JANE WANTS A BOYFRIEND: An Unusual Love Story

Many of you have seen the classic, fairy tale love stories in films. There is a princess who lives with a curse that was cast on her by an evil witch. The only way she can be free from this curse is by finding true love. We are then introduced to Prince Charming. Of course, there are obstacles along the way that keep them from being together, but by the end of the movie, they find a way to overcome these obstacles and live happily ever after.

I always find myself intrigued to watch love stories because you can always learn something from them, but it all depends on how the story is told. Directed by William Sullivan and inspired by true events, Jane Wants A Boyfriend is the story of Jane (Louisa Krause), a costume designer who lives with Asperger’s syndrome, but that does not keep her from wanting to find the love of a boyfriend with the help of her sister Bianca (Eliza Dusku). Unfortunately for Jane, Bianca has other plans for her, and finding a boyfriend will not be as easy as she thinks.

Here are three things to look forward to in this film: an outstanding lead performance, an unconventional love story, and a satisfying conclusion.

Jane’s Reality

Louisa Krause is the actress who really shines in Jane Wants a Boyfriend as the title character. Right away, you can see the dedication put into the role to execute the interesting ways that she behaves and speaks in social situations as a person with Asperger’s. She may be different than others, but she deserves the same opportunity to find the boyfriend she wants. To prepare for that moment, the character is quite fond of romantic movies; so much so that she even knows what she wants to say when the time comes.

The most interesting relationship that Jane has is the one with Bianca. This relationship is a forced and troubled one that affects both of them beyond their imagination. For Jane, it is about being given the respect that she deserves for being a woman, and as such, she can make her own decisions about life. For Bianca, it’s about understanding that she does not have to micromanage Jane for being different. Bianca may be her sister, but she practically plays the role of a second mother to Jane because she is the only one who has an input about her life and who she wants to date.

The other relationship Jane has in this film is with Jack (Gabriel Ebert). This is the relationship that matters most for her because it is what she has always wanted. The beauty of their relationship is that, unlike what Jane or Bianca or anyone had in mind, this relationship simply began when everyone least expected it. That’s what they always say about finding love. Fortunately, for Jane and Jack, it happened at the right time.

An Unconventional Love Story

Jane Wants a Boyfriend presents a truly one-of-a-kind love story to see on film, on so many levels. For starters, Jane is not the most popular girl in school that finds herself pursued by all the guys. She does not find herself in a situation where she must decide who she wants to be with. She’s also not getting married; she simply wants to find a boyfriend, and then time will tell how things will turn out. This is a rare occasion where we see a love story from the perspective of someone in Jane’s condition.

We see that the focus of the relationships that Jane may find revolve around how she reacts to them. Whether it is positive or negative, there is something that she takes from the experiences, and we see how much she values and desires the presence of someone in her life who loves her for who she is. This is where her relationship with Bianca goes through hard times. The way that Jane is approached by anyone should not be any different than how anyone would approach her popular and talented sister who works as an up-and-coming actress. While Bianca wants the best person for Jane, it is Jane who should make the decision for herself about who she wants to be with.

Love Conquers All

Perhaps the most touching aspect of this love story is that for both Jack and Jane, it is what they both deserved and wanted in their lives. While Jack was the one who was more experienced with dating, ultimately, this meant nothing for him because he had never met a person that he had true chemistry with. For Jane, what seemed to be impossible to her became a reality. For a long time, watching romantic movies prepared her for the moment she had been waiting for. For once in her life, she felt complete and appreciated, but above all, loved.

Even if you have seen a love story like Jane Wants a Boyfriend‘s many times, there is always hope that you can take from a story the idea that love will find you when you least expect it; which is why you should never give up waiting for the right person to come into your life.

[highlighted_p boxed=”false” center=”false”]What do you think about a love story revolving around someone with an autism spectrum disorder? Share your thoughts below!