My City My Love – Kiara Lord, Matt Ice (2015)

Kiara Lord, the star of “My City My Love” introduces the story in a voice-over narration as she walks the street of a picturesque seaside Spanish city. She has moved her, she explains, from Russia, and being all alone in a new place, no matter how beautiful or inviting, can be a lonely experience. But one day, while strolling the oceanfront promenade, she catches the eye of a passing stranger, Matt Ice. In that instant loneliness turns to love, and the rest of the film presents their courtship and the eventual consummation of their romantic relationship. Director Andrej Lupin employs an unobtrusive style throughout the film — whether Lord and Ice are wandering through crowds of vacationing tourists, stealing a kiss, or in the throes of ecstasy, the focus is on the performers, not the filmmaker’s (considerable) technical prowess. And the performers, each charming and appealing as individuals, bring a palpable sincerity to their roles. It’s easy to see how they’d fall for one another, and it’s a pleasure to watch them flirt, play, tease, and enjoy each other in such a genuine, spontaneous, and entirely natural way. When they do finally make love it is something they’re both clearly savoring. They’re in the moment, enjoying every second, sharing through touch, emotion, and eye-contact, and pulling the viewer into this intimate interlude with them. While the film is vividly explicit, the abundant heat in “My City My Love” is generated by the unaffected, unfeigned, entirely believable romantic connection these two gifted performers display here. “My City My Love” is the perfect belated Valentine’s Day treat — share it with someone you love.