UK/Canada 2003
Director: Deepa Mehta
Score: ***

The Republic of Love, Mehta’s follow-up film to Bollywood Hollywood shows her once again in a jovial romantic mood experimenting with camera angles like overhead, slanted and laterally reversed shots before settling down with a scene.  Her tongue-in-cheek opening sequence involving the training of the perfect home-maker, which incidentally has nothing to do with the rest of the film, is indicative of the tone her film is to follow.  Republic is basically a white Canadian romantic comedy filmed in Toronto, (with British and Canadian actors) that traces the affair between a radio talk show host, Tom (Bruce Greenwood) and his newly found true love-at-first-sight, museum curator Fay (Emilie Fox).  Tom has survived three divorces while Fay is surviving a three-year long relationship.  Interestingly enough, their love affair is contrasted with Tom’s parent’s perfect marriage - until Tom and Fay get together and Tom’s dad (Edward Fox) decides to leave mother. 

Mehta has the knack of introducing bright and lively sequences in her films.  One love scene involving foot fetishes is particularly hilarious.  There are some spirited performances, notably from the stellar supporting cast of Edward Fox, Jackie Burroughs, Martha Henry and Claire Bloom.  The film is based on the late Pulitzer Prize winner Carol Shield’s novel, but this emotionless telling plays like a slightly upgraded Harlequin novel.  An interesting point to note is Mehta’s Indian influence – in the (film’s) music and in her casting of the minor roles. 

Review by Gilbert Seah.