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While this year of pandemic may have shut down movie theaters and sent major studios scrambling to push back release dates or come up with alternate plans for their films, it’s guaranteed to provide plenty of content for years to come. And the indie romance Love in Dangerous Times is one of the first pandemic dramas to hit digital platforms.
Love in Dangerous Times goes into lockdown with actor and playwright Jason (Ian Stout). When the country begins to shut down, Jason decides to stay in Portland to work on his next play instead of returning to New England to be with his family. But while he works on his play and puts on a mask and gloves to make deliveries for the restaurant where he works, he misses human interaction. So when he meets Sorrell (Tiffany Groben) on a dating app, he’s relieved to have someone to pass the lonely hours with him.
Much of the film follows the ups and downs of Jason and Sorrell’s unusual relationship: the usual insecurities and misunderstandings, which are made even more complicated by the fact that everything is done through phone calls and video chats. Especially in the beginning, it’s incredibly awkward—even more than the typical first date. But there’s also something sweet about their late-night chats. And as they talk through their experiences and drift off to sleep in the light of their laptops, viewers will gradually settle into this pandemic relationship with them.
What makes the film stand out, however, is the context. Written and filmed in the midst of the pandemic, it captures all of the fears and uncertainties—and all of the emotions that we’ve experienced over the past eight months. Everything here feels all too familiar—from the doubts and disbelief of those first weeks and months to the moment when we switched from hugs to air-hugs to the constant barrage of news updates and the growing concern for at-risk loved ones. And it makes all of the emotions and anxieties of this whole crazy year come flooding back.
At times, the fact that we’re still so close to this situation can make it difficult to watch. But it also comes with a reminder of some of the positive effects of the pandemic: how it’s made us reevaluate our priorities to realize what—and who—is really the most important in our lives.
Love in Dangerous Times may not be an especially remarkable romantic comedy. The story is entertaining but formulaic, and it’s often rather awkward. But the timing of the film—and the authenticity of the emotions—makes it an intriguing film.
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