Something About You

A black-and-white feature film written and directed by Alastair Coughlan and starring himself, Luana Maria Seu and Rebeca Valean.

Eva (Seu) is a young Romanian woman living in London, with hopes of getting a visa and becoming a personal trainer. One day, she meets Edward (Coughlan), a young aspiring pianist. Following unpleasant complications, Eva is forced to move out of the flat that she shares with her friend, Marie (Valean) and she ends up moving in with Edward and developing a relationship with him. Time will tell whether the two of them have a future together.

A dramatic and heart-warming story that is separated into chapters. The screenplay focuses primarily on the progress of the romantic relationship between Eva and Edward, the ups and downs of it, how it overcomes issues and turns from friendship into a full-fledged romance. These two characters are well explored, with their struggles and ambitions being acknowledged and the melancholic and beautiful piano music contributes effectively to the sometimes uplifting and sometimes poignant atmosphere.

Although the plot is interesting, some viewers might find that the slow pace makes it a bit hard to follow the story with enthusiasm.

Both Seu and Coughlan bring life into their characters thanks to strong performances. Eva is a cheerful and optimistic person, eager to pursue her goals and enjoy life. Edward is a struggling musician who perhaps lacks self-esteem. As a supporting character, Marie is a character who acts as a threat to the relationship between Eva and Edward.

Obviously romance is a main theme here and the story also explores friendship, honesty, support and infidelity. Furthermore, elements involving finding direction in life, pursuing dreams and desiring happiness are also significantly present.

A film that examines the beginning and unstable development of a romance. It is a commentary about challenges that can affect a relationship and joys that emerge through finding someone special. As mentioned, the story moves slowly, however it succeeds in delivering an emotional and thoughtful viewing.