Broken English (2007)

Thanks to Erin's mention of this movie on her blog, I added it to my Netflix queue and watched it tonight. I REALLY liked this movie. I think I am terrible at writing summaries of movies but I'll do my best here. And for anyone genuinely interested in watching this movie, you may not want to read this. I don't spoil the movie necessarily, but I do say a lot about it. And in my opinion, it is best watched with limited knowledge!

Broken English is about a 30-something single woman (Parker Posey) in New York who wants love so badly she eagerly anticipates it with every date and is crushed when her dates fall completely shy of anything compelling in this regard. So, she feels that something is wrong with her. She feels herself become increasingly anxious, afraid, closed off. And Parker Posey plays a great part. She is complex, softly neurotic and miserable. When she meets the French Julien at a party, she is not to be fooled again. She is not taken over by his initial advances but maintains a seeming curiosity. It isn't long before her curiosity gives way to the quirky connection between them, particularly as Julien is persistent and Nora seems to need this. But Julien must return to Paris and she tells him that she cannot go with him because of practical issues. Then she breaks down later and finds herself in Paris looking for him, made impossible by the fact that she has misplaced the piece of paper with his telephone number on it. But despite this, Nora finds something more important in Paris: herself. Having quit her job before leaving abrubtly with her best friend for Paris, Nora suddenly finds herself open, alive. She is at peace with the fact that she will not find Julien. And we all know the irony of finding peace. Once we let go of that obsessive desire for something/someone, it so often seems to come easily.

Of course, being a single 30-something who occassionally feels that something is wrong with me where relationships are concerned...the movie resonates. And in that regard, the movie has a particular audience. But I would like to think that anyone who periodically finds themselves lost in the complexities of love (and wanting love) and with some kind of romantic sensibility...might appreciate this movie. But the movie reonsates for me on a deepr level. I have seen my share of love movies...with the protagonist desperate for love. But I felt so "into" this movie to a degree I don't think I ever have with other such movies. The juxtaposition of NYC and Paris, the psychic who calls out to Nora on the street (a man approached me in Central Park a few years ago claiming to "see" a predominant fear within me...I'll have to blog about that sometime), the way that Paris is portrayed, Nora's stormy thoughts and feelings on love. I was so "into" this movie that I was literally on the edge of my bed watching it and as certain conversations and events took place, I found myself so invested in it all, on an emotional and physical level.

But it isn't simply the theme and emotional thrust of the movie. The directing (Zoe Cassavetes) is brilliant and the story is well told. The scenes are wonderful (punctuated by a great soundtrack) and the emotion powerful but not at all overdone or pretentious, and Paris!!!! French people are not portrayed in the stereotypical way but Paris and Parisians serve as Nora's point of transformation with herself. The French cab driver politely takes them to their hotel upon arriving in Paris and wishes them happiness, which the girls hear as "a penis." A Frenchman invites her to coffee with his two friends and when she declines, he says that they will be at the café across the street and that he will see her there. She smiles at this and finds herself indeed having coffee with these three French guys and thoroughly enjoying it, finding herself naturally witty and appreciated. Then, after a day of walking around Paris, she stops at a nice bar and another Frenchman approaches her and they talk about her futile quest to find this man. The older Frenchman tells her, "most people are together just so they are not alone but some people want magic. I think you are one of those people." Nora's eyes fill with tears and she asks him if there is something wrong with that and he replies, "no, there is nothing wrong with that but it doesn't happen all the time." And such simple dialogue proves so moving throughout this movie, particularly for those of us who do want magic.

The Frenchmen do not possess the often aloof and standoffish behavior of American men. Rather, they seem to push their way into Nora's space and again, it is as though she needs this. It reminds me of my own experience in Paris. Frenchmen often came right up to me, standing or sitting right up next to me. But interestingly, when you tell them you are not interested in going for a drink, they smile and let you go, not seeming to be put off like so many Americans do.

Cassavetes also takes great care not to ruin the movie with superfluous dialogue. The most powerful moments of the movie incorporate wonderful pauses and non-verbal communication/behavior. This approach reminds me of Sofia Coppola's movies (Lost in Translation, Marie Antoinette).

Such a great movie. Maybe apsects of it could be seen as predictable by others but I had no expectations and often found myself wonderfully surprised by how the movie progressed. The ending is brilliant! As tired as I was last night...after watching it the first time, I downloaded the soundtrack off iTunes and rewatched the movie again! Thanks again for the great recommendation, Erin!!