Anais in Love is a coming of age story that takes the genre out of the high school hallways of youth and to the sun kissed French countryside. Anais is a spirited thirty year old whose life is in chaos. When she begins an affair with an older man, she ends up falling in love with his wife.
It is familiar in the way that romantic comedies always are but brings a chaos and quirkiness that is slightly different. While it is true that rom-coms are powered by star-crossed lovers and mismanaged lives, Anais in Love tweaks up the formula by having the protagonist get everything she wants. She may be months behind on rent but her spirit is a magnet to others.
This is in direct opposition to how everyone learns storytelling is supposed to work. How exciting can a story be if the audience knows the main character is going to always succeed? Therein lies the charm of Anais in Love; it is more about the journey than the foregone result.
Anais in Love is a character study that sees the titular character live her life under her own terms. She is constantly racing forward and says everything that comes to mind. While she is doing so, she is introduced to life’s realities. The story is relatable in a way that many others are not. There are not many who live as recklessly as Anais, but more than a few will understand meeting someone who helped them look at life differently.
This straightforward storytelling may also end up turning some people off. There are no deep layers to Anais in Love. It is very much a what you see is what you get situation. But it also proves that sometimes life just takes a willingness to jump in with both feet.
Anais in Love opens in theaters April 29 and comes to On Demand May 6
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