MovieChat Forums > Love Actually (2003) Discussion > The scene when Colin Firth proposes

The scene when Colin Firth proposes

posted 10 years ago by pereira-filipesantos
13 replies | jump to latest

I actually enjoyed watching this movie, but being a Portuguese myself, I can't understand the scene when Collin Firth proposes to Aurelia surrounded by a bunch of Portuguese people. They made it look like it's supposed to be customary for us to kiss the groom when he proposes (at least that's what I would have thought if I was a foreigner watching the movie))... I really don't know where the director got the idea from, but he certainly didn't get it from the Portuguese culture. I thought it was pretty ridiculous, and I don't know why the Portuguese cast didn't say a word against it.

[–] Alexej 10 years ago

I love this movie, too. Given, however, how unrealistically it portrays Wisconsin girls, I would just assume that its creator is completely unfamiliar with any culture outside his own and was just going for a comedic effect. So I wouldn’t worry too much about it.

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[–] pereira-filipesantos 10 years ago

I guess you're right, the only way to look at this scene is for its comedic effect. Maybe I'm taking it a bit too serious ahah
Anyway, as I said I did like the movie. Some good scenes and a good soundtrack. I never had much interest in the Beach Boys, but after listening to the sweet song "God Only Knows" near the end of the movie I got to know them better.

[–] slyle 10 years ago

As an American who's not terribly familiar with Portuguese culture, I didn't assume that at all. I'd expect someone to show affection right after that kind of marriage proposal no matter what the culture. I'd find it a bit odd if there were a Western culture where you are specifically not supposed to kiss after that kind of a proposal, especially when one of the people is English.

[–] pereira-filipesantos 10 years ago

Of course it's supposed/expected for the bride and groom to kiss and show affection in this situation. I just didn't understand the fact that Colin Firth was kissed in the lips by apparently every other people present lol

[–] avnrulz 10 years ago

Perhaps the writer thought it was a 'Gallic' tradition, with French/Spanish/Portugese culture being very ebullient and expressive. For me, I was surprised there was such a large ex-Pat Portugese population in Marseille.

However, I saw the scene more for the fact that Colin Firth's character loved her so much that he over came his British 'stiff upper lip' type upbringing and learned HER language to be able to talk to her, instead of simply expecting her to learn English (eventually).

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[–] pereira-filipesantos 10 years ago

Oh yes, there is a large amount of portuguese emigrants in France.

[–] slyle 10 years ago

Ahh, I see. I totally get where you're coming from now.

I didn't perceive it as a Portuguese tradition, it seemed more like him being accepted into a very different family from what he's used to. He's not just marrying her, he's marrying into her family. The joke is he's all reserved and proper but the family he'll be marrying into is the exact opposite. It's not a tradition in the US, either, but the same joke would work here.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] louiseculmer 10 years ago

I don't think this film is meant to be very realistic.

[–] allancsolo 9 years ago

I love this movie, even tho it is pretty unrealistic and portrays Wisconsin girls, I would just assume that it is the producer that is completely unfamiliar with any culture outside his own and was just going for a comedic effect. So I wouldn’t worry too much about it.

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[–] jcwwong79 8 years ago

It was also quite bizarre that there's this whole Portuguese community in Marseille, France. It clearly showed Jamie landed in Marseille that evening. But Aurelia's sister managed to just gather a whole village of Portuguese following as they marched to the, yes, Portuguese restaurant.

[–] pereira-filipesantos 8 years ago

That's not bizarre at all, actually. There's a huge community of Portuguese emigrants throughout France (It's probably the 2nd country in the world with the most Portuguese people).

[–] ilves 8 years ago

Watching the film I didn't think that it was supposed to be a Portuguese tradition. Why? Because of Aurelia's reaction. She seemed to be surprised by her family's actions too.

Wait! Does this also mean putting out doesn't get you love?