Love is mixed up and filled with dance in Aviva, the latest from Boaz Yakin.
The story itself is pretty simple: Boy meets girl, they fall in love, they follow each other around the world, they fight, they break up, they kiss, they make up (wait, that last bit is from Katy Perry). Their relationship is unsteady, though, but instead of approaching it as a straightforward drama, Yakin envisions this story with dance numbers and gender switches. You can see this distinctive break from reality in the trailer, which is more about setting a mood than being clear about the story, and I’m guessing the same will be true for the film as a whole.
This is a return to his roots of sorts for Yakin, who broke into the industry with the relatively small film Fresh but has been making bigger studio fare since 2000’s Remember the Titans. This fantastical take on a romance obviously didn’t attract huge backing, but Yakin was knowingly stepping away from the rigidity of big money.
And what the trailer states is true: Yakin cast dancers over actors, with Zina Zinchenko and Or Schraiber playing Aviva and Bobbi Jene Smith and Tyler Phillips as Eden. It’s a gamble, but hey, this isn’t going to be your standard movie. Take your chances and get weird, Yakin.
Aviva is directed by Boaz Yakin and stars Zina Zinchenko, Or Schraiber, Bobbi Jene Smith, and Tyler Phillips. It will be released in virtual theaters in the US on June 12, 2020 (the movie pairs with particular theaters to sell tickets, which you can find here).
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