Romance and movies have been intertwined since the dawn of film-making, with some of the first ever films involving acts of romantic affection between couples. The May Irwin Kiss from 1896, a 30 second film about two lovers doting on each other, along with Something Good from 1989 having similar themes, would help build to what is seen today in modern movie making.
As the years progressed and technology became more complex, the once simple clips began to blossom into long films. But, despite the stark difference in quality and advanced storytelling, stories revolving around romance continued to be created and seen.
“I think I like older romance movies because theres a lot of similar [older movies] with the same formula… like oh, they meet, they fall in love, they end up together. But the plot can vary a lot because of the different settings and siutations around the characters,” junior Hailey Dinger said. Older romances like Gone With the Wind or Prie and Prejudice follow a pattern of focusing on the more fantastical, ‘happily-ever-after’ type endings, which can count as either a negative or a positive depending on a viewers personal preferences.
“I love Pride and Prejudice because it has that slow burn romance… It feels more real. It really feels like these characters are together, and you can feel it when they are getting together or breaking up,” senior Amy Burford said.
And even if older romance movies can be boiled down to a basic formula, its still arguable that they hold a deep place for some, like how Burford’s family will bond over their shared love for them. “It’s [watching movies] such a bonding activity for my mom, sister, and I. We just have a Saturday where we don’t have to do anything and we are just going to watch a chick flick.”
The content within these films can be much more digestible than other genres, making it something that they can just turn on in the background or watch to relax. “I like how they’re normally light hearted, its just a fun little story,” said senior Gretchen Morgenstern. “You’re never really wondering whats going to happen, so you can pretty easily watch and follow along.”
But how do these films compare to more ‘modern day’ movies?
La La Land, a movie released in 2018, has been labeled as a well known, praised romance movie that combined new elements and stories that haven’t been displayed like that before. “I love La La Land, its like my all time favorite… it almost portrays love as something that won’t be perfect, and that it won’t be something that everyone has a great time with,” senior Zoey Sabbatino said.
The story ends with the two main characters seeing each other long after they split up, with a bittersweet moment where they catch each others eyes before leaving once again. It is far from the more fantastical, happy endings that older romances are accustomed too.
Other than the difference in tone and messaging, there are other details that tend to set apart these differently aged films. “Instead of the romances being more slow and developed, it sometimes feels like they quickly start ‘doing the dirty’,” said Burford. “I feel like sometimes it could represent an important moment within a relationship, but nowadays it feels very superficial.”
As society progresses further, the media produced will often reflect or sometimes oppose the status quo people are used too. Whether we enjoy the romantic classics from a life before our time, or enjoy films full of love that are expanding on our current worldview and life, this art will always be a way for humans to express the differing ways we can all love.
