THE 7 BASIC PLOTS OF ROMANCE FILMS

                       By Bev Truter

Based on a short article by Don Oldenburg printed in "Washington
Post" and our Aussie newspaper, "The Age", liberally sprinkled
with quotes from Marcia Millman (sociologist) and Judith Sills
(psychologist).

Many films with a love story or romantic plot strike emotional
chords in audiences because they reflect plot lines and themes
that emerge time and again in our own lives. These appear to be
universal stories, and the movie-making industry often comes up
with plots that key into the very profound experiences and
emotional fantasies of viewers.  Hollywood may script its love
stories for entertainment and box-office success, but many classic
romance films can be instructive, even therapeutic, in helping us
understand our romantic attractions and disappointments.


Buried in the plot lines of films such as 'Casablanca' and 'Dirty
Dancing' are the answers, Millman claims, to such timeless
questions as "Why do I always fall for the wrong guy?" and "Should
I risk everything for love?" By recognizing the following seven
basic love stories that are re-enacted in films, fiction and life,
Millman says we can connect with the motives and early experiences
that unconsciously drive our choices and behaviour in
relationships with other people. These seven basic love stories,
like myths, reflect existential human problems; which is why we
often identify so strongly with the characters portrayed in these
films.

1. FIRST LOVE (eg Titanic and Dirty Dancing)
A powerful plot line for youth when finding romance has much to do
with breaking away from our parents and finding our own identity.
Later in life, as in 'The Way We Were', some people long for their
first love to recapture their youth, or when something is missing
in their current relationship.


2. PYGMALION SYNDROME (eg My Fair Lady, Educating Rita and Working
Girl)
The mentor-and-protege plot revolves around the older partner's
need for admiration and control, and the younger one's desire to
grow.  This storyline often triggers emotions in women who lost
their fathers at an early age.

3. OBSESSIVE LOVE (eg Play 'Misty' for Me and Fatal Attraction)
This is often characterised wrongly as "loving too much", says
Millman.  Instead, this type of plot is more about a lover whose
fear of abandonment and anger drives him/her to control his/her
partner.

4. THE DOWNSTAIRS WOMAN AND THE UPSTAIRS MAN (eg Pretty Woman and
You've Got Mail.)
One of the most popular stories usually involves a bright,
ambitious woman from a poor and unconnected background who falls
in love with a powerful and wealthy man out of her reach. Millman
sees this as the woman's aim to win the love of a powerful man to

make up for the father who paid no attention to her or rejected
her.

5. SACRIFICE (eg Casablanca, The Bridges of Madison County and The
End of the Affair.)
This more typically middle-age story is ostensibly about
sacrificing once-in-a-lifetime happiness for a higher moral
purpose or principle - not hurting someone else, or a higher
calling.  Millman interprets this plot as depicting people who are
afraid of passion reaching middle age, and then losing their fear
of passion.

6. RESCUE (eg Beauty and the Beast, Run Lola Run & What Dreams May
Come.)
Common for both men and women, it's the tale of falling in love
with someone who has been wounded in the past, and unconsciously
seeking to rescue oneself by saving the lover.

7. THE COURAGE TO LOVE - POSTPONEMENT AND AVOIDANCE (eg An Affair
to Remember, Sleepless in Seattle & Forever Young.)
Perhaps the all-time favourite, this is about having faith that
love will survive every obstacle. Such stories are about someone
who has been inhibited or afraid finally taking a chance on love,
and it works out well - the "love conquers all" theme that we find
so irresistibly appealing.














                              - o -