After being captivated by producer Emmanuel Benbihy’s love letter to Paris – Paris, Je t’aime, I eagerly anticipated the release of the second film in his “Cities of Love” series – New York, I Love You. It was shot under similar conditions, with eleven directors working collaboratively…
After being captivated by producer Emmanuel Benbihy’s love letter to Paris – Paris, Je t’aime, I eagerly anticipated the release of the second film in his “Cities of Love” series – New York, I Love You. It was shot under similar conditions, with eleven directors working collaboratively to produce stories identifying with one or more New York neighbourhoods and involving a love encounter. A tight turnaround had directors shooting for 48 hours and spending one week editing while a new director and cast started shooting.
To capture a fresh, original perspective of New York, Benbihy approached “younger, newer directors from all around the world… edgy in their approach… pushing cinematic borders, who might be able to see New York not as it used to be but as it really is today, right now.”
New York, I Love You seems to works cohesively as a whole, with characters reappearing and interacting with each other, interweaving stories together. Its performances are understated, subtle and well-formed.
Things to watch out for are the legendary Cloris Leachman and Eli Wallach in a touching exploration of octogenarian love and Natalie Portman’s writing and directorial debut.
New York, I Love You celebrates New York, the city that never sleeps, in all of its busyness, grittiness, vitality and creativity.
Robin Wright Penn and Chris Cooper.
Shia le Beouf as a crippled hotel attendant waiting on Julie Christie.
Julie Christie.
Anton Yelchin and Olivia Thirlby.
Emilie Ohana as a woman who films the city that never sleeps, whose film was projected onto buildings in a fabulous scene.
It captures the human face of the city with real, chance encounters that can happen at any time of the day or night. Love is explored in all of its intensity, emotion, passion, desire, lust and excitement as well as the romantic, innocent, whimsical, charming, delightful and fun.
Ethan Hawke, who appears in a few of the stories, in a cafe with Emilie Ohana.
Qi Shu plays a painter’s muse in Chinatown.
Emilie Ohana films Qi Shu in a coffee shop.
Fall in love with the city viewed through fresh eyes.
New York, I Love You does not disappoint, it leaves you satisfied, pondering the surprises and unexpected twists, basking in the warm afterglow of small intimate acts of love shared.
Starring Shia LaBeouf, Bradley Cooper, Natalie Portman, Orlando Bloom, Robin Wright Penn, Ethan Hawke, Rachel Bilson, Hayden Christensen, Christina Ricci, Blake Lively, Drea de Matteo, and Julie Christine.
In NZ cinemas 6 May.
By Stacy McIvor, 13 April 2010
Leave a Reply