THE LOCATION SHOOT

A group of famous film actors moves to Sweden to shoot an unconventional movie in Leavy’s novel.

The avant-garde French filmmaker Jean Mercier is making a new English-language film featuring many fan-favorite celebrities. Considered a thoughtful and cerebral director, Mercier’s choice of actors, including a former teenage heartthrob and an action-adventure star, is unexpected. As per Mercier’s instructions, the actors will be required to live together, on location in Sweden, for the duration of the shoot. Of particular note is 42-year-old movie star Finn Forrester, who tries to break up with his longtime girlfriend, Savannah, just before he departs. Savannah will have none of it, however, telling Finn to wait until his return to make any decisions. Two weeks into the shoot, the American philosopher and artist Ella Sinclair arrives on set, and Finn is immediately smitten (“She’s a real artist through and through, the embodiment of inspiration. And not bad to look at either”). Ella seems to be Mercier’s muse, and Finn is at first unsure whether it’s acceptable to pursue her. As the pair grow closer, Finn wonders how he could ever have a meaningful life without Ella in it. Meanwhile, Ella worries Finn is being disingenuous about his intention to end his preexisting relationship. As readers are treated to a delightful will-they, won’t-they romp, the group of actors grows progressively closer, and many of their lives are changed irrevocably. There are many scenes in which the cast, a cerebral group, engages in compelling and high-level philosophical debates about art, sex, films, and more. Each character is more charming than the next, and the stay at the Swedish home seems like great fun, but there are moments when excessive detail stalls the otherwise lively narrative; much of the story unfolds over meals, in which characters place one food order after another, again and again. Other details about the setting (that might help ground the reader in the action) are sparse. Even so, the intellectual discussions throughout the book prove fresh and engaging and will keep the pages turning.

A quick-witted depiction of moviemaking best suited for contemplative romantics.