Director: Cato Kusters
Writers: Cato Kusters, Angelo Tijssens
Stars: Nina Meurisse, Laurence Roothooft, Rosalia Cuevas
Synopsis: Fleur and Julian fall madly in love and decide to get married in all countries where they, as two women, are allowed to do so. After only four marriages, their journey comes to a painful and unexpected halt.
It has only been 25 years since the first nation, the Netherlands, legalized same sex marriage. In the United States, federal recognition, not just individual state recognition, has only existed for 11 years. Since the year 2001, of the 195 recognized nations of the world, 38 recognize legal protections for same sex marriage. It’s heart breaking to know that the majority of the world views the commitment of two people as a political or heretical act more than a human and philosophical right. It’s heart breaking to see that, in spite of their efforts, Fleur (Nina Meurisse) and Julian (Laurence Roothooft) never got to realize their goal of fully raising awareness of marriage equality by getting married in each country that would allow them to do so.
The film, Julian, is based on the book of the same name, written by Fleur Pierets. While the book is about the endeavor of a real project, the film never feels more like a civil rights drama than a love story. For drama’s sake there are mentions and moments of the news and progress of the project, but the story of Julian and Fleur is the most important piece and it shows throughout. This is thanks to the script by director Cato Kusters and Angelo Tijssens, which leaves room for deep breaths and long drinks of a happy couple.
We feel the love of these two in the pauses and in the quiet moments. Some of the best filmed scenes have little to no dialogue at all. Kusters, along with cinematographer Michel Rosendaal, find beautiful moments of light and shadow to linger on our couple. So much of the film is in close up or in a cozy hug of nearness. It feels like we’re being held and like we’re searching our lover’s face and finding nothing, but yearning and joy in it. It’s a beautifully shot film that drives right to our hearts.
In a quiet, but impactful scene, we have our couple at the waterfront in New York City. They’re there for wedding number three and it’s a bit of a logistical nightmare. Fleur, the workaholic, is formulating, tabulating, and ruminating on all that has to be done. Julian, the romantic, gets Fleur to see that work can wait because they are together in a beautiful city and they’re allowed to enjoy it. The two of them stand at a railing, Fleur in front, Julian behind. The light of the sunset plays on their faces and Julian motions toward another couple and expounds on how much she hopes for a love like that. Fleur laughs at being compared to a duck. The camera lingers on them as they laugh and snuggle together.
Julian is a film that captures a relationship so beautifully and the way in which a relationship will play in our minds afterwards. This play on memory lends itself to non-linear storytelling. We begin with the first meeting and fast forward to preparations for Fleur’s solo lecture after Julian’s death. The film weaves us through memory and time not as a device that makes the story more interesting than if it were linear, but in a way of Fleur reckoning with her own understanding of her relationship with Julian. It helps us understand too that Fleur’s words to a dying Julian weren’t just lip service. She is honoring, remembering, and loving Julian, but in a way that makes logical sense to her, as her memories flood in like the clips from the camera they used to film parts of their life together.
Julian is heartbreaking at the same time as it is heart lifting. The project, even unfinished, is a testament to what these two women firmly believed in. Yet, it’s also so much about love, pure and simple. The deep affection and need is palpable in every second of this film. It doesn’t wallow or sit still, but it breathes with us, communes with our hearts, and keeps us in a daze of light and happiness even amongst the tears. Julian is a beautiful film in every way imaginable.
