MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH MARRIAGE: Charming, Perceptive and Visually Unique

MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH MARRIAGE (Blu-ray)

2022 / 108 min

FROM MVD VISUAL

Review by Princess Pepper😺

Signe Baumane is a Latvian director who appears to specialize animated films that are either semi-autobiographical or inspired by personal experience. To be honest, I’d never heard of her or My Love Affair with Marriage, which is her second feature-length film. But if this is any indication, she has a unique visual style…and maybe a voice that needs to be more widely heard.

The film creatively combines hand-drawn animated characters and 3D backgrounds. If nothing else, it’s almost always visually engaging, partially because we don’t see a lot of films that look like this. In many ways. My Love Affair with Marriage looks like a quaint, colorful children’s film, particularly during early sequences depicting the protagonist’s childhood.

However, this is not a children’s film. It tells the story of Zelma, beginning with her childhood, then moving with her parents and sister to Latvia, where she eventually experiences the usual biological changes (with ongoing voice-over narration that goes into deep biological detail). That, as well as the influence of her environment and peers, has Zelma feeling somewhat compelled to find love.

My Love Affair with the Dave Clark Five.

The story chronicles Zelma's 23 year journey, dealing with what her body is telling her verses what she perceives as social expectations that come with becoming a woman...how to act, how to look, puberty, what men like, losing her virginity, etc. Much of this is depicted through her relationships with others, including the variety of men in her life (and a couple of marriages). The film explores many worthy and relevant themes, such as sex, gender roles, abuse, societal demands, politics and death.

Often whimsical and funny, the film takes some dark, tragic turns as well, and it's all accompanied by a barrage of fantasy-tinged songs effectively woven into the narrative (as opposed to simply being dropped in). It’s during those musical numbers that the animation is the most engaging. However, sometimes this is tough sledding. It goes on a little too long and the voice-over narration occasionally feels intrusive. Elsewhere, some key supporting characters in Zelma's life are comparatively one dimensional (though that may be by design).

Actually, I need to amend what I said about this not being a children’s film. Zelma’s biological changes and life experiences are frankly depicted, but certainly relatable. Once children begin asking questions about themselves - whatever age that is - might be the perfect time for open-minded parents to share it with them. That being said, My Love Affair with Marriage is a charming, perceptive and visually unique animated film.

EXTRA KIBBLES

PENNY STAMPS DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER SERIES - Writer/director Signe Baumane is featured in this hour-long feature, where she discusses all aspects of the film.

TRAILER