Genuine chemistry is what elevates a good performance to a great one.
So often, that chemistry is judged on romantic relationships or same sex friendships, but rarer is the harder to execute friendship between two members of the opposite sex.
In first time director Natalie Morales’ Language Lessons, the depiction of said relationship is just one accomplishment of the film’s many successes.
I’m going to be vague on the details, although I’d imagine that the set up will be revealed in the most basic description of the film.
Nevertheless, if you are able to see this with no prior knowledge, your viewing experience will be stronger for it.
The film opens with Adam (Mark Duplass) receiving a gift of 100 online Spanish lessons on his birthday from his husband, Will (DeSean Terry) .
We meet the tutor, Cariño (Morales), who is based in Costa Rica and provides the classes via Zoom.
Cariño is somewhat put off by Adam and Will’s very wealthy lifestyle, one that Adam himself is still getting used to, despite the first lesson taking place while Adam sits in the swimming pool in their opulent backyard.
This sets up the basic storytelling with most of the film taking place across two Zoom screens mostly in Spanish.
A week later, everything changes. A personal tragedy has occurred and this not only changes the life of one of the characters, but also opens the beginning of their friendship.
But friendships can be messy. They have both suffered loss and trust can be difficult, even more so having never spent a moment in person with each other’s company. As time goes on their friendship becomes more special, as each Zoom call seems to brighten the other’s day. There is nothing contrived; the emotions are sentimental, the performances charming, and the characters realize they need and rely on one another for support and brutal honesty.
By the time the film wraps up in 91 minutes, there’s little doubt that Language Lessons will have affected you. Co-written by Duplass and Morales, the duo deliver memorable understated, natural performances.
Language Lessons is a perfect film that resonates long after the credits roll.
* * * * *
Produced by Mel Eslyn
Executive Produced by Mark Duplass, Jay Duplass, Natalie Morales
Written by Mark Duplass & Natalie Morales
Directed by Natalie Morales
Starring Natalie Morales, Mark Duplass, DeSean Terry, Christine Quesada
