Look, you should strive to be better regardless of whether or not you're in a relationship. But it's still beautiful when two people work together to do better.
What it's about
After a successful cable television series, actor Frank Cooper has been coasting through life, distracting himself with vices while half-heartedly auditioning for stereotypical roles. However, after meeting sports agent Mali Waters, who’s currently facing her mortality, both of their worlds change.
The take
She Taught Love has a familiar romance film plotline– a guy that’s lost meets a girl that sets him straight, and through a course of a connection, they challenge each other’s perspective to become better people– but there’s a naturalness to the conversations writer and male lead Darrell Britt-Gibson creates through his performance, casual, genuine moments that is pairs well with easy, relaxed vibe formed by director Nate Edwards. It’s gorgeously graded, meticulously framed, with slow zoom-ins and pans that gradually switch between aspect ratios to create a sense of openness or restriction, depending on the moment. And with Arsema Thomas’ unshakeable poise as female lead, She Taught Love feels elegant in a way not many indie romance films are.
What stands out
This movie feels like a film, like it was actually shot in film, even if it probably isn’t, with depth and contrast that makes the colors look much richer. It’s a look that we’ve been missing from the digital landscape today.
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