Love Divided Review: If You Like Romantic Films Don’t Miss This One
Stars: Aitana, Fernando Guallar, Eduardo Ferrés
Director: Patricia Font
Streaming Platform: Netflix
Filmyhype.com Ratings: 3/5 (three stars)
A new romantic film Love Divided (Pared con pared) arrives on Netflix starring the Spanish singer Aitana, Fernando Guallar, and Miguel Ángel Muñoz, the iconic Rober of Paso Adelante. There are two categories of people in the world: those who love romantic comedies and those who just can’t stand this type of film. If you are part of the first category, you cannot miss the new Netflix rom-com Vicini. A remake of the 2015 French film Stay with Us, Blind Date, Vicini Truly is a very romantic film starring the Spanish singer Aitana together with Fernando Guallar and a face much loved by the Italian public, Miguel Angel Munoz, Rober of Paso Adelante. Despite being a very simple film with an already-known plot, Love Divided is a classic old-fashioned romantic comedy that pleases even if you understand from the beginning how it will end.
After all, the beauty of this film genre, which has been very successful in recent decades, is precisely the fact that it is an emotional comfort, a caress, a colorful, positive story with a happy ending that warms the heart and makes you dream. The feeling of Deja Vu is therefore actually evident, despite Font’s work pushing much more on the romantic factor, and on the emotional disagreement between the two characters. The streaming cauldron, still somehow linked to genres (food for thought), is often filled with romantic films and/or thrillers (the genres that are the most popular), and the tones of Love Divided like that said, they are perfect for the medium in question. On the other hand, the main problem lies in the extreme frivolity that transcends into the artificial, making the film lose the necessary transport.
Love Divided Review: The Story Plot
The film tells the story of two neighbors whose lives intertwine despite being physically separated by a thin wall. On the one hand, we have Valentina, a young pianist played by the singer Aitana, who is immersed in the preparations for a crucial audition to boost her musical career. On the other hand, there is David, a toy inventor played by Fernando Guallar, who needs absolute silence to be able to concentrate on his work. When Valentina moves into the apartment next to David’s, she begins a dynamic of coexistence marked by clashes and attempts at mutual adaptation, all within the framework of a possible attraction between them.
After all, in Vicini everything is really in focus, everything is vivid, everything is in color. The protagonist is Valentina, played by the Spanish pop star Aitana (we bet on the success of the film, at least in Iberian soil) who has just moved into a new apartment, together with her piano. She is preparing for an important performance, but she has to deal with David (Fernando Guallar), her neighbor. She lives with her cat, works as a video game developer, and, above all, does not tolerate her human partner. And she poorly tolerates noises – including sounds – that come from Valentina’s apartment. How will she end up? That’s right, you guessed it…
Love Divided Review and Analysis
Love Divided transports us into a dreamy atmosphere like any good romantic comedy should do and plays perfectly with ups and downs, sweetness and roughness, successes and failures, and love and hate, creating a flow of the story that doesn’t get boring and keeps you glued to the screen. We don’t have a masterpiece before us but, after all, no romantic film is and this is not a good reason not to watch this type of story, especially if you want lightness and, why not, even a pinch of romance. Many people look for escape, positivity, and love in cinema and Love Divided manages to give all this by allowing the spectator to spend an hour and a half in total carefreeness and also listening to good music, because the protagonist of the film, in addition to being a good pianist, expert on Beethoven, she is also a splendid singer.
The premise of this movie is certainly original and has great narrative potential. The idea that two people, separated only by a thin wall, can get to know each other and even fall in love without actually seeing each other physically raises some interesting questions about human bonds and the importance of the visual in relationships. However, how the series addresses these issues reveals some weaknesses in its development. After first impressions, the series reveals itself to be a pleasant surprise, moving away from the typical flat and predictable romance stories that often characterize romantic comedies on streaming platforms. Although the plot follows a fairly predictable plot pattern, the film has a careful production design and a soundtrack that manages to involve the viewer in a satisfying visual and auditory experience.
The director’s work stands out for her ability to create an evocative and aesthetically pleasing environment, using a warm color palette and photography that accentuates the feeling of dream and fantasy that surrounds the protagonists. Likewise, the musical score plays a fundamental role, managing to blend with the emotions of the characters and precisely accompany the development of the plot. As for the cast, the leading presence of the singer Aitana is undoubtedly one of the main attractions of the series. Although her interpretation may sometimes suffer from a certain theatricality and lack of naturalness, the actress manages to convey the naivety and charm that characterize her character. Furthermore, the musical sequences in which Aitana performs some pieces on the piano are undoubtedly one of the most outstanding moments of the series, allowing us to appreciate her talent as a performer.
Accompanying Aitana, the rest of the cast also fulfills its mission, offering secondary characters who, although they do not reach great depth, are likable and contribute moments of comedy to the story. The participation of Fernando Guallar stands out, whose chemistry with Aitana manages to convince the viewer of the possible connection that develops between his characters. One of the highlights of the series is the fundamental role that music plays throughout the plot. Since one of the main characters is a pianist in the midst of preparing for a crucial audition, the musical score takes on special relevance. The composer’s work manages to accompany with great precision the emotions and development of the characters, becoming another narrative element that is masterfully intertwined with the plot. However, the recurring use of music in practically all scenes can become somewhat overwhelming for the viewer, sometimes making it difficult to emotionally connect with the characters and their conflicts.
Although the movie falls within the romantic comedy genre and has a predominantly light and naive tone, it also raises some interesting questions that go beyond the simple love story. The premise of two people establishing a connection without actually seeing each other physically evokes questions about the importance of the visual in human relationships. Is it possible to fall in love with someone you have never met before? What role does physical appearance play in building emotional bonds? These are some of the questions that the movie seems to want to explore, albeit in a somewhat superficial way. Unfortunately, the movie does not delve too deeply into these topics, limiting itself to raising them tangentially without delving into them.
The story remains on the level of fantasy and lightness, leaving behind the opportunity to offer more substantial reflections on contemporary relationships and the importance of connection beyond the mere visual. In summary, this entertaining romantic comedy, although it does not manage to differentiate itself too much from the standards of the genre, has a careful aesthetic and a soundtrack that manages to enrich the viewing experience. The presence of Aitana in the leading role, as well as the performances of the rest of the cast, provide pleasant moments throughout the movie. However, the work falls short when it comes to delving into the themes that its premise raises, choosing to stay on lighter and more predictable ground. Even so, it can be a satisfactory proposal for those viewers looking for a romantic comedy with a touch of fantasy and a careful visual environment.
Yes, because in Vicini everything goes as it should. No distortions, no flickers, no nothing. Everything begins and ends as we would expect, for a narrative form that does not strive to go beyond appearances. Underneath there is the theme of incommunicability and there is the theme of the opposite attracting, for a misanthrope closed in on himself who will be scratched by unexpected love. Here is a film about how life is unexpected in its twists and turns, and about how unprepared we are for changes (holing ourselves up in our comfort zone). Interesting ideas, just as the first part of the film is interesting, playing both on Valentina and David: they get to know each other through a wall, with the relationship growing by making compromises, like two neighbors trying to put up with each other.
When the wall collapses, however, the comedy leads to the banal and flat, due to a rigidity that doesn’t help and which ends up canonizing a direction that doesn’t exist, and which exploits an incessant accompanying score (in addition to riding the presence by Aitana, former actress for Skam Espana and for the series Our last chance). In short, nothing new, nothing that can somehow be remembered for a long time. After all, it is the natural purpose of certain titles to be contextualized and in any case respect for the entertainment they manage to offer users. In closing, two mentions, one positive and one negative: if the Italian dubbing is decidedly approximate, the animated titles that open and close the film are very beautiful, in this case accompanied by the song Cuando Será by Aitana.
Love Divided Review: The Last Words
If you want an undemanding, romantic, and very pleasant film, choose Love Divided on Netflix. There are several reflective ideas just as there is a lot of sweetness. In the end, there is always time for complicated, dramatic, tear-jerking stories. Saturated and vivid tones for a rom-com that works halfway: remake of a French comedy, Neighbors is truly a film divided in two. The first part works, but then gradually, due to the demerit of a direction without intuition, it ends up resulting in a largely predictable story that does not move the needle of interest except immediately and calibrated for very fast and very forgettable entertainment. The protagonist is the Spanish pop star Aitana.
Love Divided Review: If You Like Romantic Films Don't Miss This One - Filmyhype
Director: Patricia Font
Date Created: 2024-04-12 18:57
3
Pros
- Quirky Premise: The meet-cute between the protagonists who are neighbors separated by a thin wall is a fun setup.
- Characters: The film is praised for having well-developed characters, particularly the lead couple.
- Easy Watch: The movie to be breezy and enjoyable, without being too demanding.
Cons
- Plot: While the premise is interesting, some find the overall story predictable and lacking in depth.
- Emotion: There might be a lack of emotional heft, with the film focusing more on lighthearted humor.
