‘Lovesong’ review [LFF 2016]

Lovesong review: A breathtaking, emotional love story with another exceptional, stand-out performance from breakthrough actress Riley Keough.

Lovesong review by Paul Heath, LFF 2016

Sarah (Riley Keough) is a twenty-something mother who spends a considerable time alone bringing up her two-year-old daughter Jessie while her husband works away from long periods. Massively lonely, although effective in bringing up her young child pretty much on her, Sarah yearns for the return of her husband to save her from her isolation. When a childhood friend Mindy (Jena Malone) announces that she will be visiting, Sarah’s world suddenly changes and the two, along with the young Jessie, take to the road to pursue an adventure and to have some fun. What they hadn’t counted on is an immediate spark between them but before their romantic yearnings can develop into something more Mindy ups and leaves and returns to the city. Cut to three years later and the eve of Mindy’s wedding when the two are finally reunited where the intensity of a love that was left adrift and unfinished, bubbles to the surface.

Following the impressive American Honey, which finally arrives in cinemas following a successful run on the festival surface this week, Keough delights once again with a performance which is the complete opposite of Krystal in Andrea Arnold’s Marmite masterpiece. In the opening scenes she looks ten years older than her age as the lonely mother one one who is at her wits end looking after her child as her husband constantly works away. The actress continues on her mission to remain as being one of the most exciting in independent film – amply stepping up to the likes of fellow indie stalwarts Kristin Stewart and Rooney Mara who we’ve seen in similar roles of late. She is simply fantastic in this film and very much like she did with American Honey, commands every scene. Jena Malone too is supremely solid as the promiscuous though caring Mindy, the fire-cracker who pumps life back into Sarah’s life as well as falling head-over-heels in love with her at the same time.

The two children who play the role of Jessie (Jessie Ok Gray and Sky Ok Gray – director So Yong Kim‘s own children) pretty much steal the show – both of the exuding confidence and projecting natural performances onto the screen which somehow the other cast, particularly Keough and Malone, react to instinctively throughout. This creates a very real film where you feel every yearning and indeed every aching heartbeat.

Not only does it have endearing characters, which provides as emotive experience, it’s also very funny too – littered with dirty little jokes, most of them coming from the direction of Brooklyn Decker‘s maid-of-honour in two very laugh-out-loud hilarious scenes. There are also wonderful extended cameos from both Rosanna Arquette and a blink-and-you’ll-miss-him Cary Fukunaga (Beasts Of No Nation, True Detective) as Sarah’s absent spouse.

There’s a particular scene at the every end when the two lovers meet looking across a vast lake which is so touching, so wonderfully crafted and edited that it will quite literally take your breathe away.

So Yong Kim’s Lovesong, a film that she co-wrote with Bradley Rust-Gray (Jack and Diane) is as near perfect a love story can be. Wonderfully played characters, an excellent screenplay and flawless direction makes this sensual, extremely natural feature completely unmissable. I absolutely loved it.

Lovesong review by Paul Heath, October 2016.

Lovesong plays at the 2016 BFI London Film Festival. It is currently awaiting a UK release date.