Susanne Bier’s follow-up to In a Better World is a competently-produced romantic drama. Love Is All You Need may not offer many surprises, but it is a rewarding film.
Hairdresser Ida is recovering from cancer treatments. After catching her husband in a uncompromising position, Ida travels to Italy for her daughter’s wedding. On her way, she meets the father of the groom Philip, a widower still angry about the loss of his wife…
Love Is All You Need is a romantic drama with flecks of comedy. The film balances more serious themes with amusing lines. Emotion in the film feels authentic, thanks to good writing and performances.
The plot of Love Is All You Need is rather predictable, with developments in the narrative that are easy to spot in advance. Nevertheless, the film is crafted well enough that this is not a big issue. The characters, both the protagonists and the supporting players, appear three dimensional. The introduction to both the main characters works well to succinctly reveal their present lives and dominant personality traits.
The narrative unfolds in a way which keeps the audience entertained.Love Is All You Need allows enough time for a romance to develop in a natural fashion. There are times when the film could have dragged, but director Suzanne Bier nips these in. Colour plays an important role in depicting the warmth and romance of the wedding location in Italy, compared with the mundanity of home in Denmark.
Performances from Pierce Brosnan and Trine Dyrholm are strong. The pair have good chemistry. Molly Blixt Egelind provides good support, while Paprika Steen is great in her mostly comic role.
With its well-known lead and dual language, Love Is All You Need should appeal to viewers who would not usually seek out a foreign-language film. Hopefully the film will give Suzanne Bier wider recognition.
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