Following 2014's wonderful Rocks in My Pockets, Signe Baumane's latest feature, My Love Affair With Marriage, which had its world premiere at the Tribeca International Fiction Competition, contains the mix of unabashed insouciance and sharp introspection we've come to expect from the Latvian-born entertainer. While less overtly autobiographical than some of her other works, it remains a deeply personal affair, as Baumane explores ideas about female identity and the complexities of relationships.
As she grows up in Soviet-occupied Latvia, Zelma (voiced by Polish actress Dagmara Dominczyk) is taught that men want a woman who conforms to society's idea of being demure and submissive. Thinking that love will be the answer to some of the problems in her life, Zelma begins to mold herself into the woman she believes a man will want. But when she finally marries Sergei (Cameron Monaghan), she discovers that love may not be as good as it seems. Beginning to assert her identity in a way she never thought possible, she meets the mysterious, international Bo (Matthew Modine). But this new person means that she must once again question everything that has happened before.
Director: Signe Baumane
Writer: Signe Baumane
Stars: Dagmara Dominczyk, Michele Pawk, Matthew Modine
While those familiar with Baumane's work will find many elements reassuringly familiar, from the animation aesthetic to the serious exploration of human relationships, My Love Affair With Marriage still greatly expands on it both technically and creatively.
The 2D characters have a slightly “cartoonish” feel (all wide-eyed caricatures) as they walk across meticulously constructed 3D backgrounds. This visual contrast serves the film well as it explores the gaps between identity, expectations, and desire. Baumane also makes much of the science behind love and the construction of gender, teasingly revealing the chemical reactions and brain functions that regulate our feelings when we fall in (and indeed fall out of) love. These sequences, animated in a completely different style than the rest of Yajun Shi's film, once again provide a compelling and fun juxtaposition between the more grounded moments and those that revel in flights of fancy.
I would also be remiss not to mention the fact that the film is also a musical, and Zelma's story is often told through a series of catchy songs provided by Italian composer Kristian Sensini, often sung by a Greek choir of “ mermaids” that follow Zelma. throughout her life.
My Love Affair With Marriage is indeed a heady mix of influences, ideas and styles. But rather than becoming an unwieldy mess, it becomes a joyfully exuberant work that manages to make a serious examination of human behavior while remaining nothing short of gloriously entertaining. Many of its themes of gender, identity, and conformity also seem incredibly topical.
With its world premiere quickly followed by a European premiere in the Annecy Feature Film Competition, the film is already causing considerable buzz and will no doubt be a popular festival hit with both general audiences and those specializing in animation. With the names of Modine (who also acts as executive producer), Dominczyk and Monaghan, who do an excellent job in their roles, being recognizable to the public, a healthy international theatrical VoD career is also very likely, especially with the film . gaining more than 1,500 followers through their Kickstarter campaign.
My Love Affair With Marriage is a co-production between Latvia, the United States and Luxembourg. It was produced by Studio Locomotive, Antevita Films and The Marriage Company LLC. New Europe Film Sales is responsible for its international sales.
Comments
Post a Comment