Love Actually (2003), directed by Richard Curtis, is an ode to the omnipresence of love and all its different shades. People often talk about the lack of logic and its saccharine and over-the-top style, but those are just minor blemishes in a film that makes you feel extremely warm and fuzzy. To me, Love Actually is the equivalent of a piping hot bowl of Maggi on a rainy day. You know there isn't anything novel about it, but it makes you feel better nevertheless.
Since my first tryst with this film, I have rewatched it countless times. Mark's (Andrew Lincoln) unrequited love for Juliet (Keira Knightley), who is married to his best friend Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor) shows itself through his silences and avoidance. While you realise he is being rude to Juliet, you also empathise with him.
The most cathartic story of the lot has got to be the one with Liam Neeson as Daniel. He is a widower who is grieving and trying to deal with his young stepson. The transformation of Daniel's character from cynical to hopeful and the charming tale of young love between his son Sam (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) and his crush Joanna is sure to leave one with a beaming smile. The story of Jamie (Colin Firth) and Aurelia (Lucia Moniz) is another one that hits hard through its silences. It shows how love transcends all languages. The scene where he finally confesses his love to Aurelia using his broken Portuguese is proof of the same.
Several romantic comedies have come and gone, but the inimitable charm of this film has always stayed with me. Love Actually comes to my rescue with its exquisite sense of humour, inexplicable warmth and Rowan Atkinson's cameo.