Love Actually
Love Actually a Rom-com created in 2003, written and directed by Richard Curtis, the film is set in London around 5 weeks before christmas following the lives of 10 hopeful lovers.The ensemble cast is composed predominantly of British actors. Richard Curtis has written several other popular Rom-coms such as the Bridget Jones movies and Four Weddings And A Funeral showing that he is no stranger to this common type of film.
The film is told from loads of different perspectives, presenting many different types of people and many different love stories which is the films message at the start from the airport scene where many people arrive greeting their loved ones.
Due to this constent change in narrative we the audience get a sense of relief seeing all these different match ups, the film could be aimed at people who are looking for love or lost hope and need some reassurance.
The one of the people we are shown is a singer in a studio, wearing a casual shirt and singing his new Christmas song. From all the recording equipment and instruments in the background and him being the center of attention singing into the mic we get the impression he is a singer, possibly an old rock star trying to make a comeback this Christmas, his character is very louche as he doesn't seem to bothered about this recording due to his clothes and the countless mistakes he makes.
We are shown a bright angelic light and music when introduced to the relations making everything seem very positive and calm. The scene has a kind of holy, religious feel to it as all seems very bright and holy with the bright light, reunited friends and family and holy singing in the background.
By having Hughe Grant narrate in the background about 9/11 he's contrasting that awful event with this complete opposite scene where everyone is happy and safe and there is no hatred as he comments only love is being shown, which represents the film and its title itself, Love Actually.
All characters share the same sort of power and importance none of them are overshadowing each other also with them all being middle to high class.
The camera used is this opening narrative scene is almost like a handheld but its not the camera seems more focused and stationary, it pans over across to a group of people and then is held still for a few seconds mainly because, this is an effective way to show a build up of affection and caring by showing different people's combined happiness and expressions it has a bigger impact on the audience. The camera zooms in and out and also changes focus, capturing only people's faces to reintroduce the points that Hugh Grant is mentioning through his narration.
