In the Name of Love

The booming Russian mail-order bride industry is summed up in a representative sampling of asymmetrical romances in this ironically titled 2003 documentary that spins a few stories of relative happiness, observes a lot of awkwardness, and avoids any mention of relationships gone wrong. Director Shannon O'Rourke interviews dating-agency gurus (one seemingly honorable, the other a vulgar, cigar-puffing pig who might as well be a pimp) and follows a handful of conspicuously attractive young Russian women through various stages of uncomfortable courting by lonely, middle-aged American suitors. The film captures the hesitation, perseverance, and sometimes-broken pride of these women--many of whom are single moms--as one tries to talk herself into love (she lives with two kids and her mother in a two-room apartment), one marries quickly and moves to Las Vegas, one takes herself off the market (she has a promising career and refuses to sell herself short), and another is several years into a comfortable (if not passionate) marriage, with three kids and a supportive husband who has a sense of humor about the nature of their relationship. In the Name of Love may be an eye-opener for many viewers, but the fact that it doesn't address any of the potentially serious pitfalls of its subject matter (like homesickness, regret, chauvinism, or abuse) leaves it feeling somewhat unfinished. A strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (R. Blackwelder)