VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Food of Love (2002)
QQQ1/2
This first English-language film from celebrated Spanish director Ventura Pons tells the story of Paul (Kevin Bishop), an attractive young music student who enters the life of world-class professional pianist Richard Kennington (Paul Rhys) when he's hired as a concert page-turner.
When the two run into each other in Barcelona, while Paul is vacationing with his recently divorced, hysteria-prone mother (Juliet Stevenson), a whirlwind romance quickly develops into something more serious.
Unable to commit to the smitten Paul -- partly because of their difference in age, but largely because of his pre-existing long-term relationship with his tour manager, Joseph (Allan Corduner) -- Richard abandons him, unaware that Paul is certain to resurface in his life.
While attending Juilliard, Paul begins to come to grips with the idea that his music career may not be all he had hoped, just as his secret life becomes apparent to his formerly oblivious mother.
The picturesque streets of Barcelona make for a gorgeous backdrop for much of this moving love story. It's largely effective because of the tight performances of the leads -- especially Bishop's portrayal of the naive-yet-not-so-innocent Paul.
The "coming out" drama is nothing new, of course, but by setting Paul's experience within the inner circle of the musical elite, Pons offers a unique look inside a world few know, while still offering enough genuine emotional attachment for audiences to connect.