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The Nature of Love

Original title: Simple comme Sylvain
  • 2023
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
3.2K
YOUR RATING
Magalie Lépine Blondeau and Pierre-Yves Cardinal in The Nature of Love (2023)
Watch THE NATURE OF LOVE - Official U.S. Trailer
Play trailer2:22
3 Videos
24 Photos
Romantic ComedyComedyDramaRomance

Sophia's life is turned upside down when she meets Sylvain. She comes from a wealthy family, while Sylvain comes from a family of manual workers. Sophia questions her own values after abando... Read allSophia's life is turned upside down when she meets Sylvain. She comes from a wealthy family, while Sylvain comes from a family of manual workers. Sophia questions her own values after abandoning herself to her great romantic impulses.Sophia's life is turned upside down when she meets Sylvain. She comes from a wealthy family, while Sylvain comes from a family of manual workers. Sophia questions her own values after abandoning herself to her great romantic impulses.

  • Director
    • Monia Chokri
  • Writer
    • Monia Chokri
  • Stars
    • Magalie Lépine Blondeau
    • Pierre-Yves Cardinal
    • Francis-William Rhéaume
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    3.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Monia Chokri
    • Writer
      • Monia Chokri
    • Stars
      • Magalie Lépine Blondeau
      • Pierre-Yves Cardinal
      • Francis-William Rhéaume
    • 13User reviews
    • 48Critic reviews
    • 80Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins & 22 nominations total

    Videos3

    Official Teaser
    Trailer 0:31
    Official Teaser
    SIMPLE COMME SYLVAIN - THE NATURE OF LOVE - Trailer
    Trailer 1:45
    SIMPLE COMME SYLVAIN - THE NATURE OF LOVE - Trailer
    SIMPLE COMME SYLVAIN - THE NATURE OF LOVE - Trailer
    Trailer 1:45
    SIMPLE COMME SYLVAIN - THE NATURE OF LOVE - Trailer
    THE NATURE OF LOVE - Official U.S. Trailer
    Trailer 2:22
    THE NATURE OF LOVE - Official U.S. Trailer

    Photos23

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    Top cast42

    Edit
    Magalie Lépine Blondeau
    Magalie Lépine Blondeau
    • Sophia
    Pierre-Yves Cardinal
    Pierre-Yves Cardinal
    • Sylvain Tanguay
    Francis-William Rhéaume
    Francis-William Rhéaume
    • Xavier
    Monia Chokri
    Monia Chokri
    • Françoise
    Steve Laplante
    Steve Laplante
    • Philippe
    Marie-Ginette Guay
    Marie-Ginette Guay
    • Sylvie
    Micheline Lanctôt
    Micheline Lanctôt
    • Madeleine
    Guillaume Laurin
    Guillaume Laurin
    • Olivier
    Linda Sorgini
    Linda Sorgini
    • Guylaine Tanguay
    Mathieu Baron
    Mathieu Baron
    • Kevin Tanguay
    Christine Beaulieu
    Christine Beaulieu
    • Karine Tanguay
    Lubna Playoust
    Lubna Playoust
    • Joséphine
    Johanna Toretto
    • Vanessa
    Jordan Arseneault
    • Drew
    Guy Thauvette
    Guy Thauvette
    • Pierre
    Eve Aubert
    Eve Aubert
    • Serveuse bar
    Lila Sofia Houle
    • Carolane
    Zack Charbonneau
    • Jayden
    • Director
      • Monia Chokri
    • Writer
      • Monia Chokri
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews13

    6.83.2K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    10alexduhamel94

    Quebec masterpiece

    Wow. I enjoyed every second of the movie. Gorgeous cinematography, amazing acting & chemistry, original, touching, funny, beautiful.

    Since I'm originally from Montreal (Quebec), I deeply felt a connection with the way the movie was approached. It felt so familiar to me and every character was someone I know in my daily life. I was so connected to the story and the atmosphere.

    The subjects of the movie like social classes and feminine sexuality are also rarely shown in a movie the way it was shown in this. It was not pretentious at all, it was just meant to exist on the big screen. The shots were so original and creative....

    I am also shocked to learn that this movie is not the one representing the Canada at the Oscars 2024.....shocking!

    The last time I was mindblown with a French Canadian movie was when Mommy by Xavier Dolan came out.

    I highly recommend!
    3peneda

    Wrongly rated! This is in fact an erotic movie.

    Wrongly rated! This is in fact an erotic movie.

    Please be aware if you accidentally go see this movie with your son/daughter.

    I didn't understand why it is considered "Comedy". In the scenes where they try to do it, it is absolutely awkward! (in a really bad way)

    Besides that, is sex, sex, rough sex, and more sex.

    Don't get me wrong - I love sex, but I don't like to be tricked... If I want to see an erotic movie, I search for one and see it.

    Sometimes resembling like a bad version of Emmanuelle, with a poor plot, this was one of the worst movies I've seen for a long time...

    Story very "forgettable", turning this movie a real waste of time.
    8philwmovies

    Morally gray love story

    Romance in movies can be stale, like bread left overnight. In this current age, there needs to be more appetite for experimentation in the genre. Instead, preferences range from relying on the tried and true to the outright cliché. Fortunately, in The Nature of Love, the film finds a clever way to examine the formula but does more than reshuffle the material. There is an outright examination of love as a messy, kinetic, and deeply passionate event. This romance story plays fast and loose with the comedy, imbuing a sense of drama and even out-of-the-box thinking regarding the cinematography. In addition to being anchored by two leads with simmering chemistry, The Nature of Love is a poignant story going beyond the usual story beats of a girl meets boy into a study on values, love, and life.
    7CinemaSerf

    The Nature of Love

    "Sophia" (Magalie Lépine Blondeau) is contentedly married to "Xavier" (Francis-William Rhéaume) - though they sleep in separate rooms, and is quite nervous about meeting the renovator of their newly acquired waterside chalet. Those nerves seem wholly justified when her arrival introduces her to the lively "Sylvain" (Pierre-Yves Cardinal) who tells her that the place is in riddled with carpenter beetles and is in need of tons of expensive modernisation! She's understandably upset and her tears have quite an effect on the man. Soon they are having a beer and, well you can guess the rest... It isn't just an one night stand, though - they can't stop thinking about each other and this doesn't bode well for her marriage. Their friendship, though loving, now throws up some difficulties. She's from a wealthy family and he's a man who works with his hands. Her family - especially her rather obnoxious brother "Olivier" (Guillaume Laurin) rather look down on the man but his mother "Guylaine" (Linda Sorgini) who has a penchant for rather ropey vin rosé and his family do take to her more readily. Can the two manage to make their own affections prevail against an accumulating series of challenges? There's an engaging chemistry between the two as we see their romance build, falter, thrive - is it real love or just an infatuation with both seeking that which they can never have? I'll be honest, the ending rather crept up on me - it wasn't what I wanted and certainly not what I expected, but it's effective nonetheless as auteur Monia Chokri throws down a bit of a gauntlet to impulse, lust and both a psychological and visceral sense of longing. Do we seek love, and would we know it if we found it or does it seek us so it can plays games with us? The story can seem a little contrived at times and it does play to stereotype now and again too, but it's still quite an impassioned watch with two solid efforts at the helm.
    arthouse59

    Intellectuals? Seriously?

    In order for a film like this to work, one must try to convincingly portray academia and intelligence. These were just vapid, incredibly pretenious characters. It's so unbelievably and unconvincingly far from what I imagine to be the filmmakers objective, it's sadly laughable.

    Maybe when trying to construct a narrative that works, incorporate some research into actual intelligence. Of course it helps if you have some on hand yourself if attempting such narrative. None to be found. Imposters at best, not even achieving that, at worst.

    Even the love story fails miserable, no chemistry, no storyline and quite unconvincing from the start.

    Who would care for even a second about this narcissistic losers? Really poor filmmaking. The French do it again. So few noteworthy films.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      After tackling the relationship between a brother and a sister in A Brother's Love (2019), Monia Chokri wanted her next movie to explore love with two people with real chemistry but coming from very different backgrounds, because according to her, in a relationship, at some point, what happens outside of the relationship (friends, work, family, neighbors) takes precedence over the actual relationship. She ended up making Babysitter (2022) (which she didn't write) before finishing writing and then directing The Nature of Love (2023).
    • Quotes

      Sylvain Tanguay: Why are you fighting what you are?

    • Connections
      Features Prest-O Change-O (1939)
    • Soundtracks
      Sensation
      Poem by Arthur Rimbaud

      Music by Robert Charlebois and Luc Morin

      Sung by Robert Charlebois

      (1969)

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    FAQ16

    • How long is The Nature of Love?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 22, 2023 (Canada)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • France
    • Language
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Кохання без заморочок
    • Filming locations
      • Montreal, Quebec, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Metafilms
      • MK Films
      • Fonds Quebecor
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $24,400
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,304
      • Jul 7, 2024
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,420,472
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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