ACHILLES’ LOVE

Better than the average independent movie, both in terms of entertainment quality and moral intent, ACHILLES’ LOVE opens with a title card from an ancient Athenian philosopher which says there’s a time in a young man’s life when he should think of marriage and getting a wife. 30-year old Ike, born and reared in a close-knit Greek immigrant community in Pittsburgh, is almost past that time. A decent person in many, many ways, he has just been rejected by his current paramour. Furthermore, the insurance company that his father built is trying to phase him out. Why? Because the insurance company thinks that business is more important than people whereas Ike puts people first and has been paying for the insurance for several elderly Greek men for many years.
By happenstance, he meets Lucy, who is the fundraiser for the Steel City Dance Company, a broken down dance company that can hardly survive. She too has been unlucky in love. When they meet, there’s an instant attraction. However, the dance company wants Lucy to date a very wealthy attorney, Conan Charles, who is a friend of Ike’s. Furthermore, Ike’s extended Greek family wants him to marry the daughter of a Greek shipping magnate. Therefore, Ike and Lucy’s desire to get together is thwarted by those around them and by circumstance. When the lead dancer walks out on Lucy with the rest of her dancers, it is up to Ike to show whether he or Charles is the one who truly loves her.
The story in ACHILLES’ LOVE is so compelling that it pulls the audience into the lives of Ike, Lucy and this Greek community – so much so, that it seems that the movie is over too soon. These are winsome characters, and characters that try to do the right thing. Ike and Lucy both want to be moral, decent, committed people, and they are willing to give up their lives for others. The Greek community talks about God and philosophy, as well as dance. The old Greek dances are part of their tradition. The villains in the piece are well crafted, and in fact get their come-up-ins in a positive way. In all, this movie has a lot of heart.
Regrettably, this movie has a lot of obscenity although usually lightweight. Furthermore, it is implied that Ike was living with his former girlfriend, there are hints of homosexuality and one dancer is clearly promiscuous.
These problematic elements are very light weight and are often rebuked within the plotline.
ACHILLES’ LOVE looks like a first production. If so, the filmmakers have wonderful talent and should have a terrific career.