Love In "The Village"
Published August 21, 2004
:: The Village, the new film by M Night Shyamalan, is a bit of a mess. One review I read tagged it as an extended episode of The Twilight Zone. I found the film ultimately disappointing. However, the performances by the cast members are uniformly superb, including Brendan Gleeson (who like Brian Cox, appears to be in every second film these days), despite having very little to do in the film. Leading the way are, ostensibly, the two leads: Joaquin Phoenix and Bryce Dallas Howard, daugher of Opie/Richie Cunningham.
There is one scene with these two actors that deserves special mention, however, and I wish to describe it here. Therefore, if you haven't seen the film, please note the following as a spoiler.
SPOILER
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SPOILER
In the movie, Howard plays Ivy Walker, the blind daughter of Edward Walker, one of the village's leaders, played by William Hurt. Phoenix plays Lucius Hunt, the quiet and unassuming son of Alice Hunt (Sigourney Weaver). Early on, Ivy's sister, Kitty (Judy Greer), confesses to Lucius that she loves him, and asks if he would marry her. He declines, reducing her, predictably, to tears and prolonged sadness. What we sense quickly, however, is that he loves Ivy.
After the village is terrorized by Those Who Live In The Woods, Ivy wakes in the middle of the night to find Lucius sitting alone on the front porch of her house. She walks outside and sits with him, and they talk. She asks why he is there, and he tells her that he is there to protect her and her family from the creatures. The conversation continues, but turns suddenly when she asks him, and I paraphrase, "Will you dance with me at our wedding?" Having never confessed his love for her, she can nonetheless sense it to the core of her being. The words finally pour out of him, almost uncontrollably, and he tells her how deeply he cares for her. Before they embrace, overcome by her joy and exhilaration, she looks at him (she can see his colour) and is visibly shaking with emotion. It is one of the best written and best acted love scenes I have watched in a very, very long time. It doesn't redeem the movie by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a gem of a moment, and I was very moved by the presentation.
Howard, with her soft features and delivery, has lost any anonymity she had before this picture, and is destined for greater glory. Her obvious acting chops should deter anyone from accusing her of using her father's lifelong career in the tv and movie industries as a stepping stone into the business herself - granted, I'm sure it wasn't a deterent, either. Phoenix continues to deliver solid performances with each of his movies.
As for the film, the ending is incredibly absurd, with Shyamalan revealing one of the twists at least 30-40 minute before the final, critical sequence in the movie. The character in question, Ivy, is left to believe she is in danger, but the audience knows this isn't the case, and the tension evaporates.
- Love In "The Village"
- Published: August 21, 2004
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- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: Suspense and Mystery
- Writer: Randy Reichardt
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Sandra: It's important to know in advance, that the scene I described is not a "love scene" per se (i.e., one in which the actors are having sex) - the actors are sitting on a porch, dressed in their 19-century clothes. All they do is talk, and kiss at the end. But the passion is overwhelming.
So please don't anticipate seeing two naked people going at it! Just wanted to let you know. Thanks for the note. - Randy
A "love scene" is supposed to involve people having sex? Gah -- how foolish that is!
The least-loving scenes in Love, Actually, in my opinion, were the ones involving naked people.
What you are referring to there are "sex scenes," which are completely different. :-)
Good Lord! Well, thanks Randy. There but for the grace of God and you of course, go I. I really was going to watch it. Now, I shan't. I fully expect to see people having sex when I watch my "love" scenes. The more explicit, the better. This idea that explicit sex scenes can not be seen as "loving" doesn't wash with me. Therefore, I am not in complete agreement that naked bodies denote "sex" scenes while scenes like those of yestr year denote "love" scenes.
I have no problem with "love scenes" as you guys define them. Some of them I enjoy just as much as I enjoyed the staircase scene in 9&1/2 weeks and the sex at 2moon junction IN "Two moon junction".
Mostly, I prefer to see naked bodies, maybe even fully clothed bodies, but I prefer to see sex or the simulation of sex. Chit-chat and tongueless kisses only go so far. Full on snog, sex as it is had when two people are in love is what I enjoy watching. Why include a love scene in a movie or add a love story to the plot if the two individuals are not going to get up to anything? Is that how it works in real life? I thought drama was supposed to be a representation of life on stage?
Lover and I certainly don't chit chat on porches and then share tender no tongue kisses except as a prelude to the eventual romp. I dare say neither do you guys and your respectice other-halves.
This is why I love the Italian, spanish and french movies. In fact a majority of world cinema movies. If they are going to give you a love story, you can rest assured that in this day and age, every single bit of it will be as realistic as they can manage it.
Phillip, I don't remember a thing from Love Actually. I think I enjoyed it while watching it but it's not one that sticks in the memory.
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I had no intention of going to see this movie because I don't do the horror movie thing, but I shall go and see it just to view this love scene you have described. I have been called a voyeur(I hasten to deny this allegation) but I enjoy watching love scenes. In fact, I like to think I own every movie with decent love scenes in them:)I hate porn but properly acted love scenes are always a pleasure to view. Must watch "The Village" sometime this bank holiday weekend. Thanks.