Romantic comedies have been one of the biggest losers of the adult film crisis on a commercial level. They are no longer the firm commitment that they once were, and the economic resources allocated are considerably less. It is noticeable both in the lack of stars starring in them and in the simplicity of their staging or their visual development, supported mostly by archetypal shot-reverse shot that seems so repeated to be a vague solution.
For this reason, the best recent joys end up coming from an indie cinema that is for resources more than for spirit. This is the case of one of the most pleasant surprises so far this year, framed within romantic cinema, it is halfway between the school of the Sundance festival (where it was first screened) and British cinema with a commercial vocation. That is ‘Love on Rye Lane‘.
Before Sunrise in London
Released discreetly on Disney+, the first feature film as a director of Raine Allen Miller does a refreshing look at current relationships which, really, are not so different from those of yesteryear. With two young actors like David Johnson and Vivian Oparah makes a splendid romantic film without fear of trying things visually without losing interest in the chemistry of its leads.
Two people who have recently gone through a breakup cross paths at an art exhibition. Specifically, they run into each other in the bathroom, where he is crying inconsolably. She encourages him to accompany her on a walk where you can process the end of loveembarking on a day of conversations about relationships, about life in general, getting into different corners of a London neighborhood and meeting important people in their lives.
With this starting point, it is easy to think of Richard Linklater’s cinema, especially in the Before trilogy, which acts as the main reference for a fresh, intelligent and mature couple that they get to know each other little by little through what is told and what is not. He breathes a lot of naturalness and vitality in his interactions, which exude eloquence as well as uncertainty because there is no room for easy conclusions here.
‘Love on Rye Lane’: a fun and charming proposal
But it’s not just Linklater who appears, since we also see a lot of the manners self-confidence that Richard Curtis’s romantic comedies tend to have. The British component is breathed in every corner of the film, surprising cameos included. that way make the neighborhood and its inhabitants breathein addition to the supporting roles that emerge in the film, so full of life, is also reminiscent of Jonanthan Demme’s empathetic performance in films like ‘something wild‘.
Of course, ‘Love in Rye Lane’ manages to differentiate itself enough to develop its own charisma and personality. Especially given the visual details that Miller uses, which are ingenious and wonderfully accompany the story and the evolution of the relationship. Although she abuses resources such as the fish eye, she shows nonconformity and attention to detail that are appreciatedfinishing raising a fun and charming proposal that perfectly understands how essential they are A Tribe Called Quest.
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