Can you believe it’s been 20 years since Love Actually first premiered at Christmas 2003, and captured hearts around the world? Since then it’s become a must-watch classic – spreading love and good cheer every December. Apart from a few digs at weight-challenged people, which may not be so PC in today’s world, the rest of the film has stood the test of time. Like love, it’s eternal. We watched the dazzling new 4K restoration last night. Here’s the brilliant opening lines from the movie’s Prime Minister, played by Hugh Grant:
Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion is starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don’t see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it’s not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it’s always there – fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge – they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love actually is all around.
– UK Prime Minister (Hugh Grant), LOVE ACTUALLY
And so it still is today. As Emma Thompson’s character says ‘true love lasts a lifetime’…
WATCH Love Actually 20th Anniversary in 2023 Trailer
From the producers:
Love is all around this festive season with the 20th anniversary of STUDIOCANAL, Universal Pictures and Working Title’s beloved holiday classic LOVE ACTUALLY. This festive season (2023), a dazzling new and improved 4K restoration (a horizontal display resolution of approximately 4,000 pixels) will be released theatrically in select global markets and home entertainment. Written and directed by Oscar-nominated Richard Curtis and featuring an award-winning ensemble cast, the iconic film is a pinnacle of British cinema and a must-see holiday favourite for audiences around the globe. In the 20 years since its release, Love Actually reminds of the universal power of love, in all its forms. Richard Curtis supervised the restoration, which includes the first HDR version of the film in Dolby Vision. “I’m really excited about this new version of the film – it’s never looked or sounded better.” – Richard Curtis #LoveActually Love Actually features unforgettable performances from the most acclaimed actors of this generation, including two-time Academy Award® winner Emma Thompson, BAFTA winner Hugh Grant, Oscar® nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor, Oscar® nominee Keira Knightley, Academy Award® winner Colin Firth, Oscar® nominee Liam Neeson, Oscar® nominee Bill Nighy, Oscar® nominee Laura Linney, Emmy and BAFTA winner Martin Freeman, BAFTA nominee Andrew Lincoln, BAFTA winner Gregor Fisher, Emmy nominee Thomas Brodie-Sangster, SAG nominee Rodrigo Santoro, Golden Globes Portugal winner Lúcia Moniz, Martine McCutcheon, BAFTA winner Rowan Atkinson, Academy Award® winner Billy Bob Thornton, and the late, legendary BAFTA and Emmy winning actor Alan Rickman.
