Writer-director-producer-star Ricky Burchell presents the romance Dating My Past. Lexie (Chanell De Lau) is a therapist who works with couples who are having relationship issues. Sarah (Aiyana Sakari) and David (Alfred Lamar) seem to be struggling to communicate. Lexie hopes to connect with them by telling stories from her own dating life. The film that follows uses vignettes the therapist recounts as framing for the narrative. She begins with her relationship with Jeremiah (Burchell). After they’ve dated for some time, he shows his true colors in the dismissive way he treats the wait staff at restaurants. It turns out that Jeremiah is a narcissist with a hot temper. When he begins to treat Lexie abusively, their relationship tanks.
Moving on to artist Maurice, Lexie finds a much better match with his quieter, kinder approach. However, his appetite for sex doesn’t match hers, and she calls Jeremiah. Somewhere in the mix, she goes out with Ethan (Cameron L. Mitchell), but is distracted after receiving a gift of jewelry from Maurice. Lexie reaches a point where she must choose between three different suitors, each of whom speaks to a different aspect of her personality. Ethan is the stable, comfortable choice, but Lexie misses the drama of troubled relationships. When Lexie decides to see a therapist herself, she learns important disciplines for managing her emotional life. She finds that in order to have a healthy relationship, she must put in the work to ensure she is emotionally healthy herself. The conclusion of her journey is open to analysis by the viewer. Does she make the right choice?
“…Lexie hopes to connect with them by telling stories from her own dating life…”
The stories throughout Dating My Past are accompanied by long, soul-searching looks, soft R&B music, and softer lighting. The examples from Lexie’s dating life build a fable that draws a map to finding love. Given that the film was written by Burchell, what we really get here is his opinion of dating life, relationships, and, ultimately, women. While the situations presented are compelling, the emotional dynamics are reductive. The points made are no deeper than meme-level aphorisms. There are also some odd moments, such as the complete meltdown Lexie has when she learns Ethan is divorced. That seems like a bizarre overreaction. Who isn’t divorced nowadays, and who is concerned about it anymore?
Performances from the leads are naturalistic and relaxed. The production quality is competent, and the music pulls it all together. The “moral of the story” is somewhat self-help preachy, but that is wrapped in a soft-focus glow that makes it easier to accept. Low-budget romance films like Dating My Past make up a specific genre, and the aficionados of that genre tend to be passionate about it. If you are part of that audience, this film is exactly what you are looking for.
"…if you are part of that audience, this film is exactly what you are looking for."
