The Power of Love: Exploring Romantic Films

2. What is a romantic film? Definition: Romance films (or romance movies) are romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres and on television that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters and the journey that their genuinely strong, true and pure romantic love takes them through dating, courtship or marriage Examples include: When Harry met Sally, Love Actually, Titanic, Pretty Woman

3. Typical Conventions • “Boy meets Girl” scenario • “Happily ever after” • Characters end up going separate ways after argument/disagreement then reunite and spend rest of lives together • Story is normally linked to audiences emotions • Hints throughout film suggesting they are a ‘good match’ • Symbolisation- hearts, wedding bells, flowers, chocolates, alcohol • Strong emotions- Happiness, love, lust, sadness, depression • Aimed at female audience

4. Characters • Males often meet females in this genre • One or the other character nearly always has some problem going on in there life such as their job or a family members death etc. • The characters are often in their mid-twenties • Normally a judgmental family member

5. Mise en scene Common mise en scene in this type of film tends to be things such as an everyday house with beds, kitchen etc. This is where a large proportion of the plot tends to happen. The bedroom seems to be a popular room for the scene to be set due to the links with bedroom, love and emotions. Often there is also soft or natural lighting, which is used to achieve the feeling of it being realistic and making the story as believable as possible. The costumes of the characters are most always to a bare minimum in a large proportion of the scenes due to the characters wanting to draw attention to one another. Where they enter the bedroom, even less will be on. There is also the tendency to have ‘his’ and ‘her’ things such as dressing gowns, taps/sinks, cups etc. This keeps it realistic again by having opposing sex everyday items. More props will include alcohol, for example champagne, and also special gifts like jewellery for the woman given from the man. This helps show the typical ‘relationship’ however it will often be shown as exaggerated compared to couples in real life.

6. For example, in Bridget Jones, Daniel takes Bridget on a weekend away in a very ‘posh’ hotel and they travel there in an open top car with their hair blowing in the wind Here you can see the typical ‘flowers’ associated with the romantic genre. There is also lots of soft toned colours such as the blush pink chairs and carpet. This helps with the ‘tenderness’ of the story and sets the scene of their ‘mini-break’, a gift from Daniel.

7. Camera/Editing In romantic films, shots such as shot reverse shot is used, as well as close ups, extreme close ups, two shots, mid shots and long shots. Long shots are used to allow the audience to see the characters whole body as well as part of the setting. Long shots can help the viewer distinguish the space between the two characters which is a good indication of how both characters are feeling in that moment of time towards one another. In this scene

8. A two shot is used to show a particular relationship between the characters. This is also a mid shot, and means we are able to see the top half of their bodies. In this shot taken from Mr and Mrs Smith, played by Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, we can see the expressions and gestures they show, give off a sense that they just get on with life and their relationship. They have fun and don’t take things too seriously. This could suggest that they are comfortable around each other and have known/been with each other for quite some time.

9. Extreme close ups are used to show the strong emotions lying within a character. For example in the notebook … We could see the strong emotional connection between Noah and Allie in this kissing Scene. They are showing that they are really fond of each other. Panning/tracking shots are often used to show the audience a characters attachment to the other person whether that is them following one another. Here in The Notebook, a panning shot is used to follow the characters into the bedroom and around to the bed. The bed again being typical of a romantic genre.

10. Close ups are used to allow the audience to see the characters face and show the emotion painted across them. It allows us to see what the characters are feeling or thinking. It is common in romantic films for this shot to be used to show a character in love, hurt or rejected. Here, Jane has a look that her craving of love towards her husband John, has been satisfied and the same can be said for him. It looks as if although they are married, they are playing hard to get and flirting with one another during the romantic dance scene.

11. Sound Sound plays a large part in romantic films and helps to set the mood and tone as well as the atmosphere. In this genre, a soft gentle soundtrack would be used. This helps to show the sensitivity of the relationship and the feelings of the characters involved. The music creates the mood and suspense and is often created with violins, pianos etc. These instruments can be used effectively through diegetic and non diegetic sound editing. Typically in a romantic film opening, the music doesn’t become noticeable till after the characters have said their dialogue during the first few minutes this is so the audience can hear what the characters are saying, which is often very important in the first few minutes so the viewer can get a rough picture of what’s going on. Both non diegetic and diegetic sound has to balanced effectively so one doesn't’ overdo the other. For example, in Silver linings playbook, when Pat says ‘Happy Halloween 'and Tiffany says ‘HI 'in a flirty way with the non diegetic music playing in the background.