Sonnet 116 is probably one of the more straightforward – either that or it is one of the many that I have approached at a low level and made assumptions at what I have found! The text speaks of what love really is – not shaken by storms, as fixed as the north star, not negatively affected by the passage of time. I took it at face value and so too does film 71 in the Sonnet Project, as it really faces this one with a straight bat and plays it as it finds it. We join a couple as they stroll on a promenade while it chucks down with rain; they hold hands, he has flowers and they have the sauntering pace of a couple in romantic love. The sonnet plays out in narration as they look at one another, stare off at the view of Manhattan and so on.
It is connected to the sonnet text, but really directly connected and to be honest I found it a little boring and also a little sickly. It is a nice touch to have the couple played by real-life coupe Rich Sommer and Virginia Donohue, but they do not have too much to do apart from making eyes at one another. Their chemistry helps the delivery as they don't really feel like they are forcing it or just acting out intimacy, but still, there isn't much here. Donohue delivers the sonnet in a clam, soothing tone but again it is a little obvious. I was also a little surprised that the film had Sommer (from Mad Men) but didn't make more of him, limiting him to puppy dog eyes for his wife; perhaps that was imposed on the film, but a previous film had thanked Sommer for his support of their film, so I was surprised his support was quite as silent as it was here.
As ever though, the film must be credited for the fact that, by virtue of what it does, the sonnet text is easier to follow and understand. One aspect I really did like was the pouring rain throughout. I'm not sure if this was a deliberate choice, or if the film had a day when it was down to shoot and when they woke up it was pouring, but either way it works with it really well and the film looks and sounds good. Maybe it is the Northern Irishman in me that loves being able to watch rain from a dry interior, but I did find the empty shots and the wet pavement to make for a pleasing image, while also working very well with the sentiment of the sonnet that love is unaffected by such things – while others run for cover, our lowers seem totally unaffected by it, although I was still conscious that this is pretty wet (sappy) in and of itself.
A rather obvious short film then, but in fairness the sonnet itself is pretty straightforward. The rainy day shoot is very well done, giving the film a nice feel but, while the use of a real couple is a nice touch, I do wish the film had given them more to do.
It is connected to the sonnet text, but really directly connected and to be honest I found it a little boring and also a little sickly. It is a nice touch to have the couple played by real-life coupe Rich Sommer and Virginia Donohue, but they do not have too much to do apart from making eyes at one another. Their chemistry helps the delivery as they don't really feel like they are forcing it or just acting out intimacy, but still, there isn't much here. Donohue delivers the sonnet in a clam, soothing tone but again it is a little obvious. I was also a little surprised that the film had Sommer (from Mad Men) but didn't make more of him, limiting him to puppy dog eyes for his wife; perhaps that was imposed on the film, but a previous film had thanked Sommer for his support of their film, so I was surprised his support was quite as silent as it was here.
As ever though, the film must be credited for the fact that, by virtue of what it does, the sonnet text is easier to follow and understand. One aspect I really did like was the pouring rain throughout. I'm not sure if this was a deliberate choice, or if the film had a day when it was down to shoot and when they woke up it was pouring, but either way it works with it really well and the film looks and sounds good. Maybe it is the Northern Irishman in me that loves being able to watch rain from a dry interior, but I did find the empty shots and the wet pavement to make for a pleasing image, while also working very well with the sentiment of the sonnet that love is unaffected by such things – while others run for cover, our lowers seem totally unaffected by it, although I was still conscious that this is pretty wet (sappy) in and of itself.
A rather obvious short film then, but in fairness the sonnet itself is pretty straightforward. The rainy day shoot is very well done, giving the film a nice feel but, while the use of a real couple is a nice touch, I do wish the film had given them more to do.
