Lovesickness (2008)

Luis Guzman (BOOGIE NIGHTS) stars in this Puerto Rican romantic dramedy that intertwines three stories about the darkness of love and relationships. One thread centers on a couple reacting to the death of the wife's mother and how that tragedy leads to a shocking discovery. The second follows an elderly woman whose ex-husband is dropped on her doorstep, creating tension in her relationship with her current live-in ex-love. In the third story, a man confesses his love to a bus driver, and her lack of affection leads to a hostage situation.

Unlike LOVE ACTUALLY and the films of Alejandro González Iñárritu (BABEL), the stories of LOVESICKNESS (MALDEAMORES) are connected only by their common theme. The film has three entirely separate plots, but they blend well, thanks to good editing and a strong script, and each of the three vignettes succeeds with a deft blend of laughter and letdowns, reflecting real life's inability to be either completely good or bad. Puerto Rico hasn't been known for its film industry, but this Benicio del Toro-produced offering bodes well for the country's growing cinematic future. Though it's set on a small island, LOVESICKNESS is a film with universal appeal.