As a seasoned film critic who has spent decades immersed in the world of cinema, I must admit that these modern romantic dramas have caught my attention with their raw and unapologetic portrayal of love, loss, and the human spirit. It’s refreshing to see such depth and complexity in a genre that often gets dismissed as fluffy or shallow.
In a harmonious agreement between our digital screens and physical bookstores, it’s clear that this year is all about the rise of romantic dramas. Kicking off in February was Netflix’s emotional rollercoaster, “One Day,” followed by Amazon Prime Video’s rom-com-turned-rom-drama, “The Idea of You” – a One Direction fan fiction turned real with an unexpected dose of tears. This summer promises the debut of “It Ends With Us,” the first Colleen Hoover adaptation to grace the big screen, and given her reputation for intense emotional depth, expect a heavy dose of dramatic seriousness. The new wave of romantic dramas departs from the old Nicholas Sparks adaptations set in quaint coastal towns; instead, we find ourselves in urban, cosmopolitan settings, where career-focused adults are grappling with life before surrendering to romance.
1.
The female lead is always self-empowered.
In contemporary romance narratives, it seems that aimless drifters akin to characters from ‘Eat Pray Love’ or ‘Under the Tuscan Sun’ no longer fit the bill. Instead, modern female love interests are expected to be self-reliant and even businesswomen, such as art gallery owners, writers, florists, chefs, or other independent professionals. Their personal empowerment through their careers is crucial to the romantic plot, as they must first decide what they want out of life before deciding who they want to love. The antiquated notion of falling in love for its own sake has waned, and such stories no longer align with modern feminist ideals.
2.
But the male interest is (usually) higher status.
In summary, the novels “The Idea of You,” “One Day,” and “A Family Affair,” as well as “It Ends With Us,” feature leading male characters who are semi-famous, wealthy, and charming, often referred to as ‘himbos.’ These stories, although not derived from fan fiction, share similar themes where an ordinary woman is discovered by the extraordinary man for her hidden potential. In “It Ends With Us,” the female protagonist is a florist, while the male lead is a neurosurgeon, creating a power dynamic that results in comedic humility from the woman and necessitates the man to adapt to her world to win her affection. Despite her sophisticated tastes, she strives to appear more beautiful or elegant until she understands he appreciates her for who she truly is.
3.
Our female protagonist suffers at least one minor humiliation.
In these romance stories, the female characters face varying degrees of hurt, from the seemingly trivial (Solène being mocked by August Moon fans due to her age in ‘The Idea of You’) to the severe (the abusive relationship that drives the plot in ‘It Ends With Us’). These women must decide if they can forgive and move past their shame and sadness, and critically evaluate whether the male characters can genuinely apologize for their mistakes. This is a common trope in romantic comedies – someone causing problems before the happy ending – but in these dramas, it’s intensified, often making the main characters suffer for things beyond their control.
4.
Kids get in the way.
In most of these romantic dramas, such as “One Day” featuring Ambika Mod’s Emma and “A Family Affair” starring Joey King’s Zara, the female protagonists struggle with their personal growth due to the responsibilities of motherhood. Often, children serve as barriers to their happiness. For instance, Zara confronts her mother, Brooke (portrayed by Nicole Kidman), for dating her boss, Chris (Zac Efron). Similarly, Anne Hathaway’s Solène from “The Idea of You” ends her relationship with Hayes (Nicholas Galitzine) when she learns about her daughter being bullied at school. In films like “It Ends With Us” and “We Live in Time”, children are used as emotional tools to emphasize the tragic nature of the story. These rom-drams suggest that a woman can achieve it all – balance motherhood and career – but only if she’s prepared to endure hardships along the way.
5.
They all have a trauma plot.
Discussing hardships in romance dramas, they’re often packed with tough experiences such as the loss of parents or spouses, strained relationships with parents, unresolved childhood traumas, and more. Some characters might be dealing with past relationship issues, like those portrayed in ‘It Ends With Us’ and ‘The Idea of You’. Regardless of their gender, they must conquer numerous challenges: age discrimination (Solène and Hayes in ‘The Idea of You’), abuse (Lily, Ryle, and Atlas in ‘It Ends With Us’), loss due to death (Brooke and Chris in ‘A Family Affair’, Emma and Dex in ‘One Day’), cancer (Almut and Tobias in ‘We Live in Time’), personal issues from their past (again, the ‘It Ends With Us’ crew). The romantic connections at the heart of these narratives are less about finding true love and more about healing from past mistakes. In essence, it’s not just about love; it’s about therapy and recovery.
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2024-07-31 14:53