Good Ol' Romance - A Revival in the 1990's

by Minna Lapinkangas

'Videos for sale: Ang Lee's Sense and Sensibility based on a book by Jane Austen; warm and fun entertainment. Buy now.'

My eyes stop in the middle of this advertisement and the braincells slowly start to scream the words 'warm and fun' to my entire understanding system. I gasp a bit and gingerly begin to recollect my thoughts after seeing the film in question. I stumbled between sentimental happy-end-joy and humbleness towards life and its miracles. That is to say something else from warm and fun. The advertisement, of course, was trying to be positive and attractive. Nevertheless, the expression sounds true but, above all, lame.

I smell conspiracy while exploring advertisements like that. Sense and Sensibility truly 'took my breath away' and made me realize that there is a serious, vital wave of romance floating through the world of film industry and most importantly through the viewers. This phenomenon needs no underestimations, not even from the Christmas sales.

After discovery of Pretty Woman and other Phoenix-like recoveries in films, I think the film industry had to find a way to regain its credibility. Jane Campion's The Piano started a fresh, new movement. Campion suddenly threw her movie to the 19th century and found various dimensions to work and deal with. The modern technology was used to to create the film, of course, but the atmosphere had to be structured extremely carefully. Campion succeeded. She produced an unusual, strong love affair with an unusual setting but with her sensitive touch she balanced with era of typically more strict moral values and main character's radical behaviour. The Piano intrigued. There was something utterly fascinating in the formula of the film.

The revolution had begun. Jane Austen soon became the leading star of this movement because of her novels. Actress Emma Thompson took the liberty to write Austen's Sense and Sensibility into a manuscript. After the success of The Piano the film industry eagerly wanted to pay attention to the 18th and 19th century and the literature of that period. Fairly soon Thompson starred the film directed by Ang Lee. Thompson had beautifully restored the spirit of Austen's world. Sophisticated manners entangled with simple necessities like marriage gave a certain intensity. Flourishing English nature, skillfully designed costumes and good actors did their job well. Success was huge. Austen's Persuasion was filmed shortly after that and Pride and Prejudice adapted to a TV-series.

Increasing amount of productions with romantic flavour are appearing to the screens. The main author and factor seems to be Jane Austen. However, the Bronte sisters are also starting their conquest with the filming of Jane Eyre. Austen's world differs a great deal from our (as a postmodern intelligentia) perspectives. The society then was overwhelmingly based on class division, which led to some evident matters. A man needed private wealth and a woman needed the security of the marriage with the money. Austen narrates about women with no capital but strength of character, intelligence and humble but curious approach to life. One can't have it all; it is either money or love. Nevertheless, a profound endeavour to good helps the characters to make the both ends meet.

What intrigues the modern viewers is the constant control of emotions. Whatever one may feel the point is to neglect and reduce those feelings with grace and solemnly believe in one's own judgement and sensibility. Good conduct without false pride build up the foundation to real humanity. The moral respects straightforwardness and validity, which both constitute one's happiness and fulfilment. The recent films show that there might be a slight constitutive moral crisis in the world right now.

Somehow the romance flow seem to be provocative. Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo produced a post-war peak of romance forty years ago. People wanted images of excitement and joy but safely by sitting in the chairs of movie theatre. Now the film industry has stricked into an open wound in the battles of world-wide recession in the 1990's. Films provide a pleasant escape from the everyday life. Yes, it sounds like another cliché but it is true. People gather together to sit in the dark in the theatre, live two hours in another world and gain experiences. Success shows that the expressions like 'warm' or 'fun' do not properly qualify the emotions involved. The need for romance lies somewhere between a busy day in the office and the divorce court. The best passage through tough times is a large cup of hot chocolate and a film with enchanting manners and happy, happy endings.

Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction (see also the Violence article -ed.) and Lee's Sense and Sensibility have something in common . They are well-made, reach their audience and bring profits. They both could be publicize as entertainment. The difference stands in the approach. Violence can be laughable and common but may turn out be ugly and filthy. Romance brings softness, pictures of elegancy. These aspects of romance might be too far-fetched to the postmodern viewer who watches all kinds of films. Romantic revival gets its energy about the weak moments of viewers. When one has seen blood up to one's ears, a fresh touch of sensitive plot soothes the mind and the mother-in-law.

Picture copyrights

Sense and Sensibility © 1996 Columbia Pictures

(from Sony Pictures Entertainment's Sense and Sensibility page)

The Piano © CiBy 2000

(from Magnus Hjelstuen's The Piano page)

Sense and Sensibility © 1996 Columbia Pictures

(from Sony Pictures Entertainment's Sense and Sensibility page)

Used without permission.