User Reviews

I know that people like to be rude about Belgium, but I gave this friendly little nation the benefit of the doubt when I bought this film. In the end it sadly suffered from an endemic Belgian problem- a lack of point and clearly defined focus. I wasn't really sure what to make of this movie at all- or what it was trying to say. It is trailed (if you believe the lively DVD cover) as a hedonistic splash of rebellion by an upper class Belgian girl against the stuffy confines of society before the Great War of 1914.

"Louisa, een woord van liefde" means "Louise - A Word of Love". The young Isabelle escapes from the orphanage and she adopted by two chaps on a caravan. They then meet by chance the posh family of Louise- who runs away with the three adventurers when confronted with the reality of having to marry a Belgian with a large moustache and a bald head. They find a dog. Later Louisa degenerates into a minor moment of sexual hedonism and multiplexing with the two chaps before they are all overwhelmed by the Armageddon that was WW1.

Willeke Ammelrooy is stunning as Louisa and we see her briefly naked (which is presumably why the DVD box has the illustration it has). However I just didn't care enough about any of the characters really to get into this film. Its protest against the repressive nature of pre-WW1 society misfired, particularly when one remembers that the conflict and loss of social structures led only to European fascism and communism.

If you like Belgian cinema, I'd stick to Tintin .....

I am probably giving it a star more than I should have - to balance for the gross, in my opinion, under-score of the movie. The story plot is simple yet complicated. The time is just pre WW1 (in fact just the war was about to start - even the date could be guessed - since within a few days of Louisa's elopement, Jean Jaurès was assassinated, practically eliminating the last chance to avoid the WW1. The heroine, Louisa, the only child of a rich widower (probably) noble-man, betrothed to a child-hood, similarly stationed in society man, in a love-less and probably a bit contempt from her side, relation. In her life by chance arrives two wolves - Pierre and Paul (is it just coincidence that these were the name of the two directors too?) with an orphan child, picked up by them on the way. Finding a way out of the oppressive - and loveless - relation, Louisa escapes with the three - and takes shelter in an abandoned (though their, or at least her father's) property, and find it is occupied by a nomadic, slightly crazy, and war-hating man (he has traveled the world, escaping whenever war clouds loomed in the region). She has thought of an platonic relationship - three people and a child - but the men had other ideas, about her, and she too succumbs, not unwillingly, to both. As the war clouds come near, their shelter is burnt, and they go back to her father's place. He is happy to have the daughter back, despite the transgression, but with only one man, not two. He doesn't throw her out, on her refusal to give one off, but plots to get rid of one (the one he thinks inferior, and personally I too would agree). Forewarned by her maid, the four escape - to get caught in the middle of the war.

The story might seem outdated - today those strict morality isn't really found - except on certain extremely orthodox countries (we find reports of girls escaping and seeking asylum). Of course the war is a long forgotten memory.

But it is not necessary to look it into those angles. From another angle, the situations may not be too different, even today.

The war was not the centre piece of the movie plot, it could be any other major crisis. So, I would conveniently be neglecting that.

It is an orthodox society - with class distinction. They still exist - if not by blood, by money, or by fame, or any of those factors which make the blood blue today. Naturally one rarely finds an mes-alliance in these bloods even today - similar having strong attraction, and different are strongly frowned by similar - of both side. So what happened here was not too remotely imaginable in this day. In addition the type of relationship - one woman with two men, together - naturally reversal of genders, in the patriarchal society, won't have raised to many eyebrows - but this would raise even today. And not only this - think of any socially not too acceptable relationships - same-gender, or cross-gender - won't the scene repeat in too many homes ? Including the families (here father) ready to embrace the prodigal daughter, but plotting to bring her back to the well-trodden and acceptable path ? Note: it could be son too, the gender doesn't matter, though for daughters, even today, parents would make that extra effort- till the society's frown becomes too dark, even for them to withstand, despite their own power.

There are definite plus points in the movie, Willeke (Louisa) lived to the role, looking every bit well-brought up but human youngster. The want, to break free of oppression was there, and she did it, of romantic, non-physical, urge. The two main characters portraying Pierre and Paul too aptly executed their role. Others, too were not too eyesore, Ivan especially. Isabelle, in reality too was too young to play the nuances, and I will overlook that. The story was quite adorable, though there were a couple of negatives. First is of course the poster, and the corresponding scene - these were only in three segments - altogether may be just a couple of minutes - of those the real risque were a few second, these could have been avoided, without much loss. For example, the reflection in river was sufficient. Second is the ending - the sea scene was not necessary - even to prove the fulfillment of promise made. What would happen to each of the characters could be guessed - not only by the society's acceptance at a later date - but even before that by the wine spilling in the party. Thankfully it reached a logical conclusion, not going to things fantastic. I would give it a 8 for Louisa, plot and relevance, pacing, remove 1 for the nude and the ending, even for the very last 10-15 seconds, and add the one back - to compensate for the score of other reviewers.