Photo courtesy of citizenjanefilm.org

Review by Olivia Frame

Love and Other Anxieties will touch the hearts of anyone who believes that there is more to love than just fairy-tale endings. This compelling documentary gives the audience a look at love through the eyes of students, happily married couples and young adults who have no intention of committing. Hearing stories and opinions from all ages will open the audience’s eyes and impact anyone who has experienced love firsthand, doubted a relationship or contemplated settling down with someone.

The documentary begins with filmmaker Lyda Kuth explaining her anxiety about her only daughter, Lily, leaving for college for the first time. Happily married, Kuth can’t help but wonder how her 20-year-long marriage will be affected. As she learns to cope with her personal anxiety, Kuth interviews students and friends about their opinion on their love experiences and why they feel the way they do. The interviews range from a bride-to-be to a son of divorced parents who believes “love is just temperamental.”

Kuth begins the documentary with the intention of revealing people’s thoughts on love without involving her personal life. As the film continues, however, it’s apparent that her relationship is her true motivation of exploring love and people’s thoughts on it. Although the interviews Kuth completed were honest and heartwarming, the film lacked a storyline, and people with a jaded view on love might become bored. Love and Other Anxieties is slow at times, but it does a beautiful job of portraying the complexities of love, no matter what kind of relationship.

Vox rating: VVV

THE RATING SYSTEM

VVVVV = AWESOME! SEE IT TWICE
VVVV = DEFINITELY GO SEE IT
VVV = HMM… IT’S OKAY
VV = EH… DVD MAYBE?
V = DON’T BOTHER