Paradise: Love
Dir: Ulrich Seidl
2012
****
Ulrich Seidl's Paradise Trilogy, based on the theological virtues of Love, Faith and Hope, revolve around three related women, each of which have their own film. The ideology of the three virtues being paradise are each delivered with a dry but humorous twist and with contemporary themes.
Love sees Teresa, mother of Melanie and sister of Anna Maria (both of who are explored further in the 2nd and 3rd parts of the trilogy) travel to Kenya as a sex tourist. Here we see Teresa mistake sex for love and vice versa, while the film is open to interpretation I believe the concept of the film is to point out that this is not necessarily a new issue but very much a human one. Seidl sets the scene in a contemporary setting but in using the virtues written about in biblical times he is showing us both the differences and glaring similarities. Why don't we learn? I guess that's not the point but this focused study of the human condition is definitely food for thought, uncomfortable at times and also quite funny but always real. It is provocative but it is so brilliantly open to interpretation that your reaction will say far more about you rather than the film. Every second and every frame is beautifully shot, I found it a joy to watch - even in the troubling scenes. Certainly the strongest of the Trilogy.