Love and Magnets

Love and Magnets (French: Les Aimants) is a Canadian romantic comedy film, directed by Yves P. Pelletier and released in 2004.[1] The film's original French title is a pun on its themes, as the word "aimant" means magnet when used as a noun, but "loving" or "affectionate" when used as an adjective.

The film stars Isabelle Blais as Julie, a woman returning to Montreal after five years living in Guatemala with her now ex-boyfriend. She moves in with her sister and brother-in-law, Jeanne (Sylvie Moreau) and Noël (David Savard), an unhappily married couple who rarely actually see each other, communicating almost entirely through notes under fridge magnets; Jeanne is, in fact, having an extramarital affair with musician Manu (Emmanuel Bilodeau). When Jeanne decides to leave for a romantic weekend with Manu, she enlists Julie to keep leaving notes for Noël so he won't notice that she's gone — but Julie, hoping to help rekindle Jeanne and Noël's relationship, takes the opportunity to write the fake notes more romantically.[2]

The film's music was composed by Carl Bastien and Dumas, although Blais, also a singer with the band Caïman Fu, performed the vocals on three songs.[3]

Blais received a Genie Award nomination for Best Actress, and Moreau for Best Supporting Actress, at the 25th Genie Awards in 2005.[4] The film received seven Prix Jutra nominations, including Best Picture,[5] winning for Best Screenplay (Pelletier), Best Supporting Actress (Moreau) and Best Music (Bastien and Dumas).