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THIS YEAR’S LOVE
“...Relationships have changed a lot. People expect more in the 90s...”
An emotional “comedy of errors”, This Year’s Love is a bittersweet romantic tale of love, sex and heartbreak in North London. Starring Douglas Henshall, Catherine McCormack, Kathy Burke, Ian Hart, Jennifer Ehle and Dougray Scott, it follows the mixed fortunes of six late twentysomething singles living in Camden Town.
Produced by Michele Camarda of the Kismet Film Company, which was also behind Nick Willing’s Phot ogr aphing Fair ies and Michael Winterbottom’s Snarl Up, it’s written and directed by David Kane making his feature directing debut. This follows acclaim for Ruffian Hearts, his award- winning ensemble piece for the BBC.
“Like Ruffian Hearts,” says Camarda, “this is an ensemble piece. David based it on people that he knew. His background is theatre and this is very much a performance piece.” Adds Kane:
“Relationships have changed a lot. People expect more in the 90s. To be married for 40 years is much more difficult. Relationships are now more difficult to sustain.”
According to the film-makers, a big bonus was working in the open as opposed to the confines of a studio setting. “There was, “they do admit,” some slight hindrances, though. It’s always a problem doing outdoor shoots in London because of the park- ing problems; and then there also the crowds. You can’t control street life. Luckily for us it only added to the film’s feel of life, energy and movement.”
Director of photography is veteran French cam- eraman Robert Alazraki AFC whose 30-plus credits include the acclaimed Pagnol memoir, La Gloire de Mon Pere, and its 1990 sequel Le Château de Ma Mere. His principal brief was to fulfil Kane’s desire for “backdrops that were both photogenic and full of character to add the visual colour of the film.” ■
This Year’s Love was originated on Fujicolor Motion Picture Negative and is currently on nationwide release in the UK
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Photos: Scenes from This Year’s Love starring Douglas Henshall, Catherine McCormack, Kathy Burke, Ian Hart, Jennifer Ehle and Dougray Scott