The road to nowhere “No wind will be favorable if you do not know where to go,” said the Roman philosopher Seneca, and his saying perfectly reflects the essence of the film “Love and fresh water”. The main character Julie has everything to succeed; youth, beauty, education, protection for a good job. But the girl, because of her youth and rebellious disposition, does not want stability and measuredness. She experiments in work, sex and hobbies, which is quite natural for the beginning of adulthood, but she does not notice how she turns to a slippery path that threatens her future.
The picture of Isabel Chaika with the inherent subtlety of style in European cinema demonstrates the dilemma that arises for many young people: to find a good job and start a family, becoming a typically positive member of society, or to rush through life for your pleasure, not having big plans, just getting high from each day lived. And every aspect of choice is a double-edged sword. Working in a reputable company is good? Sure! But if for the sake of stability and favorability of the superiors you have to walk with the children of the director, perform not your tasks and often be just errands? It's not as cool as it looks. Constantly serious relationships are good? Great, from a moral and ethical point of view! But when you're young, you want to go out and have fun without being burdened with responsibility, and is that so bad? In fact, there is nothing terrible about changing jobs and partners when there is a definite purpose, clear principles and self-determination. But when there are no aspirations, no desires to achieve something, no understanding – how to live, then the road to nowhere is inevitable. And “nowhere” is not an abstract concept; it is a clear sad ending in the form of prison, illness or death.
In fact, “Love and Fresh Water” is not a film about choosing a life path, but about a catastrophic walk to the edge of the abyss. Yes, the heroine is not lucky with her work and colleagues, but Julie herself is not really trying to deal with circumstances. It is always easier to leave than to stay, it is always more convenient to blame the problems of others rather than yourself, and in the end, spat on self-respect, make money by spreading your legs. Let the heroine not be ready to have a serious relationship, but to rush into the arms of a charming, but clearly unclean guy is the height of recklessness. And of course, it is foolish to romanticize the criminal nature of the “bad boy” believing that he is so cool, smart and cool that he will not be caught or shot. Therefore, the main character becomes increasingly difficult to sympathize with, as she commits clearly bad and stupid acts, carelessly veiled by the classic form of self-deception - "such a coincidence ...". And the film is not a manifesto of cheerful and carefree youth, but a requiem for the future of many young people who make irreparable mistakes at the very beginning of their independent path.
With obvious artistic merits in the form of good directing and acting, Love and Fresh Water does not leave a strong impression. In the central heroine you are simply disappointed, and you do not take the rainbow ending for granted, but the film itself as an uncomplicated moral and warning story about how not to behave. The content is too superficial and the real semantic load is minimal. From visual bonuses - repeatedly exposed rising "star" Anais Demoustier, and otherwise the melancholy conversational drama is no higher than average.
6 out of 10