"Director of 'Materialists' shares insights on the movie and her experience in matchmaking"
Chatting It Up About Love and Dollars
Jumping straight into the heart of the matter, the new flick "Materialists" is a rom-com that's anything but lighthearted. Dakota Johnson plays Lucy, a high-powered matchmaker in the concrete jungle of New York, known for her cold, calculating approach to love.
(SOUNDBITE FROM THE MOVIE, "MATERIALISTS")
DAKOTA JOHNSON: (As Lucy) I go by the rule: if a girl asks for a 6-foot tall, good-looking guy with a six-figure salary and a good credit score...
(LAUGHTER)
JOHNSON: ...You deliver.
Celine Song, the film's writer and director, worked for a matchmaking service before making it big in the world of playwriting and filmmaking. She knows the ins and outs of the industry, and she sat down with us to spill the beans about her experiences.
SONG: I learned so much about people and their deep-seated desires during my time in the business. It made me realize that we don't have a language for love that really fits the way we talk about everything else. So we use all these numbers like height, weight, income, age to quantify people as if they're merchandise.
ELLIOTT: You're absolutely right. We've got height, weight, income, credit scores...
SONG: Exactly. It's crazy how we use numbers instead of actually getting to know someone for who they are.
The film delves into the life of Lucy as she navigates a love triangle. At first, she's all about the numbers, but her experiences challenge her, forcing her to question her approach to love and life.
SONG: She may be an expert in love, but she's not an expert in love itself. And as she's tested by this love triangle, she comes to realize that she's just like her clients. She's not a product to be bought or sold.
ELLIOTT: That's a line from one of her clients, Sophie.
SONG: You got it. And not only that, but she deserves love—to be loved and to love in return.
John, played by Chris Evans, and Harry, portrayed by Pedro Pascal, each offer Lucy a different path, bringing distinctive values and perspectives to the table. It's not just a question of choosing between the two guys; it's about determining what kind of life she wants.
SONG: They both have different ways of valuing Lucy, be it financially or emotionally, and that has its own allure. It's not just about making a decision between two people but about choosing a new direction for her entire life. It's a story about a woman finding her own heart.
ELLIOTT: Romance has been a market since time immemorial. Is there an echo of classic rom-coms or Jane Austen novels in your film?
SONG: Absolutely. I was thinking so much about Victorian romances and Jane Austen, because the first line of Pride and Prejudice is quite similar to the essence of Materialists. The point is that, in the end, love isn't something that can be calculated or quantified. There's no app for that.
In a world where we're constantly putting ourselves out there on dating apps and social media, Lucy faces competition not only from other women in her town but from billions of people worldwide. It's not just about comparing oneself to other marriageable women; it's about facing billions of potential partners.
SONG: Of course, no one's putting their true selves out there. It's all about portraying an idealized image. And in this modern age, that takes many forms, from corsets to Botox.
ELLIOTT: You'd rather see us in corsets than Botox?
SONG: (Laughs) Maybe it's easier to go back to corsets!
Celine Song writes movies about romance because it's universal and a reminder that there are some questions that don't have answers. In a world where we're constantly striving for control and answers, romance is one area where we can surrender and be moved by something that remains a mystery.
ELLIOTT: Celine Song, thank you for joining us.
SONG: Thank you so much for having me. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
Movies-and-TV and entertainment play significant roles in the discussions surrounding "Materialists." Celine Song, the film's writer and director, offers insights on love, desire, and the quantification of people in the entertainment industry, mirroring themes found in modern movies and TV shows.
