VIFF: Love Translated

I wasthis documentary was a sell-out and played to a boisterous and highly-appreciative crowd. Not that mail-order brides and dating online aren’t fun topics, but I did kind of feel out of the loop. Director Julia Ivanova and producer Boris Ivanov were at the screening to tell us that, while they weren’t sure if we’d like their film or not, they could guarantee that we’d be entertained.

Love Translated follows an all-inclusive dating expedition to the Ukraine. The men involved are mostly American but there are a few from Europe and one unfortunate individual from BC. Most are in their forties or fifties, and most are divorced, some with kids. The company organizing their dating tour runs a massive website with tens of thousands of women registered online; they are either in their late teens or early twenties. 

There is a lot to the topic of online dating and sexual tourism but the filmmakers don’t really tackle these questions. This is a light piece, meant to be funny, to be a cautionary tale and to let us know that the motives of both the men and women might be suspect.  The men are looking for women untainted by Western feminism, but also for tall, leggy young blondes. The women claim that Ukrainian men don’t appreciate them and drink too much. Few relationships result, but the women do get free dinners. This is a gentle film (though incredibly uncomfortable to watch at times) and while it raises interesting questions, it could have run a lot further with the subject matter.

SCREENINGS:

  • Thu, Oct 14th 4:00pm Vancity Theatre
  • Mon, Oct 18, 8:45pm Vancity Theatre

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One of the MOB Documentary greats...

Having watched many documentaries about the Mail Order Bride industry (I find subject matter fascinating), I can honestly say this is one of the best. It does not candy coat the scam & unlike many of the other documentaries on the subject it doesn't force feed the film makers own opinion on the business. It simply follows the men on their "romantic journeys".
I have a question for these man: If you cannot find an interested, incredibly gorgeous, woman "girl" between 18 and 25 years old in America who's interested, what do you think would draw one from the FSU? These women are not stupid, and are not desperate for a man to take care of. A lot of them are, however, up for some spending money and a few expensive dinners. Any man who thinks that a beautiful Russian woman wants nothing more than to come to the US & turn into June Cleaver is out of his mind! The way these young women dress is not widely accepted in the US & once she leaves HER HOME might not be acceptable to you either. Also, don't assume the "womans culture" (whatever that means)
advertised by these marriage agencies to get your money, is accurate. Again, these people are running a business, not offering a public service for desperate American men. Right??

Cam4015 more than 11 years ago

Thank you for a very useful

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ian more than 12 years ago

There's no such thing as a

There's no such thing as a free dinner.

Sam more than 12 years ago