" `Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl'... organises, indeed
constitutes, the classical American cinema as a whole."
-Raymond Bellour (Bellour, 1974, 16)
"You don't want to be in love - you want to be in love in a movie."
-Becky, Sleepless in Seattle
"Reality and love are almost contradictory to me."
-Céline, Before Sunset
This essay is primarily concerned with the concept of the Hollywood romance happy ending. On a broader scale, it is also concerned with addressing the relationship of these endings to something which (I think it is fair to say) most believe Hollywood seldom attempts to do: depict romantic love `realistically'. Ask most if they consider, for example, Hollywood's current romantic
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But what exactly is it that is `unrealistic' about it?
No one can deny that in the real world people do, every day, exactly what the characters in each and every romantic comedy do - that is: meet, court, and fall (however briefly or lastingly) in love. The problem arises when a film depicting this has to navigate the obvious requirement which all narrative art faces: it must choose a point at which to end. The decision traditionally inbuilt into the romantic comedy is to end at the moment of the central couple's union (or sometimes reunion), often with the obligatory embrace and kiss as the final moment of closure. Ending in this manner sends the audience out of the cinema with an image of unproblematic happiness that one assumes will (since we are shown nothing to disprove the theory) last forever. As Rick Altman says: marriage, or the promise of marriage (for which we may read any depiction of the united final couple) is, at least in the Hollywood musical (Altman's point of departure and a genre whose narratives share a great deal in common with those of the romantic comedy) "that beyond which there is no more" (Altman. 1981, 197):
It arrests discourse and projects the narrative into an undifferentiated
`happily ever after'. The comic equivalent of apocalypse, marriage
represents a timeless, formless state in American mythology.
(ibid, 197)
This "timeless" happy ending perpetuates the myth
In his 2001 film entitled Lantana, director Ray Lawrence provides a dramatic look into the consequences of jealousy and infidelity in relationships. The film focuses primarily on two couples, Leon and Sonja, and John and Valerie, whose relationships are both seemingly in the midst of their own downward spirals. As the story unfolds and the issues affecting each of these relationships are uncovered, the film paints a vivid picture of the different ways that such themes can quickly bring ruin to relationships, and, in the case of some of the film’s characters, lives.
Many romantic films do not have fairy tale stories or happy endings, although love serves as a shield against the harshness of the real world. Romantic films often elaborate the main theme of love at first sight. Romanticism refers back to the romantic characters of the Middle Ages and also modern films. Romantic love on film is a universal human experience that produces intensely powerful, strong feelings. Romantic Literature has had a strong influence on modern day films through pathos, folklore, and love.
Success is extremely coveted in the society, however on the path to success, obstacles will stand in the way. Failure is inevitable and the response of an individual towards these obstacles and the failures in their lives determines whether or not they will have success. Failure gives allowance to learn from mistakes and motivates to do better the next time. The Pursuit of Happyness uses lighting, music and camera angles to give viewers an insight into Chris’ journey through the film demonstrating his resiliency, optimism and loving personality. Filmmaker, Gabriele Muccino, uses the protagonist, Chris’ final triumph to illustrate the significance of failure in achieving success.
People travel through life with what seems like a single goal: to be happy. This may seem like a selfish way to live, however this lone objective is the motivation behind nearly all actions. Even seemingly selfless deeds make people feel better about themselves. That warm feeling experienced while doing charitable acts can be described as happiness. But what is authentic happiness? There is an endless possibility of answers to this question, and man seems to be always searching for the solution. Although one may reach his or her goals, there is always still something one strives for in order to be happy. In the book Stumbling on Happiness, Harvard psychologist Daniel Gilbert takes the reader through
The journey that Richard and Mildred Loving took is important for history and for the future of civil rights in the United States. I recently watched the documentary The Loving Story and enjoyed the footage, pictures, and interviews of everyone involved in the Loving v. Virginia case. The documentary addressed the issue of interracial marriage in Virginia in 1967.
Happiness: a Human Disease -- An Examination of the Allegorical Theme of Existentialism in the Happy Man
Some of the most common themes in contemporary biographical films revolve around social life as well as the accompanying problems that living in today's society entails. By making connections to individual personal lives, these films help most people make sense of the world in which they live. In this regard, this paper focuses on the film, The Pursuit of Happyness outlining various cultural issues as well as problems faced by the starring; Will Smith playing Chris Gardner in the movie. Moreover, the paper discusses how such factual films reflect and create popular ideas about social problems.
The story of the movie The Pursuit of Happyness directed by Gabriele Muccino portrays a family who struggles with finding enough money to pay taxes and afford living expenses. The movie takes a place in San Francisco during the 80s. The two main characters are the father Chris Gardner and his son Christopher, Will Smith and Jaden Smith respectively. Gardner tries to support his family. But every time he attempts to make things better, they always end up worse. Gardner in the story wonders on "how to be happy?" He earns his money by selling the bone density
In the story “Happy Endings” the author Margaret Atwood gives 6 scenarios in alphabetical order from A to F of how a couples life could play out over the span of their lives. In these six scenarios Atwood uses satire to emphasize how interchangeable and simple each couples life is. In this story Atwood uses character, style, and point of view to chastise the desire for the everyday common life and the concern for only the “whats” in life and not “how or why”.
“I love you.” These three little words might possibly be the most powerful statement one can make to another person. In life, most yearn for the intimate affection that a certain someone can provide them. Women dream of their Prince Charming to come and sweep them off their feet, while men search for the love of their life that sets their heart on fire. But what happens when love is thrown around without a second thought? Has this four letter word become an overused cliché? Has love been replaced with lust? Is there such a thing as true love? This last question has been asked throughout history, while many have argued and debated over the final answer. We, as a society, have become a loveless, sex crazed group
Arguments for the position held by Atwood with respect to the perfect ending to a work of fiction can be drawn from the societal relationships such as marriages and romantic affairs. These relationships are perceived as beautiful and comes with a form of fulfillment, thus should have a beautiful ending. Life should be easy and relationships should be successful. The ‘happy ending’ adopted by Atwood is an illustration of how easy life should be and how successful relationships such as marriages should turn out. She
Love is difficult to define, difficult to measure, and difficult to understand. Love is what great writers write about, great singers sing about, and great philosophers ponder. Love is a powerful emotion, for which there is no wrong definition, for it suits each and every person differently. Whether love is between family, friends, or lovers, it is an overwhelming emotion that can be experienced in many different ways.
I met her two years ago and we did not have much to say at that time. Little did I know that she would later steal my heart and become an intimate part of my life. As the saying goes "there is someone for anyone at any time in this life" and I was about to find out that this saying was so true. I have had a wall built around me and my defense was as a stronghold to protect myself from all the relationships that have come and gone over the years. I thought that I was meant to be alone in this old life and happiness was forever gone from me. This wonderful woman I am speaking of is Mary Doe, and the joy she has given me has revived my hope and faith that I may have finally found love and peace within. She has made me feel like I am a child
Psychologists have not located assured causes that lead people to well-being. David G. Myers in his article “The Funds, Friends, and Faith of Happy People” published in the American Psychologist (2000) and Michael Wiederman in “Why It's So Hard to Be Happy” published in the Scientific American Mind (2007), discuss the reasons which lead people to be happy, and the factors which contribute to unhappiness.
Romantic Comedy has been around for many generations enticing the public with ideas of love and romance in a humorous way. According to Dictionary.com Romantic Comedy is defined as, “a movie or play that deals with love in a light, humorous way.” For all romantic comedies to make this happen, they follow three simple rules. Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back. As Brian Finnigan from The Five Golden Rules of Romantic Comedy says, “Different but the same, He wants She Wants, turmoil, and learning curves”. Although these technical terms are different, they mean the same thing. Today that may look a little different but this is a staple part of romantic comedy that makes it different