Wandering Hearts

Chelsey Reist

On his first vacation to Europe, Ethan, a young photographer from North America meets and falls for Valerie, a French girl who invites him to experience more of what France has to offer. As they learn more about each other, their fairytale-like romance takes them from the many famous landmarks of Paris; including the Eiffel Tower and Champs-Élysées, to the western coast of Normandy and the majestic Mont St. Michel. Filmed entirely in France with a dedicated international crew, 'Wandering Hearts' is at once both an idyllic, quirky romance between two people of very different backgrounds and languages, as well as a celebration of the beauty of France as a country and a culture. Using these barriers of culture and language between English and French speakers as a framing device for their romantic explorations, the film presents a lighthearted positive message of love, family, and communication between those of different backgrounds. Proudly shot on 16mm motion picture film from Kodak, and collaborated on in post by both French and North American post-production facilities, 'Wandering Hearts' is a testament to the beauty of film capture's unique qualities and textures in an increasingly digital medium. The beauty of France is showcased in vibrant detail on super16 as the backdrop for the romance between the two main characters, giving the visuals both a modern vivid color palette and a classic, vintage look at the same time.