Art of Love (film)

Art of Love (formerly titled Simone) is a 2022 Puerto Rican romantic thriller film directed by Betty Kaplan and starring Esai Morales and Kunjue Li. It is based on the 2013 novel Simone by Eduardo Lalo, who co-wrote the screenplay with Kaplan.

Plot summary
With thoughts voiced by a narrator, a university professor gives a passionate lecture to students. An Asian-looking studet watches intently. The professor receives a note delivered by a person on a skateboard. Then he is at a mall. Julia looks at engagement rings at a shopping mall. The professor drives Julia and her son, Javier, afterwards. He tells Julia about a note that was delivered to him by a person on a skateboard and she gets annoyed, and they argue. They arrive at home and he carries the boy to bed. Julia undresses and seduces him after saying "too bad (her son) isn't yours".

The professor sees a message written on the pavement that says something to the effect of 'the greatest form of love is paying attention to another human'. As the messages in the form of notes continue, the professor attempts to learn the identity of the sender. He speaks to a French bookshop owner at her shop, and learns the person courting him is Simone Weil. At a Chinese restaurant, where she works as a waitress, is the professor. He eats and has a book titled "Simone Weil" (which is the name of the person who has been courting him). Finally, a message on his landline from Simone, introducing herself brings him joyous expectation for the date she sets for them to meet. They meet, and Simone tells him she is a lesbian.

He talks on the telephone, and angrily reacts to a rejection from a publisher, while his all-female staff cheer him on.

The narrator says Simone and the professor are in love. Simone and the professor photograph the place of her employment and plaster posters on its outside walls to promote her work. The professor is happy. Simone introduces the professor to her uncle and another family member. The uncle speaks angrily in Chinese and leaves the room but Simone does not translate. But later Simone rejects him when he asks if she is every going to let him make love to her completely she says she can not explain, then leaves him a message saying she can not see him anymore.

On a rainy night, the professor finds Julia sitting on the cement pavement, brings her to his house and showers her. On the couch, Julia opens her legs suggestively.

Simone tells the professor her uncle raped her many times when she was a child, that she got pregnant and had an abortion.

Simone's name is Liu. The professor meets her x-lover, a woman and he writes his feelings of woe about his situation. Liu shows at his house desperately yelling "writer, writer, writer" and he refuses to open the door. Liu pens him a note and leaves.

Cast

 * Esai Morales as Professor/Writer
 * Kunjue Li as Li Chao
 * Caterina Murino as Carmen Lindo
 * Jim Lau as Wen Da/Old Bald Chinese
 * Bruno Irizarry as Máximo Noreña
 * Braulio Castillo Jr. as Dean Pedro Benitez
 * Zorie Fonalledas as Julia
 * Elí Cay as Garcia Pardo
 * Melanie Ramos as Lina/Skate Board Girl
 * Aris Mejias as Glenda

Production
Between March and June 2020, filming was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Release
In June 2022, it was announced that Samuel Goldwyn Films acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film, which was released in theaters and on digital platforms on July 22, 2022.

Reception
Concepción de León of The New York Times gave the film a negative review and wrote, "And the film reinforces the fiction that it is often younger women who seduce older men and not the other way around. The writing, which leaves much to be desired, underscores these issues."