Movie Reviews

‘Language Lessons’ SXSW Online 2021 Review – A Hilarious And Deeply Moving Tale Of Unexpected Connection

By Dillon Gonzales
March 26, 2021
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Credit: Jeremy Mackie

No matter who you are, we are all just individuals trying to find a connection with another person. There can be many obstacles that crop up to prevent this from happening such as geography, differing life experiences and even language barriers. In the case of the deeply-moving and hilarious feature directorial debut from star and co-writer Natalie Morales (The Grinder, Battle of the Sexes), it is all three. Conceived as an idea by co-star and co-writer Mark Duplass (The League, Safety Not Guaranteed) before the pandemic hit, Language Lessons brings its quarantine-proof premise to life through Zoom calls in a way that manages to feel fresh and exciting after a solid year of video calls in our everyday lives. While a product of the COVID-era of filmmaking, the beauty of the story and the narrative necessity of the filmmaking techniques allows this one to be a celebration of human connection.

The first image is one that has become a common sight for many: a lone person patiently waiting in their solitary Zoom box as they absentmindedly fuss about with their appearance while waiting for their call to begin in earnest. The woman in question is Cariño (Morales), a Costa Rica-based Spanish teacher who has been hired to help Adam (Duplass) brush up on his Spanish skills. The only problem is that Adam has no idea about this arrangement, as it is a surprise from his husband Will (Desean Terry, only ever heard in the film). Awkwardness flows from both sides of the call as a typically very-structured Adam struggles to wrap his mind around the fact that this stranger is being beamed into his living room, a feeling that is only exacerbated when he hears that 100 lessons have been purchased. Adam eventually finds a way that he can feel comfortable fitting Cariño into his day, which is where the real work begins.

Adam is not a complete novice when it comes to Spanish. The language was one he knew well as a child, and he has long-desired to reconnect to that part of himself. He stumbles on the occasional vocabulary word and his grammar is more than a bit spotty, but his initial conversation with Cariño is an impressive feat of immersion into the language. The chemistry between Morales and Duplass is easy and emotionally fulfilling as the barrier between scripted conversation and improvisation melts away into a rapport that is wonderfully natural. The film initially feels as if it simply will be light comedy with the occasional culture clash; Adam is so wealthy that he finds it embarrassing, and the awkwardness he feels within himself occasionally translates to his interactions with Cariño. This dynamic is too basic for these two, though. The story of Adam and Cariño is a much more emotionally complex journey.

The next lesson finds Cariño coming face-to-face with a virtually catatonic Adam. He has experienced a personal tragedy that he has been unable to share with anyone up until this point, and now this relative stranger is part of his grieving process. Cariño could choose not to involve herself any further, but she is also no stranger to grief and tragedy has a way of bonding people. The act of developing a platonic friendship on screen is one that sadly is rarely depicted on screen, which is part of what makes this narrative feel so uplifting.

With each new lesson or message sent to one another, they rise a little more out of the darkness and reveal greater depth to each of them. Perhaps the greatest choice the film makes is in the fact that there is no underlying sexual tension dragging this story to a place that feels expected. Emotional vulnerability between two people is engrossing enough on its own without the need for romance. Their conversations can be very revealing and heartbreaking one moment and ridiculously silly the next. The important thing is that it always feels real.

What makes Language Lessons a vital film for these current times is its championing of the importance of connection. It can be very difficult to allow yourself to be vulnerable with another, but when you find the right person a friendship can be the most fulfilling thing in this world. Adam and Cariño in all likelihood never would have curated a deeper connection under normal circumstances, but the lesson that a true connection can come from the most unlikely of places is a beautiful sentiment. The film takes some intriguing turns throughout that mostly land from a narrative viewpoint. Even when a few moments feel slightly manufactured, the grace with which the material is handled by our two leads smooths over any slight missteps. Few films have had the dexterity to be equal parts laugh-out-loud hilarious and emotionally devastating in the way Language Lessons has accomplished. With everything it has going for it, you should consider it a can’t-miss.

Language Lessons had its North American Premiere in the Narrative Spotlight section of SXSW Online 2021.

Director: Natalie Morales

Writer: Mark Duplass and Natalie Morales

Rated: NR

Runtime: 91m

Rating: 4 out of 5