DVD Corner

My Love Affair With Marriage Blu-ray Review

“My Love Affair With Marriage” is an innovative animated film. 

Written, directed, animated and designed by Signe Baumane, “My Love Affair With Marriage” chronicles the life of Zelma (who mostly resides in Latvia) from childhood to adulthood. From a young age, Zelma believes that love will complete her and make her happy and so she seeks it out. Of course, as she grows older and experiences love and marriages, she discovers that it’s not what she envisioned which makes finding her place in life more challenging.

With her 2nd animated feature film “My Love Affair With Marriage,” Signe Baumane creates an entirely original, personal, and surreal coming-of-age story that tackles societal norms, womanhood, reality vs. expectations, politics and cultures, puberty, and gender roles. It’s a very introspective story that also dips into musical territory and even science with a frequent narration that shows viewers what is going on inside of Zelma’s brain (not unlike something like “Inside Out” but much more technical). The film is aided by a unique animation style that combines 3D miniature sets and 2D animated characters that look like something from a children’s book. It’s a fresh and visionary style that works wonders and makes you (the viewer) the endless possibilities that animation can offer a storyteller. 

As intimate as this feminist story, it’s not without its faults. Although the scientific angle is a key component here, it does feel like it slows down and interrupts the narrative. Additionally, it feels like Zelma’s love interests (namely Sergei and Bo) are rather underdeveloped. We don’t really get to know them more although that is perhaps by design as the story is being told from Zelma’s POV. One can also argue the movie becomes a tad bit tedious in its overlong runtime (108 minutes). Flaws aside, ‘Marriage’ is still a breath of fresh air in the world of indie animated cinema. Check it out.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.85:1 1080p. How does it look? Viewers can expect a perfect hi-def transfer.

Audio Track: 5.1 DTS-HD MA and 2.0 LPCM. How do they sound? The 5.1 track is very active while the 2.0 track satisfies.

Extras:
* Trailer
* “Penny Stamps Distinguished Speaker Series Presents Director Signe Baumane”- The filmmaker chats for 58 minutes and talks about the characters, the script, songs, the production, cast, and so much more.

September 1, 2024 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Animated Film, animation, My Love Affair With Marriage Blu-ray Review