This film appears on the surface to be a comedic summer drama invoking the eternal triangle with angles of its own. Yes it has a gregarious male lead nicely played by Ermin Bravo. Yes it has a believable wife in Ariane Labed's overtly pregnant character Liliane. Yes early on she locks eyes with Ada Condeescu as she emerges from the sea with a bevy of divers in tow. Something's up here we surmise.
I submit this apparent comedy is the framework for a larger idea, or ideas, perhaps even a grand idea, that what constitutes human nature and existence itself is found in something other than what we see on the surface of our entangled relations, if we imagine it to be anything at all. Neither sexual attraction or preference, physical age, taste in music or fashion, or the casual smoking of "weed", have one iota of relevance when faced with the ground of humanity we all share. This is saved for the very end of the film when, in an attempt to get back into the swing of the party, Liliane breaks water and begins to give birth.
To paraphrase: "the light we see from the stars is millions of years old. Some of them do not even exist by the time their light reaches our eyes on Earth. We see the past, we are the past in this moment."
So here we are. You desire her, your wife loves her and is desired in return. The cultural norms are challenged. You are sent reeling with the over abundance of information and flee to seek sanctuary and cope. Even the young children have questions and seek revelation.
In my view then, one summary of Love Island is that in spite of ourselves, with our lack of self-knowledge, lack of self control, and sudden realization we do indeed live on an island called "Love", Nature trumps all. We will survive to be renewed. As Liliane's baby ruptures forth we see the triangle reconciled, for a moment perhaps, and in that one joyous moment we are free.
So look around, ye inhabitants of Love Island, Love indeed is all around us.
Extra Bonus: Both Ermin and Ariane provide their own vocals when singing. Nicely done. Even if it is "the stupidest song I ever heard!"
