The Republic of Love Director: Deepa Mehta Country: Canada/UK Year: 2003

CAST:
Bruce Greenwood, Emilia Fox, Edward Fox, Martha Henry, Jan Rubes, Gary Farmer, Lloyd Owen, Jackie Burroughs, Claire Bloom

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Deepa Mehta follows up the joyous, carnivalesque Bollywood/Hollywood with a beautiful work that looks at love in its many guises. Based on the treasured novel by Carol Shields, The Republic of Love is Mehta’s most assured and confident film to date. It touches on people’s lives and loves as it skates deliciously between creating fairy tale romance – and looking at the morning after. It is an entirely compelling meditation brought alive by superb performances from a hugely talented international cast. Shot in Toronto, the film lavishes much attention on this city and makes it a place of magic and beauty.

Fay (Emilia Fox) is a young, bright-eyed museum curator who has observed the relationship between her mother (Martha Henry) and father (Edward Fox) since childhood, soaking up its intimacy and forming nigh impossible standards for a romance of her own. Illegitimate Tom (Bruce Greenwood), three times married and divorced, is the host of a night-time radio show who ruminates with his listeners on the possibility – or not – of enduring love. Although they live in the same building and their paths seem bound to cross, Fay and Tom continually miss each other by a hair. When at last they do meet, it is – as in any fairy tale – love at first sight

Fairy tales do not, however, provide a template for them to follow after this moment. Through portraits of several couples – Tom and Fay, Tom’s friends, Fay’s parents and her godmother and partner – Mehta ponders the joys and disappointments of every relationship. The actors attack these complications with graceful intensity. Greenwood is transformed by his role, magnetic but unapologetic. Both Foxes bring elegance to their characters, their marvellous chemistry permeating one of the film’s pivotal relationships. Doyennes Henry and Jackie Burroughs personify the different worlds that collide in their children.

If this remarkable, deeply mature work is a fairy tale, then it is one for grown-ups and marks a new and exciting step for Mehta.

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