“This is the story of two places at opposite ends of the world…”
Providing a unique look at both relationships and research, co-directors Janus Metz and Sine Plambech analyze and dissect how one woman’s unexpected journey paves a similar way for others in their new collaboration Heartbound.
Shining a broad beam of light on the small fishing community in the Thy region of Denmark, real-life husband and wife directing team Metz and Plambech devote ten years and thousands of miles of travel to tell the story of Sommai, a former sex worker from Pattaya, Thailand who met and married a Danish man while working. However, the story doesn’t end with her. Instead, it trickles down as over the past twenty-five years Sommai has helped many women do the same thing, immigrating them from their impoverished lives in her home village and connecting them with lonely men who long for personal connection.
Heartbound follows four of these couples, tearing back the veil and offering up a glimpse of love, romance, and connection that many will be unable to identify with. However, for those that stick around long enough, a lesson is here to learn.
The film starts off with an immense amount of information, but I applaud that neither the director or the film’s primary subjects ever acknowledge that the path these women are taking to find love is highly unorthodox for modern western civilizations. Never is a question asked regarding morality or the intent behind each party. Moreover, though each of their stories seems straightforward, at least on the surface level, as the film progresses and you begin to better understand the lives of our four couples, the lines defining their love become unapologetically blurred. As a result, you find yourself reconsidering your initial thoughts.
When a seven-year jump is inserted during the latter half of the film, the personalities of our key subjects begin to shine through as each appears to be more comfortable in their roles within both the film and his or her everyday lives. Gone are the innocent, shy smiles, the hesitant responses, and the uncertainty; replaced by that of confidence, understanding, and acceptance.
When the unexpected third act begins to take shape, and the unimaginable occurs, it hits you hard. The emotions are not necessarily a direct result of the connection we've formed with our subjects, but rather the effect of shock. The event allows the film to leave a more significant impact than we would have felt otherwise, a saving grace for those behind the camera.
Heartbound, in all its anthropology-centered truth, is not so much a great film as it is a fantastic subject. The editing is unusually harsh, the characters a bit flat, and the trajectory up until the last ten minutes offers little excitement. Like most documentaries, you’ll be able to find a solid takeaway if you choose. Sadly, in this day and age, when it comes to love, people tend to be less receptive to views outside of their own.
