Not since Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise have we seen a film like this. Jonathan Taïeb’s film Alterlove follows Kim Higelin and Victor Poirier as Elle and Lui, two twenty-somethings who happen to meet in a bistro one night and roam the streets of Paris all night. For the next ninety minutes, we follow them on this fateful night, and we never feel forced into feeling like they’re in a “will they or won’t they" scenario, or there is never any notion of hyper romantic moments that take over the scene for the better part of the film. For the most part, this is a young man and a woman meeting one another, and trying to navigate each other’s complexities and anxieties about life. Thus, challenging the meaning of what love actually is.
Throughout Alterlove’s opening credits, we find ourselves in what may or may not have been an unplanned sequence: two ducks with opposite color patterns on them both get out and walk side by side on the sidewalk. This sets the tone and the journey of Elle and Lui as the film progresses. We meet Elle on a date that we can tell is going south from the start. Despite some pleasant gestures between her and the man, she is left alone at the table. From there, she spills some wine on her shirt, which piques Lui's interest, who also has wine spilled on his shirt.
From there, the pair wanders the streets of Paris, but never really goes to the romantic areas of the beloved city. Rather than that, Elle and Lui roam down the back roads of the city at night. Some of which have hardly anyone else on them but them. The pair peel back layers of one another's personalities and put their views of the world on the other, until they reach a moment alone at Lui’s home, where some tears are shed.
Alterlove feels like a French New Wave film from the 1960s, but with modern problems that many singles in the world of young love seem to face. The movie mentions dating apps and “swiping right,” all the while signaling to the audience that it's still telling a tale as old as time. Boy meets girl, boy is definitely into girl, girl shows boy his vulnerability, boy reciprocates, and the two eventually decide if this one night needs to be anything more than what it is. Recommended.
Why does this film about two lovers in Paris belong in public and academic library collections?
Alterlove does have a lot to say about the real version of a love story, even if it is a brief one. It subverts the traditional tale of two people falling for one another in romance novels and films with a story of two people meeting for a brief moment, potentially showing signs of a love story, but then parting ways. The film is also an exploration of true communication between people with good chemistry. Those we lust after give us instant, euphoric gratification. However, once in a while, we meet someone who shows us the longevity we could have with that person, based on our comfort level with one another. Alterlove perfectly nails that interaction, even if it is just for one night.
Is this French romantic drama a good fit for community or campus screenings?
Yes. Alterlove is a natural choice for community and campus screenings that highlight international cinema, modern romance, or character-driven storytelling. Its intimate pacing and naturalistic dialogue invite audiences to slow down and engage with the film’s emotional realism rather than traditional Hollywood plot beats. For community programs, it fits beautifully within foreign-language or “Art House Nights” film series, encouraging reflection on the universality of human connection and the bittersweet beauty of fleeting relationships.
Enjoyed this review? Subscribe to Video Librarian today for access to over 40,000 pages of film resources tailored for librarians, educators, and non-theatrical audiences.