Love Me Review: A Smart, Funny, and Realistic Look Into Love and Relationships

Release date: December 24, 2020
Running time: Six 45 minute episodes
Starring: Johan Ulveson, Josephine Bornebusch, Gustav Lindh, Ia Langhammer, Görel Crona, Dilan Gwyn, Sofia Karemyr, Sverrir Gudnason, Nina Zanjani, Christopher Wagelin, Eva Fritjofson
Writer/Director: Josephine Bornebusch

Love Me is about love and relationships at three distinct times of life. It looks at how people experience love and passion across different generations? A warm and humorous series about love, sex, fear, and pain. A series about life, from start to finish.  The series follows three main characters, Sten, Clara, and Aron and their journey through various types and stages of love.  

I didn't really know what to expect from a Swedish series about love and relationships but I was very pleasantly surprised to find this series!  The variety of both characters and life stages make this series enjoyable, nuanced, and relatable.  You have someone who is old and established in their relationship, someone who is starting to lose faith in the whole relationship process, and someone who is young and passionate.  And they are all in the same family so you get some really funny interactions between them as they support and bicker just like family members.  And part of this is accomplished because of the fantastic cast.  Everyone feels quirky but real and realized, with hopes, dreams, regrets, and all the essential ingredients of a good drama.  

And through this all you quickly fall in love with the characters and the scenarios because of the amazing writing.  It is sharp, clever, funny, and emotional.  Even though the original language is Swedish, the jokes are universal and I found myself laughing out loud at many of them as I was reading the subtitles.  But the writing also deals with real topics and issues; this is not just a sitcom, it is a smart exploration of love and relationships that explores relevant, current topics.  The series deals with some heavy and painful life problems as well and does so wonderfully.  It is a nice balance of humor and drama that will have you laughing one second and then crying the next.  

I also loved the shot choice and cinematography.  It is subtle, but the series does so much correctly that you can't help but appreciate it.  There are little touches, like a scene where two characters are talking and get into their cars.  The cars are parked in such a way that both characters can open their doors while staying in frame, a subtle but amazingly smart choice to keep the scene moving. And the series is filled with instances like this, just very smart choices that will help the series move and not distract you.  It makes everything engaging and very watchable. 

Love Me is a smart, realistic, and funny series about love and relationships that will touch both your funny bone and your heart.

Watch it.

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1994 Review: A Simmering Historical Political Drama

Release date: December 17, 2020
Running time: 8 45 minute episodes
Starring: Stefano Accorsi, Guido Caprino and Miriam Leone
Created By: Alessandro Fabbri, Ludovica Rampoldi and Stefano Sardo

The third and last installment of the most dramatic years of Italy's recent history,  In 1994the traditional political landscape and players have disappeared, making way for new parties, like Berlusconi's Forza Italia.  Leo finds himself at a crossroads: he can either join the "Cavaliere's" new team in a top-notch power position or change sides once again.  And then there's Veronica, former TV starlet turned congresswoman, as she faces the opportunity to change her life forever from the glossy but shallow "good life" to coming to her own, with the help of her male alter ego Leo.  But she also has to contend with Pietro's unchanging ways of personal jealousy and political scheming. 

1994 is a historical drama and does a great job evoking that time in politics.  The first episode takes place during a debate, and the debate is portrayed in an old television style with washed out colors and some scan lines.  It is a subtle touch, but one that perfectly transports you back to the time.  And the character's outfits, sets, and everything about the series feels time appropriate.  But it is not the setting that will keep you glued to this series; like any good political drama there are a ton of players and interests to keep track of.  And those players are remarkably cast, with the main characters seamlessly transforming into charming and conniving politicians.  

But what is so interesting about this series is that it shows the good and bad of Italian politics.  It has intrigue, double crossing, honest intentions, and corruption.  Everything you would think occurs in Italian politics is portrayed, but it is thankfully not simply about muck and dirty politics.  There are some episodes where genuine causes are pursued and people do what is right.  And the parallels between this era of Italian politics and American politics are very interesting to see.  Although the show doesn't focus on this, it was interesting to see both the perfect public persona of these politicians and all the dirty activities that happen behind the scenes.  And the use of the media to influence the vote and political positions was a familiar sight.  But what will keep you drawn to this series are the impressive and interesting characters and the intrigue of the story.

1994 highlights an explosive and dramatic year in Italian politics, with interesting characters, an engaging story, and an impressive commitment to the time period.

Watch it.

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Les Sauvages Review: A French Political Thriller With Shades of World Issues

Release date: September 17, 2020 (Streaming)
Running time: 60 minute episodes, 6 total
Starring: Marina Foïs, Roschdy Zem, Amira Casar, Dali Benssalah, Sofiane Zermani, Souheila Yacoub

Set in present-day France, Les Sauvages follows the first presidential candidate of Algerian descent who is in a heated election.  The series follows the election and the events that occur after the election that touch on politics, identity, and France as a nation.  

A drama like this will live and die by its characters, and Les Sauvages has a lot of interesting and conflicting ones.  It follows the Algerian political candidate Idder Chaouch (Zem), a charismatic politician who appears to have some influence from Obama.  Idder is running on a campaign of hope and change, and there are definite attacks on him about his nationality and whether he is French enough.  On top of Idder, we are introduced to his daughter and political campaign manager Jasmine (Yacoub) and her longtime boyfriend and successful actor Fouad (Benssalah).  Early in the series we meet Fouad's family, who includes a brother (Zermani) who is politically opposed to Chaouch's ideals and candidacy.  This is just scratching the surface and, as with any good drama, there are plenty of other characters to meet along the way that add to the overall intrigue and drama.  And despite the dramatic nature of the series, it doesn't feel like characters are overacting for it.  There is a general likable nature to the individuals, which makes you want to root for them that much more.  

And drama is one thing that this series has in spades.  Full disclosure, I have only watched two of the episodes, but those episodes do a really great job of establishing the world, the major conflicts, and all the characters.  If you are looking for a lot of action, this is not it.  But if you are looking for interactions between characters and plenty of threads to follow, then this show might be for you.  And part of what makes the threads so fun to follow is the writing.  Although I am watching it subtitled, the dialogue is interesting and dramatic, and the story line is easy to follow despite the plethora of characters and events.  And the camera work and production values are quite good, with some nice shots of France and good lighting for a show that has a lot take place at night.  There are some poor decisions that happen, but that is also how you get the drama to take place.  And some of the themes, despite being French issues, are ones that are relatable to the world at large.  The series deals with isolationist policies, nationalism, and identity politics, all of which are relevant on a global scale.  And as I said, I definitely saw shades of American political issues in this French series.  And overall, despite being two episodes in, I am excited to see where it goes next.

Les Sauvages has an interesting cast of characters, complicated story, and plenty of drama in this French political thriller with parallels to events happening in America and on a global stage. 

Watch it.

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