Someone to Love

Someone to Love, released in 1987, is a bold and inventive drama that skillfully blurs the line between fiction and reality, a feature that sets it apart in the world of cinema. Directed, written and portrayed by the brilliant Henry Jaglom, known for his profound indie films, this movie features a cleverly woven plot with astute observations about relationship dynamics and human emotions.

At its core, the plot revolves around a filmmaker, Danny Sapir and played by Henry Jaglom himself. Danny is a protagonist who is grappling with his unanswered questions about love and companionship. Why, despite his relatively successful life, does he find himself alone? In an effort to find answers to this dilemma, Danny decides to make a film about his adulthoods' romantic escapades. His explorations of elusive human connections are portrayed not only through his personal lens but through the experiences of others as well.

As he embarks on this introspective journey, Danny invites his friends, associates, and few strangers to his soon-to-be-sold island theater on a Valentine's Day. There, each guest is asked to sit on a stage and speak their heart out about their experiences and feelings regarding love, partnership, and loneliness. The narrative is often punctuated by candid monologues delivered by these individuals, offering glimpses of their vulnerabilities and their diverse perspectives about relationships. It brings to life a rich tapestry of emotional narratives that hit home for disparate reasons.

The film’s ensemble cast features a compelling mix of actors and filmmakers, including Andrea Marcovicci playing Helen Eugene, the lead actress, and Michael Emil, portraying a character named Mickey Sapir. Each character, no matter how minor, enriches the narrative texture of the film by sharing their unique insights and experiences with love.

Marcovicci is staggeringly authentic and engaging in her portrayal of Helen. She is a stalwart confidante and friend, helping to guide and support her filmmaker friend through his emotional introspection. While, Michael Emil, playing Danny's brother Mickey, offers a contrasting point of view about relationships, adding more depth to the movie's dynamic dialogue about love, loneliness, and longing.

Adding to the film's layered narrative is the setting. The looming sale of Danny's theater is not just a parallel plotline but also a metaphor for transition and the impermanence of things, subtly reinforcing the themes of the film. The theater bears witness to the stories unfurling on-stage and is a reflection of its inhabitants, housing a multitude of narratives just like Lord Byron's mythical hero in his poem "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage," which is recited at one point in the film.

The direction and writing by Jaglom are distinctive. Instead of choosing the typical storytelling path of romcoms and dramas, Jaglom's movie stands as a thought-provoking piece of art that doesn't shy away from exploring the uncertainties involved in the pursuit of love. There's an almost documentary-style vibe to the film, eschewing traditional plot-driven narrative for personal explorations of the characters. In part, this is achieved by allowing his characters to directly address the camera, breaking the fourth wall, which lends a degree of intimacy and immediacy to the on-screen proceedings.

Adding to its charm, Jaglom recruited some real-life friends, along with professional actors, to play characters in the film. Many of these people play fictionalized versions of themselves. This lends a level of authenticity to the conversations and monologues filling the runtime, making the film feel like a real-life confessional at times.

'Orson Welles', the legendary filmmaker, also makes his final on-screen appearance in Someone to Love in a significant supporting role, adding prominence to the film. Welles brings his unique charisma and gravitas to the movie, enhancing the overall allure.

In conclusion, Someone to Love is an exploration of the raw and complex human emotions surrounding love. It's a film where characters voice their deepest questions about companionship, offering poignant insights, thus transforming an abandoned theater into a stage where real-life blends seamlessly with the narrative. With its unconventional approach, the film gives its audience a front-row seat in a journey of human introspection, nudging them to ponder their perceptions about love and loneliness.