Paper Heart (2009)

What is LOVE?  The big letter, all-cap L-O-V-E, LOVE.   I thought about the conversation that was had wth my aunt just the day before.  Aunt believes in soul mates.  She said that you can feel it when you meet your soul mate.  You just know.  You’ll feel that you know this person for a very long time even when you are meeting him just for the first time.  “If such a legend really exists, I can shamelessly assume the leading role in such a story [我當之無愧]” was her husband’s response in hearing this.  And I’ve never seen my aunt looking any shinier when he said that.  Yes, there were problems and hurt in their marriage, and I don’t know if I believe in my aunt’s soul mate theory yet, but I’ve always held strongly that love wouldn’t be so precious if there’s no challenge and struggle in loving.

The big opening question in my first paragraph is what this movie is all about.  Charlyne is a comedian and a musician who doesn’t know what love is or if love really exists.  Furthermore, she doesn’t think that she’s capable of love even if such a thing really exists.   Thus, she started a documentory movie project to find out all about love by interviewing different people on their definitions of love and how they know they’ve found theirs.  In her journey she met Michael, who took interest in Charlyne and started pursuing her.  Naturally, their relationship became the heart of this filming project.  And I’d be a spoiler if I tell you the rest of the storyline, so I’m gonna just leave it at that.

The point is, it gets me thinking, am I capable of love, especially in a romantic relationship?  I once thought that I loved someone with all of my heart and thought that he loved me back – in fact, I still believe that I did love him with all of my heart – but how could love end so ugly and hurtful to both of us?  How could I say I loved him yet still hurt him with the things I did?  And how could he say he loved me when there was no room for forgiveness?  How can I trust the next person I meet?  How can I trust myself again?  How can I trust love?  What about what goes on in my brain versus what goes on in my heart? What about feelings?  And why in the world am I pulling my hair out thinking about these questions when there’re people all around me who don’t bother themselves with such questions and are still happily loving each other?  Why is it so important anyway, this love?  I mean, I am not trying to be cynical or anything.  I love love.  It’s very important and God commends us to love, but why is it that love between two people in a romantic relationship seems so much more important in our value than any other kind of love?  Or is it just me?  

Well, let that be the end of my mumbling.  I’d love to hear some thoughts though.  It’s a very good movie, quirky, original, inspirig yet not heavy at all.  Go watch it.  I think you’ll fall in love with it.

-Jane