Written and directed by Signe Baumane, a young spirited woman, Zelma, is determined to conform to the pressures of singing Mythology Sirens in order to be loved, but the more she conforms, the more her body resists. Voiced by: Dagmara Dominczyk, Michele Pawk, Matthew Modine, Cameron Monaghan, Stephen Lang, Erica Schroeder and Emma Kenney.
It’s entirely possible that if My Love Affair with Marriage had been a live action feature, it could have been grim and heavy but choosing to tell this story through animation turned it into something quirky and full of imagination. We still get a complicated tale of a woman trying to find her place in the world, and a partner to support her along the way, but its style is fun and sarcastic. It has this slightly frenzied energy which is really enjoyable to watch, giving it an edge of unpredictability.
The way that it moves is akin to an internal monologue mixed with an educational view, bringing through a touch of biology to add some interesting context. Signe Baumane approaches the story and all its cultural and misogynistic obstacles with a fresh eye, one that’s charming and free-spirited, much like its leading lady Zelma (Dagmara Dominczyk). In its early chapters it’s almost an alternative version of Inside Out, exploring the inner workings of a young girl’s mind and body.
Baumane also never restricts herself in style and colour, it adapts and changes My Love Affair with Marriage moves through Zelma’s life. There’s a superb contrast of textures, creating some scenes that are almost like putting animated characters in carboard settings or dollhouses, which is surprisingly satisfying to watch come to life. The pacing is done well, the story is covering a lot of ground so it’s continually on the move but never feels rushed. It also has this interesting mix of modern versus classic, there’s an old-fashioned edge to the design of the characters but the tone feels very much of today.
Another element which furthers the charm that the writing builds is the voice performances. There’s a lot of personalities at work here but Dagmara Dominczyk without doubt leads the way, she’s the heart and soul of My Love Affair with Marriage. She gives Zelma a hugely independent, smart persona, she’s got a very natural charm and a great way of facing her flaws, questioning things and never simply accepting what’s expected of her.
My Love Affair with Marriage is an unusual exploration of being a woman, from girlhood to sex, marriage and careers, it hops and jumps through every topic with a big personality and lively aesthetic. It’s fun and charming, the voice performances are a great ensemble and it takes on themes that could have been genuinely miserable as it wades through the mundanity and disappointments of life but instead makes them funny, relatable and entertaining.
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