It’s been said that every four seconds, somewhere in the world a Harlequin paperback is sold. Director Julie Moggan’s vibrant feature film lays bare the yearnings of five individuals whose lives are marked by their particular connections to romance novels. Roger, a successful author who produces countless bestsellers under a female pseudonym, discloses the formula for churning out a page-turner. Stephen, whose swoon-worthy physique has graced the cover of numerous bodice-rippers, is a model in search of a soulmate. Shumita, Hiroko, and Shirley are all ardent Harlequin readers. In India, Shumita plots how to win back her dashing, philandering husband. In Japan, Hiroko, a married mother of two, takes up ballroom dancing and fantasizes about finally hearing in her own ears the romantic sweet nothings whispered to the waltzing heroine of her favorite book. And back in England, Shirley and her husband look for ways to spice up their marriage, whether with chocolates, cards, or candlelight. The relationships that the five subjects of this film have to the books range from uncompromised appreciation, to, well, a guilty pleasure. For some they are a source of income, for others a means of escape. But in each case the books’ glamorous portrayals of courtship underscore the sweeping gestures missing from their own, average romantic lives. As our five protagonists navigate love in a modern age, we are captivated by their poignant and all-too-human journeys. Radiantly colorful and peppered with upbeat music, Guilty Pleasures is a celebration of the desires and realities of the people it portrays. In sympathetically depicting the collision of fantasy and day-to-day life, the documentary offers a salutary combination of levity and heart.  ST