, it was that bad. The background noise was just too much and no settings change could fix it. I understand 'art' films, but could they not a afford a boom Mic for the scenes with dialog? I would have enjoyed the movie more with subtitles.

While I had seen a few of the Polish Brothers other moves, namely 'Twin Falls Idaho' and 'Northfork' I freely admit I may not have been aware of 'For Lovers Only' if I didn't follow Stana Katic on Twitter. We all know what a great job Stana has been doing in the role of Kate Beckett in Castle for the past 3 seasons so any other project that she is involved with deserves a peek, right? Are you tired/bored with the usual Hollywood CGI laden, big bang, beat 'em up fare? Like me, do you need to be emotionally invested in a movie? If the answer is "yes" then 'For Lovers Only' is definitely the movie for you.

It quite simply couldn't be any further from your 'conventional movie' and trust me it doesn't suffer for it in the slightest. What Mark Polish has written is an honest and heartfelt depiction of being in love - not just the joys but also the sorrows.

'For Lovers Only' was conceived under the radar, with zero budget and zero marketing. The movie was shot with a tiny crew on the fly while travelling throughout France over a short period of time. There are no sets, no artificial lighting just amazing scenery, architecture and touching performances.

The director, Michael Polish has done a magnificent job in capturing the tone of this movie. Filmed in black and white with a digital SLR camera he has managed to create the most romantic and almost ethereal feeling – it looks timeless. I don't know how he's done it but Michael has managed to make Stana look even more stunning! When we first met former lovers Yves (Mark Polish) and Sofia (Stana Katic) they seem to be only half a person, barely functioning. When they bump into each other again in Paris after 8 years apart it is palpable. It's almost like they've been hit by a truck, no words are necessary as it's written all over their faces. We all know Stana can say more with her eyes than most actresses can with a couple of pages of dialogue. From that moment on you just know that there is more to their story and they are going to reconnect – it's inevitable.

As they leave Paris on their journey the ease with which Yves and Sofia fall back into the role of lovers or more importantly being in love is in stark contrast to the stilted and awkward phone conversations they have with their respective spouses. These two seem to be each others perfect, each others everything that it's hard to imagine why they broke up in the first place – it's never explained either.

If viewers are expecting what follows to be a 'sexcapade' throughout France then they are going to be disappointed. Yes, there is a sex scene but it's not gratuitous or explicit – this is a movie for grown ups after all. The most intimate moments in the movie are when Yves and Sofia are simply in each others personal space, totally comfortable with one another, sharing their feelings and thoughts. If the objective was to have the viewer almost feel like a voyeur then mission accomplished in spades.

I don't want to dissect the movie scene by scene, it is better for the viewer to simply go on the journey with the lovers and let their story unfold before your eyes. You'll laugh, you'll cry but most of all you'll feel.

The haunting score by Kubilay Uner fits each scene perfectly and only serves to heighten the experience.

The choices of songs by artists such as Arcade Fire, Jeff Healey, John Lennon, A Girl Named Eddy and Serge Gainsbourg to name but a few are inspired. One could be forgiven for thinking that they had been especially written for the movie as they sit so comfortably within it.

All in all 'For Lovers Only' is a treat for the heart and the soul. You will get a little something different out of it with each viewing. I first saw this movie just over a fortnight ago and it's still rattling around in my head. How many movies can we say that about?

A chance encounter between photographer Yves (Mark Polish) and former lover Sofia (Stana Katic) leads to a passionate reignition of their relationship.

The sound recording has excessive background noises to the point of being distracting. I have to assume that it's a choice but it's an annoying choice. It's hard to understand the dialogue at times. I suggest turning on the subtitles. There are sections where the film uses music and it turns somewhat into a music video. That helps. This is guerilla filmmaking. It helps with the feeling of dropping in on their fling. The black and white cinematography certainly looks beautiful. It doesn't hurt to have the beautiful Stana and the Parisian streets. This is fine for an arthouse experimental film.