12 separate segments will comprise this new feature film, which is being produced by Emmanuel Benbihy ("Paris, je t'aime") and Marina Grasic ("Crash," "Smart People") with the cooperation of Marianne Maddalena ("Scream," "Red Eye"). In "New York, I Love You," the 12 segments will be connected together via transitional linking sequences. New York City is the main unifying character and the Film will show the city as a living, breathing and loving whole. In the end, the audience will not only understand each individual story, but they will also see the integrated whole of chance encounters through these unique transitions.
Director :
Faith Akin, Yvan Attal, Alan Hughes
Cast :
Drea De Matteo, Kevin Bacon, Justin Bartha, Maggie Q
On the lines of the acclaimed ‘PARIS JE T’AIME’, New York, I love you is the second episode of the “Cities of Love” series of feature films conceived by producer Emmanuel Benbihy. The next films will take place in Rio de Janeiro and Shanghai in 2010, then Jerusalem and Mumbai in 2011.
Emmanuel Benbihy has co-produced this film with Marina Grasic, executive producer of Oscar winning film ‘Crash’ (2004), which was a heartrending tale of different characters and their interwoven lives, set in LA...
New York, I love you too is a collective tale, although difference being, the characters here just cross paths, their lives are not intertwined. 11 romantic short stories directed by 11 international filmmakers run parallel throughout the film. Each film is 8 minute long.
The 11 open ended romantic tales may have a different story to tell but they all revolve around seeking and finding love in the least expected places. The anxiety and uncertainty of human nature when it comes to love is captured perfectly in all of these tales and that is what makes you like this film.
What doesn’t work for the film is its inability to capture the pulse of New York. Out of the 11 tales, only a chosen few romantic vignettes showcase the city authentically, leaving an impression that any other city would be able to easily fill into the film’s canvas. The soul of the film lies in it’s intriguing characters and not really the city.
Out of the 11 tales, Yvan Attal’s ‘SOHO’ is the most striking of all tales. Outside a Soho restaurant, a writer (Ethan Hawke) engages himself in a provocative seduction of a ravishing woman by using his fine erotic vocabulary. The woman (Maggie Q) who seems amused with his attempt of making an unusual pass at her however leaves the writer speechless as she reveals her true identity.
Yvan Attal’s second piece in the film with pretty much the same setting is equally amusing. A man and woman step out of a restaurant for a smoke. This time the woman comes onto the man, seduces him with her dirty talk but once they go back to the restaurant, things are not what they seem between the two. The funny twist in both of Attal’s tales is superb, making his stories the most memorable of the lot.
Shunji Iwai’s The Upper west side is another impressive piece on a music composer (Orlando Bloom) finding love in a woman (Christina Ricci) he has never seen but spoken to on the phone.
Allen Hughes’ piece on two strangers’ self talk on whether they should meet each other after the one night stand they’ve had is beautifully shot.
Mair Nair’s ‘Diamond District’ is a touching tale of two people from different backgrounds finding a connection through their common dilemma. Diamond seller (Irrfan Khan) is a devout Jain who finds himself strangely attracted to a bride-to-be Hasidic Jew (Natalie Portman). They flirt with each other’s cultural beliefs...from banned foods to shaved heads. The story’s interesting but seems to have an abrupt ending.
Shekhar Kapur’s tale on love that haunts and seems surreal is splendidly shot but leaves too much for our thinking and interpretation. Actors Julie Christie and Shia LaBeouf render superb performances though.
Barring the above few pieces, rest of the stories are either half-baked, abrupt or ooze abstractness. The film fails to capture the essence of New York but overall each story leaves us with a smile.
The stories are not interwoven but do have a common thread making the film worth a watch.
Diverse people, diverse cultures...one emotion of love. New York, I love you is an interesting watch if you are the kind who analyses a lot about love and life.
