Why French Kiss Became My Favorite Movie

It's amazing how certain stories speak to us at certain times. French Kiss did not become my favorite movie because it is a funny romantic comedy - although it is quite hilarious with Kevin Klien's performance as a wonderfully charming (inclusive of all flaws) and unexpected character. It became a personal favorite because it is a story about transformation. A woman trying desperately to get her fiancé back then discovering the future she imagined isn't the only future capable of making her happy. It's not about choosing between two men. It's about letting go of certainty.

And then there’s France… of course. I love the vineyards, the small cafés, the beautiful scenery, the long and funny conversations, and the kind of food that invites you to linger. It’s a place that encourages you to slow down. Some of my harbors last week were tiny echoes of France — especially my visits to Taste of Paris. Their French omelet brought the first real smile to my face since this latest heartbreak.

France has always represented something deeper to me. It’s never been just a destination. It’s a feeling — a slower, more intentional way of living.

Kate: [to Luc] You'll become one of those hunchbacked, lonely old men, sitting in the corner of a crowded cafe, mumbling to yourself, "My ass is twitching. You people make my ass twitch."

The heroine of French Kiss, Kate, doesn’t heal by sitting alone in a room analyzing her heartbreak. She heals because she keeps moving. She travels, meets new people, laughs, gets angry. She changes.

She discovers parts of herself she didn't know where there.

I relate to Kate. Right now, I’m much closer to the version of her boarding the plane — scared, uncertain, grieving — than the Kate standing in a vineyard, kissing Luc, ready for her next chapter.

This movie quietly reminds me of something I’m only beginning to understand: Sometimes the future you imagined isn’t the one that ultimately fits you best.