The Broken Hearts Gallery
Ratings: 3/5
Duration: 01 Hr 48 Mins
Director: Natalie Krinsky
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Release Date: 11th September 2020 (USA)
Star Cast: Geraldine Viswanathan, Dacre Montgomery, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Molly Gordon, Phillipa Soo, Suki Waterhouse, Sheila McCarthy, Bernadette Peters, Nathan Dales,Ego Nwodim,Megan Ferguson, Nikki Duval, Emma Hunter, Taylor Hill, Randy Choi, Tattiawna Jones, Arturo Castro, Tricia Black, Ray Kahnert, Elon Gold, Raymond Ablack, Nicholas Carella, Trent Pardy, Bernard Kay, Jack Newman, Mel White, Stephanie Ng Wan, Melanie Leishman, Celeste Bruno, Izaak Smith, Chris Sandiford, Jacki Glick, Bradley Hamilton, Okiki Kendall, Jake Larton
Plot: The Broken Hearts Gallery follows the story of Lucy (Geraldine Viswanathan), who lives in New York City. A 20-something-year-old art gallery assistant of famed curator Eva (Bernadette Peters).
It is when Lucy’s colleague/boyfriend Max (Utkarsh Ambudkar) leaves her for an ex, she makes a drunken fool of herself at a work event, and gets fired from her job.
Lucy also happens to be a memento keeper - like, those little proofs of the love, you once had; a love letter, a dried flower and so on. Hence, by combining her breakup with her unemployment, she gets inspired to open ‘The Broken Heart Gallery.’ A pop-up space for the items, love has left behind. So the story basically revolves around the idea, that it can be hard to let go, when a relationship ends.
Review: The film Broken Hearts Gallery is written and directed by Natalie Krinsky, who previously wrote for the TV series Gossip Girl.
The plot of the film adheres pretty firmly to the age-old rom-com formula. And is based around the simple concept that when we fall in love, we want to have some sort of keepsake, that reminds us of that person, and why we fell in love. But for Lucy, she holds onto everything, which we learn is only holding her back. ‘The Broken Hearts Gallery’ is about letting go, and accepting the loss is what gives the film an additional resonance.
Natalie Krinsky has managed well in creating a film that pokes fun at how silly people behave, after a relationship comes to an end. It also showcases how relationships can impact and change our lives. Though the idea of letting go of previous relationships is not a new topic, The Broken Hearts Gallery, is breezy enough.
Moreover, on top of showing off her writing and directing skills, Natalie Krinsky has put together the perfect cast to bring her irresistible love story to life. Which is definitely one of the most important aspects of any rom-com!
When it comes to performances, Geraldine Viswanathan is the movie's biggest asset. She is nothing short of brilliant, and is effortlessly funny and charming. This year has put her on the map in a big way, combined with her dramatic turn in the recent HBO film Bad Education.
Additionally, all the supporting cast manages to bring something unique to the table and makes each of their characters stand out. For instance, Molly Gordon as Amanda and Phillipa Soo as Nadine are hilarious, as Lucy’s best friends. Their personalities are all so different from one another, yet their friendship works, because it seems so natural.
Even Dacre Montgomery as Nick, brings such authenticity through his performance. He played the role of a charming hotel owner, who Lucy mistakenly assumed as her LYFT driver. And Nick being the nice guy, drives her home, while listening to her vent, on the day of her breakup. The chemistry that develops between them has been depicted perfectly. In short, Lucy and Nick sparks each other.
As far as the technical aspects of the film is concerned, the screenplay is filled with witty one liners and perceptive dialogues. However, the film has some awkward edits, and some jumps that suggest things are missing.
Overall, The Broken Hearts Gallery is a feel-good rom-com that offers a fun and entertaining journey, through a broken relationship and the beginning of a flourishing love story.
It is as awkward and messy, as it is breezy and spirited. Definitely, a Feel-Good Rom-Com, that would make for a perfect movie night at home. The Broken Hearts Gallery is certainly worth a watch.
