Title: Bliss
MPAA Rating: Not Yet Rated
Director: Henrika Kull
Starring: Katherina Behrens, Eva Collé
Runtime: 1 hr 31 mins

What It Is: Sacha (Behrens) is a woman who settled into her life as a sex worker at a brothel, maintaining a positive environment with her clients and coworkers while drinking frequently whilst out on her own. When she and the new girl, the spritely and charismatic Maria (Collé), take notice of each other to find chemistry, they pursue a passionate romance. Due to their seemingly very different backgrounds and moments of insecurity, their newfound relationship stands to be tested.

What We Think: While it’s difficult not to stray from comparing this film with others in the romantic LBGTQIA+ genre in what it lacks and its clichés, I’ll keep it short as its strengths prove far more rewarding. It’s a naturalistic film in how its characters are portrayed and how it is filmed, with a little soundtrack added, most of it rooted in the diegesis. The cinematography is pretty and moody, emphasizing scenes of love with real or simulated sunshine. Best of all, the actresses with their bright smiles and intelligent performances enhance the remarkability and range of their characters by seemingly pulling from their own personalities in a mumble-core sort of fashion, making them feel very real and all the more memorable.

While the characters stand to be fascinating, unfortunately, it seems the pacing, or rather the focus of the story lingers too much on repetitive scenes of the women making love rather than lending us more sights and scenes to see of them together. Though on the other hand it also invokes Weekend with its romantic sense of urgency and wraps itself up nicely with an affirming resolution. Its story isn’t far more interesting past the payoff, but one can definitely appreciate its sense of simplicity and space in how its characters perceive themselves through each other.

Our Grade: B-, A warm, realistic, and saccharine romance in the face of contemporary loving and the suggestion of taking responsibility for one’s emotional standards, Bliss builds a believable new love story also about self-sustainability atop a strong cast, but could stand to rope in more variety when it comes to its scenes and storytelling.