You Can Live Forever is the latest romance in queer cinema to tell a story about “forbidden love” in unlikely places, as two young women start falling for each other within their Jehovah Witness community.  It’s a good movie that not only shows an accurate portrayal of yearning hearts, but also teaches viewers about the upbringing in this specific devout life – the film is emotional and educational.

Though the set-up seemingly gives this Canadian film its own legs to stand on, writers/directors Sarah Watts and Mark Slutsky lean on a narrative formula that often devalues the emotional core of their movie.  You Can Live Forever feels heavily influenced by Disobedience and Portrait of a Lady on Fire, and doesn’t bother to separate itself from those similarities;  almost as if the filmmakers mistakingly interpret these comparisons to modern classics as compliments towards their budding directorial efforts.  This flawed understanding weighs down the vision of this project, and prevents the movie from securing its own independence.

However, the two young stars, Anwen O’Driscoll and June Laporte, are exceptional together.  They have bona fide chemistry that allows the actors to dig into parallel nuances that drive their characters.  Both performances are surprisingly subtle, mature, and sensual, which only makes the growing affection between Jaime (O’Driscoll) and Marike (Laporte) feel more authentic.  While the movie does address the resistance between faith and same-sex romance, there’s a level of acceptance from the community which gives You Can Live Forever a contemporary touch.  That said, there’s still underlaying homophobia that’s motivating how outsiders react to Jaime and Marike’s blooming relationship which serves as an unfortunate reminder that certain pockets of society are sorely in need of guidance.

**********

Do You Tweet? Follow These Tweeple:

Addison Wylie: @AddisonWylie