Name/Username (or both if you prefer)
Jenn - seaglaresdontmind
Age
21
Country
USA
How did you get introduced to ‘For Lovers Only’?
Tumblr. People were posting screenshots and GIFs, raving a bit about it. I was very skeptical, but that can be said about everything not recommended by people whose opinions I trust. And the fact that it was an Independent film put me off for a while (I’d never seen one before). I also don’t watch things just because of a particular actor/actress (Stana in this case), but I will if the story sounds interesting enough. It took some time (couple months I want to say) to finally take the plunge, give ‘For Lovers Only’ a try.
Obviously, I’m very glad I did.
Who is your favourite character?
Hallway Towel Guy.
No, honestly? It’s hard to say. I love them both; mostly because of how much they love each other. Is this the easy way out? Heck yes. Am I sorry for it? Heck no. It’s hard enough to pick favorites when I’m not presented with just two wonderful, well-rounded characters. So, no, I’m not going to choose.
Except now you’ve got me thinking on it. Dang it.
What is your favourite scene?
Second time they’re in the chapel/church, when Sofia’s kneeling and brings Yves up to kneel beside her. So poignant. Heck, I’m tearing up just writing about it. To me, it can be seen as a plea, not only for the miracle Sofia says they’ll need, but almost like she in particular is asking for forgiveness. Not necessarily for what they’ve done, though that’s conceivable, but for the past. Laying regrets at the alter, leaving their mistakes and their future at the feet of God. Praying. Hoping. It also shows that when it comes to “them” she has a little more faith than he does. At that time. Which is understandable.
On a lighter note, I also love the scene where they discuss his wolf tattoo. Which actually isn’t that light a scene…
I’m hopeless.
What do you like the most about ‘For Lovers Only’?
Its realism, and it’s reality. Infidelity isn’t ideal, and, frankly, it is wrong, but we’re human. It does happen, and probably in this very way more often that we’d think. And this movie is unapologetically human. And, to be completely honest, the fact that it’s written so there’s no real judgment, that it feels like, to me, they’ve actually been cheating on each other this whole time, is amazing.
The intimacy. Not just between Yves and Sofia, but the camera to these characters. Good knight, it would have been embarrassing being so close to them if it wasn’t so fascinatingly wonderful.
And, lastly, the actual clincher for why I decided to take a dive and watch: it’s in black and white. Such a sucker for black and white. Really digging deep on that one.
Is there anything you dislike about ‘For Lovers Only’?
The audio. It’s understandably low because of how the movie was filmed, but frustrating when trying to watch curled up in the backseat of a car on a long highway drive. It was impossible to hear over the noise on such a small MP3 player.
What is your personal interpretation of the film’s ending?
I like the fact that it was left so open. It may not be very fun of me, but I’ve decided to leave it alone, not try to visualize too much beyond what we were given. It’s not very writer-ish of me either, but, and call me a sap, but I just don’t want to leave it not totally happy. As a romantic it’s sad to think that all they ever had was Paris. Because Paris wasn’t forever. I would want to believe that, eventually, they found each other again. Permanently, climbing past all the obstacles. That they got their miracle.
Has this film impacted your life somehow?
With blind-siding intensity. Firstly, as it intended, my outlook on love. All my life I’ve been reminded how rough love can be, how tough being together is, but not so much the good things. The tenderness, the comfortableness between two people, the sheer joy of merely being in each other’s company. It was utterly enthralling watching Yves and Sofia just be, even if, under the circumstances, they shouldn’t have.
Secondly, it inspired me as a writer. The simplicity. Just telling the story how you think it should be told. Nothing fancy. Just real. Honest. Storytelling. It expanded my creative horizon. Namely about my own story following the same vein, like Mark was inspired by ‘A Man and a Woman’. But who knows what, if anything, will come of it. Only time will tell.
Anything else you’d like to add?
The music is amazing. When I want to relax and focus, the Original Score is what I listen to. Works like a dream. (Except sometimes, especially when I’m tired, I get this weird mixture of sad/happy and all teary-eyed. Not so safe to listen to in public.) Of course the other tracks were amazing, both from the movie and the playlists Mark and Stana created for their characters (which made me grin like a fool because I love making playlists for characters and stories and I’m sure lots of other people do too but you know).
That skepticism about the movie I mentioned before? I remember the exact moment when this movie ensnared me, and then suddenly, after seemingly the shortest whirlwind ride ever, it was over and a pillow was crushed to my chest that I didn’t remember picking up and tears rolled down my face and, in shock, I wondered: Oh God, what the hell did I just watch, why did I just put myself through that?
The stairs.
Before that moment I was half paying attention, kind of grinning, fully expecting to not be impressed at all, especially when they walked past each other that first time like “Oh, yeah, okay, I bet they’re gonna meet on the stairs and be all in awe and yeah I’ve seen that done before”. But then it happened.
Holy shift. I was gone.
