Why you must see Love Actually

From the makers of Notting Hill and Bridget Jones’s Diary Brings a Magical Love story, staring Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Rowan Atkinson and Alan Rickman. This delightful yet comical love story explores the ups and downs, of boyfriends and girlfriends, husbands and wife’s, fathers and sons and rock stars and managers, all in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

‘Love Actually’ follows the lives of very different people with a multi-storied script. In fact, ten stories intertwine, loosely connected by friends of friends, family and next-door-neighbours. This film is undoubtedly the one to watch

Rock star Bill Nighy sets the scene in a recording studio for his hit new Christmas song ‘Christmas is all around’ which is really just a new version of ‘love is all around’. This immediately informs the audience that it is Christmas, setting a feel good atmosphere. ‘Love Actually’ is a romantic-comedy that follows the ups and downs of people’s relationships all in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

I think that the actors in this film are good because they are able to convey a variety of contrasting emotions throughout the film, such as happiness at some parts and anger and sadness in other parts.

My Favourite scene is when Sam (Thomas Sangster) realises he is in love with young singer Joanna (Olivia Olsen). He is a drummer in the band she is performing in nearer the end of the film. It is the school talent show and she sings ‘All I want for Christmas’. The camera is directed as if the audience were Sam; this makes you feel part of the film. She points at him and there is pause, the camera is still while she makes eye contact with him. At the end she is at the airport and there is a brief feel of sadness while he tries to run after her. He then catches up with her; this is the first time they have been seen together through out the film.  The film then skips to when she comes back off holiday and shows them both together with the rest of the family at Christmas. I find this the best scene because it comprises many feelings at once and you are left in suspense as to what will follow.

Another of my favourite scene is when actor Colin Firth who plays Jamie a writer who falls in love with Aurelia a maid who is hired to clean his house. Aurelia is Portuguese so they both struggle to understand each other. The best part is when Jamie is writing a story and his papers blow into the water, Aurelia jumps in to collect them and Jamie soon follows. He says ‘there best not be eels in here’ and Aurelia reply’s later in Portuguese saying ‘ Watch you don’t disturb the eels’. This is amusing for the audience because he doesn’t know what she is saying.  They manage to have a conversation, using actions, about his writing and what types of story’s he writes. At the end when she has to go she says ‘This is the saddest part of my day, Leaving you’ of course she says it in Portuguese so he thinks she’s not that into him when really all along she is, and falls in love from the first time she sees him.  It is a beautiful moment when the audience realises they have developed feelings for each other, but them themselves are unaware of how the other is feeling.             

This is an inspiring film its expresses many important issues. What stands out for me the most is the message that when you think things aren’t going so well, if you carry on with faith then you can hope for a brighter outcome in the end. The actors in the film clearly show this, for example, problems with relationships being resolved in the end.

I think this film is really wonderful because it doesn’t just involve adults or just involve children but it shows all ages together and I think this makes it a good watch for all ages, especially at Christmas time this film shows family’s and friends coming together and that should influence people to do the same. Also it shows different types of scenes from relationships at work to relationships at home, and at school. I like how Christmas songs are played throughout the film mainly at the parts where family is involved. Then when Colin (Kris Marshall), heads off to the U.S more summery songs are played.