VENICE/VENICE

In VENICE/VENICE, a film about love, romance and the movies, Henry Jaglom plays a maverick American filmmaker, Dean, who is presenting his latest film at the Venice Italy Film Festival. Dean meets and romances Jeanne, a French journalist. The film follows their relationship as Dean returns to his home in Venice, California. Jaglom attempts to demonstrate that life is not a movie, and love is not an illusion. Dean and Jeanne’s relationship develops quickly. Jeanne believes she knows Dean because she knows his movies; however, she begins to see that Dean’s movies are not necessarily representative of his philosophy. He holds himself out to be a maverick, but his actions show him to be a Hollywood “insider”.

In this almost documentary-style film, Jaglom does a good job in demonstrating that life is not a movie and movies are not life. The insertion throughout the movie of interviews with women about their thoughts on love, romance and relationships is quite effective. VENICE/VENICE’s message is a positive, albeit elementary one. However, Jaglom does not present the biblical view of love and marriage. Those who understand his message probably would do better watching something else.