Reviewed by Kim Lesch

AMONGST the throng of genuinely boring romantic films that seem to be permanently cropping up, Ae Fond Kiss provides a startling alternative: an impressive modern retelling of the age old 'star crossed lovers' story.


Ken Loach's directing style works well, evenly distributing time to both Roisin's (Eva Birthistle) difficulties with her unbendable Catholic religion and Casim's (Atta Yaqub) unbendable Pakistani Muslim family. The plot is simple; cultures and belief systems conflict when Roisin and Casim begin a relationship together, mixing a white, Catholic background with a brown, Muslim background. Both have certain responsibilities towards their respective cultures. While Casim's family believes that he should marry a woman they have chosen for him, thereby fufilling his familial duties, Roisin does not have any family, instead working as a music teacher with a Catholic school. When her community finds out that she is living 'in sin' with Casim, she is told that she will be fired if she does not get married immediately. In short, both are recieving pressure from their respective 'families' to break up.

While the setup will probably not inspire much interest, it is the sheer likability of both main characters and the direct lack of romantic clichés that allows the audience to care about the film. While both Roisin and Casim demonstrate their affection for each other throughout its entirety, it is worth serious note that writer Paul Laverty never falls back on softened dialogue. The words "I love you" are never mentioned; it would almost seem insulting to fall back on these words in the thick of so many actions that point to that very emotion.

While the film is a love story, it is more so a story about looking at one's background. These support systems and beliefs are put to serious questioning when they prove to be unsupportive in light of a new, important relationship that does not fit into the dictated needs of the group. The Guardian's review stated that Ae Fond Kiss was a "big-hearted tribute to the heroism and loneliness of love." Specifically, the idea of loneliness in love is explored. When one is forced to go against the community for love, who do they have to share their experiences with? How does one face the idea of having to leave a community of many for just one person? How does a film address both questions without relying on boring clichés or inane plot points? Watch Ae Fond Kiss and find out.