Un Basier S'il Vous Plait

I watched this last night. I have a penchant for French films; a love affair if you will. I always have. Even though I don't speak a lick of french other than "Ciao" (does "baguette" count?) I am still drawn to the sound of their beautiful language, their idea of romance and love, and of the simple pleasures of life and how important it is to enjoy these things. No better moment is captured than the rock skipping scene in Amelie or even the scene where she dips her hand into a bag of beans. Like I said, simple pleasures.

Shall We Kiss is a brilliantly told story of the complexity of love, of kismet, and of the lengths we go to get what we truly desire and how sometimes this can be harmful at first but in the end it is always worth it. We sometimes have to hurt those we love in order to be truly happy. This seems twisted, but love and loss always go hand in hand no?

While watching this movie I found myself laughing out loud because some scenes were so awkwardly humorous and wonderful. Warning Adult Content ahead so stop reading. For example, and I am not giving anything away, when the main characters first make love it is so funny because it is so incredibly awkward and so perfect. I loved it. I loved it that he asks for permission to do certain things like 'Can I touch your breast' and 'Can I touch your skin'. (take a look again at the DVD cover and you will see what I mean). He doesn't want to overstep his bounds and is unsure how to proceed, even though she invited him to her bed. At the same time she is so hoping for something to happen but is too set on pleasing him and all the while he is set on pleasing her that this becomes an obstacle because they don't know what to do and neither one is really taking the lead. She "Should we undress..." Him "Oh sure. That sounds good." And they undress but what's next...Oh awkward love and yet it is only the start of their passionate love affair. The whole time I am watching it I was sort of cheering them on "Come on Nicolas, go for it, she wants you too, she is waiting" and other times I was like "Judith just grab him already, show him." It was torturous. It was wonderful.

I probably have said enough though this movie is still running around in my mind. I suppose I should go so goodbye....I mean ciao.

PS. Other favorite French films: Love Me If You Dare, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, A Very Long Engagement, Amelie.