With Jim Sabatini

Love Songs

Rated: No rating
Reviewed by: Jim
Release date: April 20, 2008	Released by: IFC Films

The very French Love Songs is Christophe Honore's contemporary tribute to Umbrellas of Cherbourg when a young, vibrant Catherine Denuvre lit up the silver screen.

Starring Louis Garrel (The Dreamers) and Ludivine Sagnier (The Swimming Pool), this unmeasured, if self-indulgent effort finds joy and grief in Paris.

Garrel is hardly modest in the role of romantic Ismael who develops a three-way connection with live-in girlfriend (Sagnier) who wants a child and co-worker Alice (Clotilde Hesme).

Life suddenly changes for this rising magazine editor, happening in front of Julie's family who is fond of Ismael. Chiara Mastroianni is Julie's vigilant sister, Jeanne.

Making more of a disarming impression is Gregoire Leprince-Ringuet, as a lovelorn student Erwann, during Ismael's coping with a loss.

Alex Beaupain is the composer of the copious tunes which can be a bit overwhelming, but sometimes charmingly felt to what isn't routine and often sexual in nature.

Maybe Love Songs presses with its offbeat passion for the conflicting emotions which not so breathtaking result as the lushness of the City of Lights, more evocative than the characters or story.