Saved by the leading lady...
> The Names of Love
3 stars (out of 5)
Director: Michel Leclerc
Cast: Jacques Gamblin, Sara Forestier, Zinedine Soualem, Carole Franck, Jacques Boudet, Michèle Moretti
Rating: (R16)
Some films with complex political leanings manage to transcend national borders with ease, while others, such as The Names of Love (Metro/Rialto), leave more questions than answers.
If a plot based on a French-Algerian leftie seducing a secret-socialist Jew in contemporary France sounds barmy, that isn't the half of it. In fact, if it weren't for the cheeky genius of Sara Forestier, The Names of Love would probably not warrant a second look.
Forestier is Bahia Benmahmou, a raunchy ball of energy in pink Dr Martens. Naively convinced she can stem the tide of right-wing politics in France by seducing her political foes, Bahia meets uptight avian biologist Arthur Martin (Jacques Gamblin) and adds him to her notches.
Interrupted by frequent flashbacks to their respective pasts, The Names of Love tries to be a little bit too clever, often to its detriment.
Underlying the premise of romance between opposites is the narrative of colonisation, immigration and bigotry.
Trying to canvass a host of topics in such a compressed form doesn't always work; fortunately, Forestier's breezy charm provides the glue that binds the whole thing together.
With a wee suspension of disbelief, and a smidgeon of knowledge about French history and politics, The Names of Love is an entertaining adjunct to the French farce that has flooded our screens in recent years.
Bahia and Arthur's quirky romance is a delight to watch, even if the French political nuances are lost in translation.
Best thing: Sara Forestier's immutable charm; she carries the film even during its most contrived scenarios.
Worst thing: When the narrative sluggishly slips into moments of self-righteous waffle.
See it with: A member of the Paul Henry fan club.
- Mark Orton
