Love Sarah: Charming Female-Led Dramedy Casts Dreamy London, Decadent Treats as Co-Stars
By Kim Hughes
Rating: B+
There is a benign but persuasive sweetness to Love Sarah, which functions variously as a romantic dramedy, a coming-of-age story, a go-girl! narrative and food porn, powered by exquisite London-area location shots and interiors possibly inspired by Nancy Meyers.
Similarly, Love Sarah consistently brings to mind other films — or at least, specific scenes from other films — which makes writer/director/co-producer Eliza Schroeder’s feature debut at once cleverly watchable and kind of a neat trivia game.
There’s the hairy renovation scene (reminiscent of Under the Tuscan Sun), the snarling/sexy food prep scene (No Reservations), the strolling through Notting Hill scene (Notting Hill), the ‘Sigh… I wish that was my house’ scene (It’s Complicated), the kooky job interview scene (Poms), and so on.
Yet for all that, Love Sarah tells a good story and is upheld by universally committed performances from its three female leads, mercifully spared the female infighting cliché.
Spectacular aerial shots of contemporary London open the film before the camera settles on Sarah speeding by bicycle towards the bakery she and BFF Isabella (Shelley Conn) are launching. But Sarah doesn’t make it. Isabella is left to pick up the pieces.
Soon after, Sarah’s teenage daughter Clarissa (Shannon Tarbet) finds herself homeless after being turfed by her boyfriend. Her path soon crosses with Isabella’s and together, they hatch a plan to relaunch the bakery in honour of Sarah. Problem is… how to finance? And who could possibly bake as well as Sarah?
PROUDLY SUPPORTS ORIGINAL-CIN
For the former, enter Clarissa’s grandmother Mimi (Celia Imrie) who refused Sarah’s original request for financial help when she was alive; Mimi desperately wants to make amends while connecting with Clarissa. Meanwhile, who should offer his services as master baker but hunky Mathew (Rupert Penry-Jones), an alum of Isabella and Sarah’s at chef school who might have a secret agenda.
Love Sarah has enough narrative twists to keep things rolling across its 90-minute running time. When version 2.0 of the bakery finally opens with a thud, Mimi is inspired by a Latvian courier to change course and bake regionally specific treats, thus attracting customers from across multicultural London who are longing for a taste of home. Nice touch, lovely message.
There’s also not one but two romantic subplots and some very snappy wardrobe pieces, which makes Love Sarah what some might call — OK, OK specifically, what I am calling — an unabashed chick flick.
But its warm-heartedness, positivity, and consistently striking visuals are a pleasant counter to ugly January days and nights, and a reminder that a compelling story well told is… wait for it… a can’t-miss recipe for success.
Love Sarah. Written and directed by Eliza Schroeder. Starring Celia Imrie, Shannon Tarbet, Shelley Conn, Bill Paterson and Rupert Penry-Jones. Available for streaming January 15 on VOD, Apple, Google Play and the Cineplex Store.