A FRENCH COMEDY
WITH CHARM
AND ROMANCE
THE NAMES OF LOVE
Cast: Jacques Gamblin, Sara Forestier
Directed by: Michel Leclerc
Rated: R and includes adult situations, nudity, sexuality and language
Genre: Romance, Comedy, French/Subtitles
Running Time: 1hr 42min
By John Delia
The French really know how to make a lighthearted sexy comedy and the proof comes in a very funny and provocative film called The Names of Love. Although complicated as most French comedies are, the quirky little film puts on a good show.
Do you remember the days when young people were running around in nearly nothing and chanting, “make love not war� Well if you do then you’ll fall into the audience category for which this movie takes aim.
Baya’s (Sara Forestier) a single young outgoing, kinda overly sexual liberal that has found a way to solve her political woes, seduce her rivals and convert them to her way of thinking. Working her way though some very big political names and receiving excellent results, Baya’s on top of the world. Everything she touches turns in her favor, up until she meets Arthur (Jacques Gamblin), an older man who has made exceptional strides in the scientific community. Although a fence walker when it comes to politics, Baya still wants Arthur as one of her trophies. When she finds out that they have a few too many things in common, things start to get complicated.
Director Michel Leclerc does a fine job of helping Forestier put together an outstanding performance as the uninhibited girl that takes French lascivious humor to another level. The comely Forester burns up the screen showing off her beautiful frame and then some. Boldly she’s Baya and every sly look, prim walk and confident gesture is projected on the screen for all to see. It’s a gaping mouth voyeuristic film depicting the bliss for which the French are known.
But, Forestier wouldn’t have given the performance of her life had she not been opposite Gamblin who gives her the naive Arthur who doesn’t have a clue that he’s corralled Baya one of the hottest items in Paris. But it’s not all romance and sex, the film gloats on several issues that challenges the minds of the modern day world, including anti-Semitism, Arab-Jewish relationships, immigration, and cultural identity.
The Names of Love is rated R and includes adult situations, nudity, sexuality and language. The spoken language is French with English Subtitles.
FINAL ANALYSIS:Â A very good movie for lovers and art film enthusiasts. (B)