Karlovy Vary review: “The Boundaries of Love”

The couple tries out the lifestyle. the limits of loveA Czech drama premiered at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Hanna (Hanna Wagnerova) and Petr (Matyasz Teznicek) have a romance that is tested when they open up about things, inspired by friends who evangelize the experience.

As Hannah continues to explore sexuality with other men, novelty begins to fade for Petri and emotions flare up when one of them breaks the first rule: never see the same person twice.

The film by Polish-born and Prague-based director Tomasz Winski, who also co-wrote the screenplay, initially features a drama that unfolds in the final act, although the performances are consistently engaging and the filming style encourages the intimacy.

Because this is a couple that constantly registers, perhaps obsessively. When Hanna loses years of home video footage due to a broken hard drive, she feels helpless and they start using their phones to record conversations and make love. Losing this record of her past seems to push Hannah to change, and talking about swinger clubs ignites her imagination in a credibly hesitant but aroused way. She switches to a funny scene in a bar where Petrie challenges Hannah to get close to the man she was looking at. When she surprises them with an offer of three, they panic, a hilarious moment that captures the embarrassment and mild terror of dipping their toes into the unknown.

However, they soon acclimate and a darker comedy ensues. Peter has sex with a woman while her husband watches, only to be interrupted by a crying baby, causing an argument about who will comfort the baby. Scenes like this highlight the less glamorous reality of the lifestyle, and there are scenes in the swingers club that play a note of caution. There’s also a blatant eroticism, even if the movie’s arrest poster is deceptively orgiastic: it’s about swingers rather than group sex. It also moves away from the exploration of homosexual experiences in a polyamorous society.

There is a curious scene where Paul’s group interview Hannah and Peter and decide whether or not to invite them into their world. The hype about safe sex is palpable, but it’s also strangely off-putting to Peter – it’s hard to get along with a character who doesn’t believe in evidence.

Petrie’s difficulty in sharing her feelings is part of the story, but it also detracts from the enjoyment of the film – it’s a shame when you learn more about the character in press releases than in the film. it seems the limits of love It is an attempt to explore sincerity, or lack thereof, in relationships, but above all it feels like the story of a couple diving into an experiment without thinking. However, as such, it is an inspiring watch and, according to the KVIFF audience, it is sure to get people talking.