Two unconventional romances that aren’t really romances at all. Both a little on the somber side, and you might be better off watching them alone since neither is really a good date film…
The Lunchbox…A very quiet Indian film (more like the anti-Bollywood, as it’s all hushed tones and remorse) triggered by something almost comically undramatic: a mistaken lunchbox delivery. Homeland’s Nimrat Kaur is completely different here, as a wife who makes her husband’s lunch, but it gets delivered to the wrong man. This goes on for a bit, and eventually a connection—-through handwritten notes—-develops between the two of them. There are solid scenes, but mostly between the two lonely individuals and other people in their lives (her with a rarely seen aunt, and him with a pushy co-worker/replacement). Perhaps the least passionate romance or drama you’ll see all year, and you keep hoping for a breakthrough that never comes. Grade: C+
Le Weekend…A long married British couple (Jim Broadbent and Lindsay Duncan) goes to Paris to celebrate their 30th anniversary, but don’t get your hopes up if you’re wanting to watch two senior citizens cut loose in the City of Lights. This is a much more reflective, deeper, and—it must be said—depressing film than that. But the problem is that it’s also too light to reach the depths of the “Before” trilogy, and only sporadically gets at real truths about relationships. [It’s tempting to imagine these two characters as Ethan Hawke/Julie Delpy when they’re old enough for social security, but their dynamic is a little more lopsided as Duncan seems to derive sadomasochistic pleasure out of threatening her husband with the prospect of separation.] Still, there are nice moments, and Jeff Goldblum is clearly having fun as a successful American friend they run into. Grade: B-