Loverboy lançado em 2011 é um drama romeno realizado por Cătălin Mitulescu com George Pistereanu e Ada Condeescu nos principais papéis e o filme também tem uma bela composição musical e é misturado ao drama. Esta escénica emocional e visceral centra-se na triste e obscura prática do tráfico de seres humanos, particularmente a do método ‘loverboy’ que consiste em seduzir terapeuticamente e depois explorar as vítimas vulneráveis. O filme é no entanto protegido sobre a complexidade de uma relação de amor e the exploration of compassion, hope and how love can bring one’s light in a dark and chaotic world
Plot Summary
A historia $$$$ ou Luca (George Pistereanu), um jovem que se sustenta através do romance com garotas e depois as revende, um jovem que faz o que se chama método loverboy, que é, um que vende todas as suas vitimas ao redor. As methods of abduction that consist in entrapping girls through emotionally invested relationships. He appears emotionally detached from the activities he partakes in. He also explains himself, providing a perspective that is often incorrect and superficial. Everything changes for him when he meets Ana, who does not fit into his previous experience because she possesses a freedom he has not previously encountered.
In looking at these emotions, we understand Luca’s behavior better as we see him going into the dark side of the business world where he finds Ana. This in turn forces him to care for her and as a result, there is a conflict within himself. As these emotions build within him and eat him, he struggles most of the time regarding his ex-lover, Ana, frustration as there is pressure from his current environment to finish a dead-end job. This gives a sense of duality to the film which is more of a struggle for Luca as time passes more and more.
This becomes even more accentuated by the sub-themes in the film around the moral complexities that come with human trafficking. These areas highlight a lot of need for love and attention in the characters and how a lack of love pushes people to commit heinous crimes, raise their children differently, and suffocate them mentally and physically and in turn, it takes quite a bit of hurt in order to find love. The image of a perfect family is used to show the true color and depth of human perspective and their cravings inside but done within a physically-controlled environment. The violence and uneasiness of love is made clear in ‘Loverboy’ along with the true meaning of love within the world instead of what is commonly portrayed.
Performances George Pistereanu offers the audience a perfect depiction of Luca, whose cold expression starkly contrasts with the confusion and guilt growing within him as he becomes close to Ana. His performance is interesting as it depicts the contradiction of Luca’s tough self-image and his sensitivity brought by Ana. In the boys’ love triangle, Ada Condeescu’s Ana is sweet but inflexibly strong – she loves Luca but also reflects his morals back to him. Their interaction in the film serves to reinforce its themes of power and authentic intimacy.
Cinematography and Atmosphere The camera work in the film is quite unrefined and harsh, reflecting the extent of realism in all the harsh light and urban environments. The cute essence of Romanian countryside and some industrial places only enhances the sense of abandonment and decay that is Luca’s world. The picture tells the story in a way that not only heightens the tension of the narrative, but also creates a sense of sadness that permeates throughout the entire picture empowering Luca’s search and self-discovery even more.
Reception Loverboy was favorably welcomed on the European cinema circuit, owing particularly to its brutal depiction of human trafficking and a complex nature of its central character. After watching the movie, critics praised it for bringing attention to a timely and rarely addressed subject without appearing as overly sensational. Many viewers found it impossible to sympathize with Luca’s character because he is a criminal, while many others appreciated the incorporation of such a character that has been loosely explored. Overall Impressions Loverboy is a tragic drama that deals with crime, love and redemption from a different and engaging point of view. It is unique as it presents human trafficking through a central character who is morally lost, making the subject quite difficult and complex. A love story and a depiction of abuses, the movies such as this one are able to make one think deeply about material presented.
Target Audience Lovers of European Cinema and Eastern European countries’ social-realist tendencies. People who like characters like in Fish Tank or Lilya 4-Ever. Character study with love for drama and cynicism. There are poignant themes across multiple spheres (social, political, economic) which tackles the issues of human nature on a very primal level.
