Review of Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) by Prach P — 05 Nov 2012

Normally I would read reviews before watching a movie, because I want to maximise the worth of the 2-3 hours that I would spent. But I came across this film on board a flight, and decided to watch it without having read its reviews, because it starred three of the most beautiful women on screen while being directed by Woody Allen, and hence should amount to something interesting. And it did.

The film shows how narrow our conception of love has become, and how much suffering it has caused. The film argues that human love is too complex to be accommodated happily in monogamy. And by freeing ourselves from the cage of monogamy and prudence, the film suggests, we can have richer, longer-lasting relationships, and can reach our potentials, inspire each other, and flourish better as individuals.

This is an unusual romantic film, because it features beautiful women, and yet provokes thinking.