Watching À la joie is like getting a postcard from the 2020 pandemic. We all remember what it was like social distancing and the uncertainty of the changing world around us. Although the stay-at-home orders felt like being under house arrest, many of us could still tell a few interesting stories about this period.
Paris, France: Véra is staying at a friend's apartment and crosses paths by chance with a new neighbour, Sam. What starts as a friendly interaction blossoms into an intimate and passionate affair. À la joie plays to the most romantic scenario of lovers-to-be being cut off from the outside world. There's a lot of laughs, fun, and love-making along the way as they get to know each other.
Although À la joie is a TV production, it's never noticeable in a negative way. The (mostly) one-location and two-character narrative actually works in its favor as our two protagonists navigate the most wonderous part of a relationship, the getting-to-know-you part. Véra and Sam work together well and make their interactions believable and a joy to watch; even when they're getting on each other's nerves or having an outright bust-up, it all feels organic and true to life. There's even one major gag moment that I can't even describe here without getting red-flagged.
Despite a rather curious choice for the ending, À la Joie is a beautifully romantic and intimate film. Highly recommended.
