Love Actually

Merry Christmas from The UN Brief

By now I hope all that celebrate Christmas are near loved ones even if only by Zoom. Why the mention of Love Actually? Because it is one of the sweetest romantic comedies that still spark conversation on social media this time of the year and has as many detractors as people that love to think of romantic love and Christmas, and love all things sparkly and lovely, and cinnamon and gingerbread houses. Love all around.

Released in 2003, that is 17 years of cherished memories, Love Actually is “a charming treatise telling 10 intertwining London love stories, leading up to a climax on Christmas Eve.” as goes the tagline on Netflix.

Take its opening monologue delivered in the characteristic adorable British quip of enfant terrible and heartthrob of a generation, the now sexagenarian Hugh Grant, who plays the fictional UK Prime Minister Dave in Love Actually:

“Whenever I feel gloomy about the state of the world I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion is starting to…