Remember the article I wrote titled "Where'd You Go, Hollywood Romances?"? In that piece, I talked about how Hollywood's romance films no longer feel bold or authentic. This article will continue the discussion. While Hollywood seems to have lost its edge in depicting passionate love stories, the flame of romance films is still burning brightly in Europe.
I believe that Hollywood's love stories today are getting increasingly cautious, being largely constrained by political correctness and social pressure. A good example is the recent film It Ends with Us. This film addresses domestic violence, yet Blake Lively , the lead actress, barely mentioned this central theme during its promotion. She framed it as a love story, which sparked backlash from the public. The film has faced criticism online, with calls for boycotts. While Lively's approach to discussing the film might be misguided, did it really have to be escalated into a boycott?
In my opinion, American cancel culture has gone too far. Every little thing gets boycotted once limits are minimally tested. While social movements for gender and racial equality have had positive impacts, I believe they've caused significant damage to the arts. It's this fear of societal backlash that makes Hollywood romance films increasingly intimidated to explore real, complex emotional conflicts.
Luckily, Europe hasn't been as affected by these pressures. European romance films continue to push boundaries. For instance, Out of Season, a 2023 Venice Film Festival nominee, tells the story of a married mother having an affair. There's no forced moral judgment; instead, the film presents the emotional complexity of the extramarital affair and explores the loneliness and longing within marriage. The sex scenes are raw and unpolished, neither sensationalized nor shied away from. These intimate moments reveal the emotional turbulence of the characters—something you rarely see in Hollywood, where films are careful not to cross "moral lines."
Blue is the Warmest Color (2013) is another excellent example of a European film that deeply explores love. The film's long sex scenes aren't there for shock value—they're integral to showcasing the emotional connection between the characters. They reveal human loneliness, desire, and struggle. In the U.S., films with racy content are often censored or toned down, while in Europe, they're praised for their realistic portrayal of romantic relationships. These films go beyond simple romance, delving into the profound conflict between desire and emotion.
I'm also reminded of The Dreamers (2003), which daringly portrays a love triangle involving a woman and two men living together. This kind of bold storytelling is almost nonexistent in mainstream American cinema, especially when it includes explicit nudity. While The Dreamers might not be banned in the U.S., the country has given such films many cultural constraints. For example, in many American films, characters who behave in ways that deviate from societal norms—like infidelity—often meet tragic ends.
In Hollywood, characters involved in extramarital affairs or breaking up families almost always face dire consequences. Take Fatal Attraction (1987) for example—Alex Forrest (Glenn Close ) ends up in a disastrous spiral after committing an affair with a married man. Similarly, in American Beauty (1999), Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey ) is ultimately shot dead after being infatuated with a much younger woman. These endings don't just serve the plot; they act as American society's moral condemnation of infidelity and betrayal. Directors in Hollywood are careful not to challenge the boundaries of romance films too much, knowing how strongly American audiences respond to these moral codes.
I also want to point out that many directors and films blacklisted in the U.S. continue to thrive in Europe.
Take Lolita (both 1962 and 1997 versions) for instance. Though it's often excluded from the romance genre due to its controversial subject matter, I see it as a story that contains significant romantic elements. Many argue that it's more about taboo and power dynamics than actual love. However, the emotional tension at its core is undeniable, and that's why I consider it a love story worth discussing here. Even though it's now banned in many circles in the U.S., Lolita is still recognized at European film festivals, showing that the continent embraces a more open and tolerant view of love in cinema.
Woody Allen 's works also suffered the same fate, getting boycotted by Hollywood. Though he was cleared of sexual abuse allegations in court, the scandals surrounding his personal life led to his near-complete ostracization from the American film industry. Public opinions about his classics, including the once-celebrated Manhattan (1979), are now tilted towards the negative, and his entire body of work has slowly faded from the public eye. Yet in Europe, Allen continues to be embraced and his films are premiered at major film festivals, where his works are still appreciated. This contrast highlights the stark difference in how love and personal conduct are perceived in American and European cinema cultures.
Fortunately, these bold, complex love stories haven't disappeared; they've just migrated from Hollywood to Europe's screens. In Europe, filmmakers aren't shackled by moral judgments, and directors are free to explore the multifaceted and often contradictory nature of love, and portray the full spectrum of true human emotions without fear of censorship.
Catch you later for more movie musings!
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