Love in the Afternoon movie review- "Actually I don't much care for young men."

Oh to be in Paris dancing to Fascination in the Ritz in Gary Cooper's arms. 

Director: Billy Wilder

Writer: Billy Wilder, I. A. L. Diamond, Claude Anet

Cinematographer: William C. Mellor

Cast: Audrey Hepburn, Gary Cooper, Maurice Chevalier, John McGiver, Van Doude

Year: 1957

French P.I. Claude Chavasse (the splendid Maurice Chevalier) specialises in illicit affairs, and once he reveals to one of his clients that his wife is cheating on him with the infamous American Playboy Frank Flannagan (the amazing Gary Cooper), the husband sets off with murderous intent. Overhearing his plan for murder, Claude's sheltered daughter, Ariane (the magnificent Audrey Hepburn), decides to foil his plans and save Flannagan. The two are at once instantly attracted to each other, but Ariane decides to stay anonymous. On the brink of insane jealousy and confusion, Frank then hires Claude to find out more about the mystery girl, unbeknownst to him that he has sent him on a mission to find his own daughter. 

I had been scrolling through Audrey Hepburn's filmography for some time, unsure of what exactly I wanted to watch of hers; it wasn't until I stumbled upon Love in the Afternoon that I finally decided to sit down and watch something. It was at that moment that I fell deeply and completely in love with this film. I have always had a soft spot for Hepburn; after all, she is the miss sugar daddy enthusiast, and I'll always love her for that! She was an icon, she was the moment, and she is a legend. Romantic films from the 50s, although visually stunning and charming, always made me feel a little empty inside. But now that's all changed! There's just something even more hazy and romantic when we put Audrey Hepburn and Paris together. The opening sequence to this film has got to be the most enthralling experience and opening to a film I have ever seen. Let me paint the picture: we open with an establishing shot of Paris and the Eiffel tower (ahh, the city of love), and Chevalier begins his voice-over by explaining that in Paris, not only do french people eat better, but they also "make love better and more often, at any time or in any place". Suddenly we are thrust into different places in Paris where couples kiss by fountains or on moving mopeds, even going as far as to show us statues kissing, tourists kissing and dogs kissing. Perfumed in glistening black and white, Love in the Afternoon is completely embedded in the ideas of love, and I love it. Through its first few frames, the luminous black and white frames shimmer as we see Paris for all of its beauty and wonder and its simplicity and mundanity. There are few films that affect me so deeply on an emotional level, I'm not much of a crier, but Love in the Afternoon just had me sobbing once the credits started rolling. Love in the Afternoon invented romance, and it invented dilfism. This film is just so beautiful to watch, and I want to learn how to lie so perfectly to men like Ariane does! The misguided fragility, sensitivity and fatality of falling in love for the first time and falling in love with an older man were highlighted so perfectly by Hepburn and Cooper. Love in the Afternoon is just so aesthetically pleasing; of course, a Parisian romance in black and white is going to look gorgeous! Billy Wilder, I love you so much!

Can someone please just take me to Paris and make out with me all day?!                                          Audrey Hepburn really shines as a naive Parisian who becomes obsessed with the American millionaire playboy, like my girls got some major daddy issues, and you know what, I get it. I just love everything about Audrey playing the cello with little pigtails in and the way she just runs around making up lies about her string of past lovers. Ariane is the Girlboss I aspire to be one day. Like she had that man wrapped around her finger! I'm going to build myself a time machine that takes me back to the 1950s just so I can live the way Audrey lived in this movie. I have re-watched this film over and over again, and although I still hold Roman Holiday to be Audrey's best film (only because I love Gregory Peck to an obscene extent), I would have to say that Love in the Afternoon comes extremely close in second place as one of her best films. The relationship built up between Frank and Ariane is not built on love but rather the immense desire to love something you cannot, and to tame a notorious playboy into marriage is quite impressive. And even though their romance is purely subject to twisted power dynamics and competition as to who can have the most interesting list of lovers, this really is the most romantic film. The moment drops her fur coat (a supposed gift from a past lover) whilst dancing with Frank made me tear up; those little moments have such vast and expansive meanings, and the romantic details in this film are phenomenal. Another moment I just absolutely adore is when Ariane is searching for her lost shoe and climbs under a table, to which Frank joins her and tells her, "everything about you is perfect", after she complains about her appearance. Like, I just got called single in over 100+ languages. The age gap never really bothered me because, in the context of this storyline, Flannagan is supposed to be much older; that's how he's garnered such an illicit reputation. There are other films in which Audrey is paired with men much older than her that I find extremely uncomfortable, but the dynamic and chemistry between the two of them worked so well. This was relatable because I, too, would let Audrey Hepburn tell me lies and play me like a complete and utter fool. 

Love in the Afternoon is both an enchanting and tender movie about the intimate moments of a romantic relationship, as lovers must tell each other that they are not in love just so they don't break their own hearts. Of course, the ending is a cliche, but I eat that shit up. Saying goodbye sadly at the train station, yes, please sign me up! Going on a romantic rowboat ride and eating a picnic, take all of my money! Dancing to an orchestra in a fancy hotel room as the Eiffel Tower is lit up and twinkles through the window, I'd sell my soul for that! As you can see, I desperately need some romance in my life. I'm going to go insane. If I'm not going to get a romance like this, then can I at least get her skill to play an instrument?  So *cries knowing that love stories like this don't even exist* dreamy. I mean, same Audrey, I haven't dated any man either, but at least your first love is Gary Cooper :( 

Why am I crying again? 

Rating: 5/5

Favourite quotes: 

"He who loves and runs away lives to love another day." 

"I'm not exactly the kind of girl you would be interested in." 

"You know who I am, Mr Flannagan; I'm the girl in the afternoon." 

"I think people should always behave as though they were between planes." 

(Also the whole film is on YouTube for free)