The Nature of Love (2023)
Sophia is a philosophy professor in Montreal and has lived as a couple with Xavier for 10 years. Sylvain is a carpenter in the Laurentians and must renovate their country house. When Sophia meets Sylvain for the first time, it’s love at first sight. Opposites attract, but can it last?
- Nathalie Paquette
- Monia Chokri
- Monia Chokri
Rating: 7.3/10 by 160 users
Alternative Title:
Simple comme Sylvain - CA
Кохання без заморочок - UA
The Nature of Love - CA
A szerelem természete - HU
Natura miłości - PL
Природа любви - RU
La naturaleza del amor - ES
När Sophia mötte Sylvain - SE
Aşkın Tabiatı - TR
טבעה של אהבה - IL
简如西尔万 - CN
Armastuse olemus - EE
Country:
Canada
France
Language:
Français
Runtime: 01 hour 50 minutes
Budget: $0
Revenue: $2,349,665
Plot Keyword: birthday, montreal, canada, carpenter, entrepreneur, woman director, twisted love, french canadian, romantic dramedy
"Sophia" (Magalie Lépine Blondeau) is contentedly married to "Xavier" (Francis-William Rhéaume) - though they sleep in separate rooms, and is quite nervous about meeting the renovator of their newly acquired waterside chalet. Those nerves seem wholly justified when her arrival introduces her to the lively "Sylvain" (Pierre-Yves Cardinal) who tells her that the place is in riddled with carpenter beetles and is in need of tons of expensive modernisation! She's understandably upset and her tears have quite an effect on the man. Soon they are having a beer and, well you can guess the rest... It isn't just an one night stand, though - they can't stop thinking about each other and this doesn't bode well for her marriage. Their friendship, though loving, now throws up some difficulties. She's from a wealthy family and he's a man who works with his hands. Her family - especially her rather obnoxious brother "Olivier" (Guillaume Laurin) rather look down on the man but his mother "Guylaine" (Linda Sorgini) who has a penchant for rather ropey vin rosé and his family do take to her more readily. Can the two manage to make their own affections prevail against an accumulating series of challenges? There's an engaging chemistry between the two as we see their romance build, falter, thrive - is it real love or just an infatuation with both seeking that which they can never have? I'll be honest, the ending rather crept up on me - it wasn't what I wanted and certainly not what I expected, but it's effective nonetheless as auteur Monia Chokri throws down a bit of a gauntlet to impulse, lust and both a psychological and visceral sense of longing. Do we seek love, and would we know it if we found it or does it seek us so it can plays games with us? The story can seem a little contrived at times and it does play to stereotype now and again too, but it's still quite an impassioned watch with two solid efforts at the helm.
