The film offers a playful and poetic exploration of the absurdity of love, set against the backdrop of an aristocratic English countryside, shot in 2024 in Upstate NYC. Already recognized with multiple accolades, including Best Comedy and Grand Jury Prize at the New York International Film Awards 2025, Audience Favourite at the Made By New York Women Film Festival, and the top prize at Paris Women CineFest, this film is becoming a notable festival standout.
A Story of Love, Misplaced Affections, and Scandalous Advice
Lovers & Fools unfolds as a series of vignettes centered on a bourgeois circle of aristocrats, all navigating love in ways that may seem misguided. At the heart of the story is Lady Evangeline, a woman of grace and ambition, whose heart is deeply set on the dashing Mr. Babbington, even though he is interested elsewhere. The film follows both Lady Evangeline and Lady Atticus on their often challenging quest for love. Their romantic misadventures only intensify as a scandalous new book circulates through the social set, promising to unlock insights into love but ultimately complicating things further. This audacious take on romance and relationships questions the self-help craze, revealing how often we overcomplicate what might be simpler than we think. After all, love can be wonderfully absurd.
“I wrote this film to entertain and to remind us how often we exaggerate everyday situations,” Marie-Louise explains.
Photo Courtesy: M & B Productions (From Lovers & Fools of Tom Koch and Marie-Louise Boisnier)
Finding the right backdrop was key to making this film believable; it needed to reflect the rural British countryside, with costumes playing a crucial role in shaping these characters and transporting the audience back in time. Shot in Upstate NY, Lovers & Fools highlights how small incidents in close-knit communities are sometimes magnified into grand spectacles of gossip and drama. The film explores themes of love, particularly loving the wrong person, and the absurd lengths people go to impress others, and the masks we wear to fit an idealized image of romance.
The film leaves viewers both amused and reflective, inviting us to reconsider our perspectives. Marie-Louise’s message is clear: life is too short to take ourselves too seriously.
A Talented Team Bringing the Vision to Life
Behind Lovers & Fools is a passionate and skilled creative team that brought Marie-Louise Boisnier’s vision vividly to life. Boisnier stars as Lady Evangeline. Known for her roles in Popeye The Slayer Man (currently on Amazon Prime & Apple TV), Olive, and You’re So Shy, she worked alongside Director Bruno Ferreira, who also served as director of photography, bringing visual flair from projects like The Institute and Front Office.
Joining the directing team is award-winning actor, producer, and filmmaker Tom Koch, who plays the elusive Mr. Babbington. Koch is also well-regarded for his work through his production company, Mes Films en Colour, with notable credits including Petit Louis, Terra Incognita, The Outman, and Orange.
Photo Courtesy: M & B Productions (From Lovers & Fools of Marie-Louise Boisnier)
The cast also features Sally Blenkey as the sharp-witted Lady Atticus and David Allard as the quietly conflicted Mr. Bush (Dream On Baransky, 7th Street).
Behind the scenes, Mike Hechanova contributed as camera assistant (Bad Frank, The Price of Silence), while Aram “Spike” Bauman handled gaffer duties (What Lies Under The Tree, I Got a Story To Tell). Kieran Price led sound recording (GameBird), supported by sound designer Aaron Jordan Liebowitz and editor Rob Pietrzak. The whimsical, emotionally charged original score was composed by Aalisha Jaisinghani (The Visor, Healing Plan), rounding out a team whose artistry helped elevate the film’s tone and style.
Lovers & Fools: Marie-Louise on the Absurdity of Love and the Power of Humor
Drawing inspiration from her own life experiences, Marie-Louise brings a uniquely humorous perspective to the screen, one shaped by a childhood spent in Kent, UK, and a lifelong fascination with the quirks of human behavior.
She describes her upbringing as a blend of imagination, tradition, and quiet observation. Raised largely as an only child, Marie-Louise found early companionship in books and films, worlds where characters navigated life with charm, chaos, and comedic timing. Her school years were spent in an environment rich in eccentricity, the kind of place that felt as though it were lifted straight out of a novel, full of rituals, oddities, and unexpected moments. These elements would later influence her storytelling, particularly her love for layered characters and slice-of-life drama infused with humor.
Humor is central to Marie-Louise’s work. A teacher once told her that her ability to laugh at herself would serve her well, and it has. She sees comedy not just as entertainment, but as a valuable tool in an often overwhelming world. In Lovers & Fools, that philosophy shines through. One of the film’s central characters exemplifies the idea of finding laughter in life’s most frustrating moments, mirroring Marie-Louise’s belief that perspective and a sense of humor can help transform everything.
International Festival Success and Acclaim
Marie-Louise Boisnier’s debut has been embraced on the global festival circuit, winning:
- Best Comedy and Grand Jury Prize at the New York International Film Awards 2025
- Audience Favourite and Special Plaque of Recognition at the Made By New York
- Women Film Festival 2025
- Winner at the Paris Women CineFest
- Finalist at the New York International Women Festival
- Semi-Finalist Berlin Indie Awards, and London International Filmmakers Festival
Photo Courtesy: M & B Productions (Sally Blenkey and Marie-Louise Boisnier at the Made By New York Women Film Festival, holding their award!)
For more information, visit:
https://www.marie-louiseboisnier.com/lovers-fools-short-film
