Italiano
What’s Love by Shekhar Kapur, distributed by Lucky Red, will be released in Italian cinemas on Monday March 16th, 2023. The film was presented in the programme of the 17th Rome Film Fest where it won the Ugo Tognazzi Award for Best Comedy.
WHAT’S LOVE
Director
Shekhar Kapur
Nation
United Kingdom
Year
2022
Duration
109′
Cast
Lily James
Emma Thompson
Shazad Latif
Shabana Azmi
Sajal Ali
Oliver Chris
Two childhood friends coming on age thirty must come to terms with the cultural traditions of their families, especially when it comes to love. Zoe must deal with the requests of her eccentric mother Cath and with online dating. Kazim is being pushed by his parents into an arranged marriage. Zoe films Kazim’s journey from London to Lahore to marry someone he does not know, and wonders if there is something to learn from such a different approach to love.
COMMENTARY
Marriage for love or arranged marriage? Interracial marriage or marriage within one’s ethnic group? Lily James and Shazad Latif (Spooks, Penny Dreadful, Star Trek: Discovery), neighbours in multi-ethnic middle class London and friends since childhood, argue about the issue, between his colourful family and her eccentric mother (Emma Thompson). Until they all leave for Pakistan, where Lily films Shadaz’s wedding, “arranged”by his family. Abandoning Elizabethan drama, Shekhar Kapur plays with identity, Oriental beliefs, western prejudice, unexpected loves, inspired by Jemima Kahn’s screenplay, British celebrities in fashion, journalism, television, political and social activism. Result: a mix of Richard Curtis’ comedies (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Pirate Radio) and Mira Nair’s Indian musicals.
SHEKHAR KAPUR
Born in Lahore in 1945, Shekhar Kapur graduated in economics from the University of Delhi, then moved to London, discovered a passion for cinema and returned to India, where he directed, among others, Masoom, Mr. India and Bandit Queen, all box office hits in his country. He then made the English-language films Elizabeth (5 BAFTA and 7 Oscar® nominations, including Best Film and Best Actress, Cate Blanchett), Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2 nominations for the Oscars® and 4 for BAFTA), The Four Feathers.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
Love and intimacy: the words most frequently used and at the same time most misunderstood in our vocabulary, yet again and again we seek the true meaning of these words. This is what I found so exciting in Jemima Khan’s screenplay. The opportunity to explore these words in depth, while containing them within a romantic comedy. As I always do, I worked with my actors while each of us explored the meaning these words have for us. It was an incredible journey… and now it’s your turn, spectators. To join us in our tears, our laughter and our quest. For yourselves.
