Loveable
“Loveable” — the new film from the producers of “The Worst Person in the World” — is a witty reminder that the most important kind of love is the one we give ourselves. Drawing from her own experiences, debut feature director Lilja Ingolfsdottir has created a multi-dimensional story about a woman who, after the failure of her first relationship, finds the courage to give herself a second chance. Winner of five awards at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and the undisputed victor of Norway’s national film awards (the country’s equivalent of the Oscars), “Loveable” captivates with its empathy and honesty as it explores questions of love, intimacy, and self-acceptance.
Maria (Helga Guren) enters a new relationship with the hope of a fresh start. One glance is enough for her to feel as if she’s known Sigmund (Oddgeir Thune) her entire life, and their passionate affair quickly turns into a serious partnership. The story of “Loveable” begins where most love stories end. Everyday life in their blended family soon exposes unfulfilled ambitions, unspoken emotions, and conflicting needs that build into an emotional bomb — one that eventually explodes.
Many women will see themselves in “Loveable” — those trying to reconcile being a partner and a mother without losing themselves in the process. Empathetic yet unflinchingly honest, full of anger and tears but ultimately healing, Ingolfsdottir’s film offers a profound reflection on who we are in relationships and what we sacrifice to meet others’ expectations. “Loveable” ultimately restores faith in second chances, showing that within crisis lies the beginning of a new, beautiful relationship — with oneself.
