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Review

Vastly entertaining, shot on the streets of Paris and with gorgeous music, gay director Christophe Honoré's musical supposedly about a threesome -- two girls and a guy -- is actually a gay male love story in disguise. With its Paris backdrop, this deceptively simple film is truly a gem. Told in three distinct chapters, in the first, Ismaël (Louis Garrel) and Julie (Ludivine Sagnier) invite a new woman into their bedroom, Alice (Clotilde Hesme). An attraction between the two women, Ismaël is pushed to the side of the bed. As the three were out one night Julie suddenly collapses and dies. And so ends chapter one. In Act Two, Alice has a new boyfriend and Ismaël mourns. He cries, a lot, visits with Julie's family and misses workdays. When he goes to visit Alice at her new boyfriend's house, he meets the mop-headed beauty Erwann (Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet), who expresses an immediate interest. But Ismaël is quite distracted at the moment. When Erwann shows Ismaël what he is reading now, the cat is out of the bag - he's gay and he's interested. That's Act Two. For the third act, the two men begin a tender affair held in secret, as Ismaël has guilt over seeing new people so soon after Julie's death. Julie's sister discovers the two new lovers. but the drama is moderate. When Julie's mom hears of it, she encourages it the affair. Alice is sent to pull Ismaël out of his funk and deliver him to Erwann.

Rather than traditional move musical music, the score blends acoustic guitar and a classical quartet. The singing is low-key, almost organically part of the film. And while there is no full-frontal nudity there are plenty of making out, and naked boys under the sheets. Highly recommended, Love Songs is a great addition to the gay film world.

 -- Scott Cranin