“The Book of Love” is a heartwarming film about a man building a raft to sail across the ocean. When he meets a young homeless girl, they work together to complete the raft and fulfill their dreams. Along the way, they encounter challenges and learn valuable lessons about life and love. This movie is a tender and whimsical journey that will capture your heart.
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Review
The Book of Love: A Story of Grief, Hope, and Connection
There’s a saying that love is a book with many chapters, and sometimes we don’t know how the story ends until we reach the last page. The Book of Love, a 2016 independent film directed by Bill Purple and produced by Jessica Biel (who also stars in it), explores this metaphor through the eyes of two grieving souls who embark on a mission to build a raft in honor of someone who has died. What starts as a quirky and bittersweet adventure becomes a transformative journey of healing, friendship, and discovery.
The movie opens with an animated sequence that sets the tone for the whimsical yet poignant tone of the story. A cartoonish bird hops around various scenes that depict the main character, Henry (Jason Sudeikis), an architect who is mourning the loss of his pregnant wife, Penny (Biel), who died in a car accident while trying to help a homeless girl. The bird acts as both a narrator and an imaginary friend for Henry, who is struggling to cope with his guilt, anger, and loneliness. We learn that Henry has been obsessed with designing a special kind of shelter that can withstand earthquakes and hurricanes without collapsing or leaking.
One day, while wandering near the river where Penny drowned, Henry sees Millie (Maisie Williams), a young girl who lives in a shabby hut on a nearby island. Millie is tough but vulnerable, smart but uneducated, and fiercely independent but desperately lonely. She lost her parents when she was young and has been surviving on her own ever since. When Henry tries to befriend her, she resists at first but eventually warms up to him when she realizes that he is not some intrusive opportunist but genuinely wants to help her.
Henry tells Millie about his plan to build a raft using Penny’s blueprints as the base, which would fulfill a promise he made to her before she died. He believes that the raft would be a symbol of hope, redemption, and love that could benefit not only himself but also others who are struggling with loss or displacement. Millie agrees to help Henry gather the materials for the raft, which involves scavenging junkyards and construction sites, stealing from stores and garages, and dodging security guards and police officers.
As they work on the raft together, Henry and Millie bond over their shared sense of isolation and longing for connection. They teach each other new skills (Henry teaches Millie how to read and use tools; Millie teaches Henry how to fish and navigate), share memories of their loved ones (Henry shows Millie pictures of Penny; Millie shares stories about her parents), and confront their fears (Henry faces his trauma of watching Penny die in front of him; Millie faces her fear of water). They also meet some quirky characters along the way, such as a homeless man who smokes pot on a toilet bowl, a fisherman who offers them advice on fishing but doesn’t catch anything himself, and a group of mischievous kids who steal their tools but return them later with apologies.
The Book of Love has a simple yet effective plot that balances humor with heartache. The script by Robbie Pickering (who wrote Natural Selection) avoids cliches and sentimentality by giving each character enough depth and nuance to avoid being stereotypes or caricatures. The dialogue is witty but not overly polished or snarky, which makes it more relatable. The pacing is slow but steady, which gives us time to digest the emotional impact of each scene without feeling bored or impatient.
The acting in The Book of Love is superb across the board. Sudeikis delivers an understated performance that conveys both his character’s charm and his grief without resorting to melodrama or narcissism. Biel, who also produced the film, shows a range of vulnerability and strength that demonstrates her versatility as an actress. Williams, best known for her role as Arya Stark in Game of Thrones, shines as Millie, a complex character who is both endearing and infuriating at times. The chemistry between the three actors is palpable and authentic, which makes us care about their fates and root for their success.
The cinematography by James Mather (who shot Harry Brown) captures the beauty and grittiness of New Orleans and its surroundings, from the swampy bayous to the rusty scrapyards to the shimmering riverbanks. The use of natural light and handheld cameras gives the movie a sense of spontaneity and realism that adds to its charm. The score by Justin Timberlake (who also stars in a minor role as a friend of Henry’s) combines folk-pop melodies with orchestral arrangements that complement the mood of each scene without overwhelming it.
The Book of Love premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2016 and received mixed reviews from critics, some of whom praised its heartwarming story and performances while others criticized its predictability and cliches. It was later released in theaters in January 2017 but had limited exposure due to lack of marketing and distribution. However, it has gained a cult following among fans who appreciate its indie spirit, quirky humor, and emotional resonance.
The Book of Love is not a perfect movie, but it’s a memorable one that reminds us that love can take many forms beyond romantic or familial ties. It can be found in unexpected places like friendship, kindness, creativity, or even loss. It can inspire us to build things that endure or cultivate things that grow. It can connect us to our past or guide us to our future. It can remind us that life is a book with many chapters, some sad but some beautiful, and that we can create our own story by turning each page with courage and hope. As the bird says at the end of the movie, “Love is not a feeling. Love is an action. It’s what we do for others.”
Technical Data
- Runtime : 107
- Release : 2017-01-13
- Genre : Drama
- Cast : Jason Sudeikis as Henry Herschel, Maisie Williams as Millie Pearlman, Jessica Biel as Penny Herschel, Mary Steenburgen as Julia Mureaux, Orlando Jones as Cornelius ‘Dumbass’ Thibadeaux
- Crew : Justin Timberlake as Original Music Composer, Kevin Connolly as Executive Producer, Jessica Biel as Producer, Sue Chan as Production Design, J. Michael Muro as Director of Photography
- Popularity 11.095
- Budget : 0
- Revenue : 0
- Company : Nine Nights, Darwin Collective, The, Iron Ocean Films
- Summary : After tragedy strikes Henry and Penny, he befriends a tenacious young girl and discovers she is constructing a raft to sail across the Atlantic to find her lost father. Together, along with some unlikely friends, they set forth to construct the vessel and subsequently rebuild their lives.
- Tagline : How far would you go for a lost love?
