The creators of ‘Lover’s Game’ have clearly worked hard to deliver a film that deals with the complexities of falling in love with the right person, at the wrong time.
“What does it take for us to reach our breaking point?” This is the question asked by writer, director and producer Danielle Earle’s new lesbi-flick ‘Lover’s Game.’
Set in New York, the film opens with a sequence of the cityscape before we are introduced to Annabella (Crawford Collins) and her husband of three years, Vincent (Blaine Pennington). It’s not long before we learn that Anna and Vinnie both want children but have been struggling to get pregnant. Understandably, this has caused tension in their relationship (made all the worse by the fact that their best friends Paul and Barbara are currently glowing with news of Barbara’s pregnancy). What other way to distract from their jealousy and disappointment then to concentrate on work. Annabella thus throws herself into her Gallery.
She is currently organising a showcase exhibition for the first opening and when a chance meeting occurs on the street with the young and charismatic painter, Gillian (back in town after a hiatus away because her last relationship ended badly), Anna finds the perfect artist for her Gallery show, and perhaps the perfect distraction to her current marital problems. As the two women begin to spend time together they each learn to let down their guard and an attraction slowly builds.
Amidst some beautiful cinematography – particularly the framing of the shots of New York City and its occupants – Anna and Gillian’s love affair plays out to the backdrop of an acoustic soundtrack which gives the film its soulful mood and helps to portray the rollercoaster of emotions the characters find themselves on. Uptight Annabella is portrayed well by Crawford Collins. The actress manages to capture the rushed vibe of a New Yorker intent on trying to avoid her own feelings and focus instead on proving herself professionally.
Meanwhile, Miranda McCauley’s charming and unapologetically passionate Gillian is delivered in an honest and entirely relatable way. My only criticism would be that the film is a bit too long. Though each scene seems carefully thought out and helps to move the story along, there are some unnecessarily long scenes that inadvertently affect the pace.
You’ll have to forgive some of these smaller aspects of production; nonetheless the creators of ‘Lover’s Game’ have clearly worked hard to deliver a film that deals with the complexities of falling in love with the right person, at the wrong time. Worth a watch!
