Richard Curtis wrote and directed the 2003 hit romantic comedy, ‘Love Actually’. The film is a real “feel-good” movie and it will leave you feeling positive about the world and the people in your life.
Curtis does a wonderful job of showing a wide range of situations, where love is present – whether they are happy and idealistic romances, lustful sins or heartbreakingly difficult circumstances. ‘Love Actually’ is a testoment to the idea that love can be a very bittersweet experience.
The opening scene is very emotive and sets the mood for the rest of the film. Throughout the scene the Prime Minister delivers a speech which is used to accompany the silent montage of a sea of people at Heathrow airport who are greeting their loved ones who have returned from their travels. These are some lines from the speech…
“General opinions starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed – but I don’t see that – seems to me that love is everywhere.
Igniting laughter, wreaking havoc, breaking hearts, daring commitments, forcing choices, catapulting spirits, forging inroads, creating risks - ecstatic, exciting, unexpected, unwelcome, inconvenient, inexplicable, inelegant, unequalled.
Love actually is all around.”
This powerful and thought provoking speech sums up what the movie is all about – love. The beauty of the words creates that warm feeling which you get inside when you meet that person who sets your heart on fire, the one whom you simply are drawn to.
Love arguably creates the strongest emotions a human can experience. The uncontrollable lust you feel when you meet the man of your dreams; the devastating hurt you feel when your partner leaves you or worse still, cheats on you; the nervous excitement you feel on your first date together. All these emotions are at their highest when it is with that one person who has truly captured your heart. No other person could ever evoke the strength of these feelings within you.
One of the most famous scenes in ‘Love Actually’ is the tear jerking scene between Juliet (Keira Knightley) and Mark (Andrew Lincoln) who is the best man at Juliet and Peter’s wedding. Unfortunately for him he also happens to be madly in love with Juliet. Curtis wrote a wonderful scene for the pair in which Mark has come around to Juliet’s house to discretely tell her that he loves her. This scene is a must see even if you haven’t seen the movie!
Interestingly, Curtis decided to set the film at Christmas during the five weeks leading up to Christmas Eve. 'Love Actually' highlights the parallels between Christmas time and love. Christmas is often a bittersweet time of year as it heightens your emotions and seems to force you to reflect on your life and where you are at. Love can do the same thing. What we once thought were important things in life are often completely changed when we fall in love and reassess all our priorities. Christmas is overwhelmingly fun if you are with the ones you love, but it can also be extremely stressful as expectations run so high. It seems that Christmas is similar to love in many ways.
The Christmas theme allows for uplifting and emotive festive songs to be played throughout the movie. One fun and enjoyable moment comes at the end of the movie when Sam, an eleven year old boy who has just lost his mother, plays the drums in the band performing in his school Christmas talent show. The girl he is in love with is performing as part of a dance troupe to the music the band is playing ‘All I Want for Christmas’ – it is a lot of fun!
A different style of writing to the last - look forward to feedback - thanks!
ReplyDeleteLaura-Beth
I like this as you have explained what Love Actually is about instantly by using a scene in the film which explains Love Actually!
ReplyDeleteIn particular i like the 5th paragraph the most as i feel you have been descriptive using all those describing words, i can picture each scene from the film that relates to the emotions and words that you have used for example "igniting laughter" this definatly has to be when Hugh Grant is dancing in Downing Street im sure you will agree and "breaking hearts" for me is when Emma Thompson realises her husband is having an affair, she is truly an amazing actress and everytime i watch the scene where she is listening to the CD her cheating husband bought her and crying but trying to hold her composure for her children i think is great writing and remarkable acting. i can't help crying with her.
I totally agree that one minute you are laughing and another you are reaching for the tissues.
I also like the way that you have mentioned Curtis alot as i do think that people who have watched his other films will really enjoy watching Love Actually and realise that his films do take you on a rollercoaster of emotions.