Florian Habicht’s problem, he says, is that he falls in love with everyone he meets. And you can see it – when he interviews belly dancers at Coney Island, a homeless dwarf, a stockbroker, punks, drunks and a mechanic in New York City – that he’s kind of in love with all of them. This is the genius of Love Story, the coolest romantic comedy documentary of all time.
Florian Habicht (Kaikohe Demolition) sees a girl on the subway carrying a piece of cake on a plate. This is Russian model and muse Masha Yakovenko, who he convinces to star in his film about their blossoming love. Like a ‘choose your own adventure’, Florian takes to the streets with his video camera to ask for plot suggestions from strangers. Together they create this totally loving and energetic film, written, as the tagline says, on the streets of New York.
New Zealand film-maker Florian comes across as both hip and dorky – this gregarious guy with his skinny highlighter jeans and infectious laugh; Masha’s his mysterious counterpoint, a beautiful ideal. The encounters between them are sweet and offbeat – including the best sex scene in movie memory, and a meeting-the-parents via Skype (Florian’s dad is played by his dad – German photographer Frank Habicht, who is quite possibly the greatest character in the film).
Not knowing what’s real and not between Florian and Masha has you watching them closely, second guessing their actions and trying to see through the layers. I guess it’s something of a Catch-22, where what’s so brilliant about their love story also creates the film’s only flaw. Habicht’s interest in the blurred line between fact and fiction gives us the transparency but takes away a little of the romance.
However, the point of Love Story really isn’t how we feel about the couple; it’s all about the people of New York. I don’t know if there’s another place you’d get so many people to talk that openly and easily about sex, poetry, searching for love and how much they think Titanic is the most romantic movie ever. Everyone has a story to tell, everyone is affecting, and Florian’s in love with all of them.
An eccentric, incredibly clever, improvisational documentary and my all time favourite New Zealand film: Love Story…almost as moving as Titanic.
9.5/10
[Admit One’s James fell for Love Story too, and gave it 9/10]
What do you think is the most romantic movie ever? Have you seen any of Florian Habicht’s other films? Would a film like this work on the streets of New Zealand?
