New York, I Love You (2008)

The American romantic comedy-drama anthology film, New York, I Love You (2008), showcases 11 short films directed by different filmmakers. Each of the shorts explores the theme of love and is set in one of the five boroughs of New York City. It first premiered at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival in September and was later released in the United States on October 16, 2009. However, during a focus screening in New York, it was decided to cut two novellas from the original version: These Vagabond Shoes by Scarlett Johansson and Apocrypha by Andrei Zvyagintsev due to unfavorable reactions.

01. (Jiang Wen). Ben, a pickpocket, catches sight of Molly and is immediately drawn to her. He ends up in an intriguing power struggle with Garry, Molly’s married lover who also happens to be a professor at New York University.

02. (Mira Nair). Mansuhkhbai, a traditional Jain diamond wholesaler, and Rifka, an orthodox Jewish diamond retailer set to wed tomorrow, discover shared interests beyond their love for diamonds.

03. (Shunji Iwai). As a musician and music editor on Abarra’s video set, David is struggling to meet the director’s high expectations. And as he works closely with Abarra’s assistant, Camille, over the phone, he finds himself slowly developing feelings for her even though they have never met in person, their conversations always revolving solely around work.

04. (Yvan Attal). Anna randomly runs into Alex on the street while they are both going about their own errands. She poses a question to him, with an underlying agenda and hoping for an unexpected response… possibly.

05. (Brett Ratner). A high school senior, recently single before senior prom, receives a gift from Mr. Riccoli, the local pharmacist. It isn’t until after prom night that the senior fully grasps the significance of the gift.

06. (Allen Hughes). On the way to their first official date, which was preceded by a one night stand, Gus and Lydia individually ponder the possibility of cancelling it.

07. (Shekhar Kapur). Isabelle, a retired opera diva, has revisited the hotel where she’s often stayed. It holds strong memories of her encounters with a young bellhop.

08. (Natalie Portman). As they spend time together in the park, many outsiders see Dante and Teya as a manny and his charge due to their different skin tones. However, they are unaware of the true nature of their relationship.

09. (Fatih Akın). Curiosity may arise in a young Chinese herbalist as to why one of her elderly Eastern European clientele selected her as the desired muse for his forthcoming masterpiece, potentially igniting her own artistic pursuits.

10. (Joshua Marston). Abe and Mitzie are celebrating their 63rd Wedding Anniversary, though not always in perfect harmony. Scattered among these eleven vignettes are shorter ones that often connect to either another vignette or one of the primary eleven in some way.

11. (Randy Balsmeyer). The man strongly feels a deep bond with a woman he has just met, after unexpectedly lighting her cigarette. He confidently persuades her that this connection means they have a future together starting now, rather than in some uncertain future.