“Some loves never leave you; they just change shape.”
VIBE CHECK:
European Summer / Polyamorous Drama / Soulful & Atmospheric / Intimate
THE PLOT:
Lane, Bertie, and Fred were once a polyamorous throuple living in New Orleans. Two years after Lane vanished from their lives, she reappears at the idyllic French farmhouse where Bertie and Fred are now living as a married couple. Bertie, a talented singer, has lost her musical spark, and Fred secretly invites Lane back, hoping her presence will reignite Bertie's passion. What follows is a delicate, tension-filled reunion as the three navigate old wounds, fresh desires, and the question of whether their unconventional love can survive in a world that demands labels.
THE QUEER & RADICAL ANGLE:
Beyond the Binary of "Ex": The film is radical in how it treats polyamory not as a plot twist or a scandal, but as a deeply felt, complicated reality. It explores the unique grief and longing that exists when a "third" leaves the circle.
Black Queer Intimacy: Centering Black queer women in a European art-house setting is a radical move that challenges typical cinematic tropes, offering a lush, sensory-focused look at their emotional landscapes.
WHY IT KILLS:
The music (composed by Mahmoud Chouki) is the film's second heartbeat—it's gorgeous, melancholic, and essential. Director Marion Hill captures the "golden hour" aesthetic of France so perfectly you can almost smell the lavender and taste the wine. The chemistry between Idella Johnson (Bertie) and Hannah Pepper (Lane) is electric and heavy with history. It’s a film that doesn't provide easy answers, opting instead for the beautiful, sun-drenched truth of human connection.
SONNET SCORE: 8.8 / 10 🍷🎸
