THE ROMANCE/DRAMA GENRE

 

ROMANCE/DRAMA, AS A GENRE:

            The romance/drama genre is a sub-genre of romance which deep dives into the emotional and complex side of a relationship. As the story revolves around a couples and the obstacles they face together, the conflicting emotions while facing them are explored in a profound way that other sub-genres of romance wouldn't touch upon. Most times, the goal of the film is to engulf the viewer into the story and generate an emotional impact. The viewer is supposed to empathize with both side of the story, beyond their mistakes and wrongdoings to one another, romance/dramas are here to show the complexity of characters and relationships.

WHAT MAKES A ROMANTIC DRAMA?

    

    CONTENT.

            A love story or the pursuit of it, is the main focus of romantic drama films. In this specific sub-genre, the viewer is taken through the trial the couple faces together. From illnesses, finances, infidelity, status in society (racial or social), or the everyday life that strains the passionate love between the two main characters.

            Given the harsh situations the characters face, romantic dramas don't start from exhibiting the complexity of its characters. In most films, if the narrative wasn't intended to make the viewer understand the main characters, it would be difficult to sympathize as they make mistakes along the way. Taking the complexity of each individual main character, the convoluted dynamic between the two and their relationship pushes forward the story.

    PRODUCTION.

            Romantic drama films, as they revolve around its characters, focuses on the simplicity of telling a story in its rawest form rather than heavy post-production elements. Although sound, color, and dialogue are key production elements used throughout most films in this genre.

            Raising emotion out of the viewer, as well as properly showcasing the character's emotions, is a goal set by romance/drama films. Sound is incorporated in a few different ways to achieve this, as non-diegetic sounds helps build the tone and emotional. Voiceovers are used often in this genre, as a way to thoroughly explain a character's emotion or story when the dialogue falls short. Also, music is usually incorporated as another way to demonstrate the character's unspoken emotions.

            Undeniably, the dialogue of a romantic drama is what ultimately make or breaks the film. This makes the script what can be considered the most important part of the production of a romance/drama. Having the film be so reliant on the story of the main characters, and not of an epic adventure or action sequences, their interactions between each other and outside world is essential. Building the character, their flaws and tributes sets the path for showing their complexity in themselves as well as a part of a relationship.

HOW IS IT MARKETED?

            The target audience for films in this genre usually range between 13 years old to 40 year old women. This happens to be because the performance of the heavily emotional movies relies on the audience's willingness to get absorb by it. Men, on the most part, tend to stray away from films with emotional pull. In the contrary, young women are deliberately drawn to it. Although this doesn't exclude men from enjoying it, the movie is still produced to appeal the targeted age and gender. That being said, romantic dramas are marketed through social media, trailers, and advertisements. In recent years, social media has taken the lead in this because of the easy way to reach the audience. The posters and campaign are typically showing the couple which the film revolves around, either hinting the upcoming trial they are to face or simply showing a heartfelt moment that turns to be a staple of the film.

FILMS TO CONSIDER:

    THE NOTEBOOK (2004)

            The Notebook is a 2004 film directed by Nick Cassavetes, based on the novel of the same name by Nicolas Sparks, follows the story of Noah (Ryan Gosling) a poor but passionate young man that fall in love at first sight with the rich and beautiful Allie (Rachel McAdams). As it dives into their story, the turbulence of their relation centers the story, as their different socio-economic status forces them apart for years before reuniting once again. The first thing to notice is how the story of a young Allie and Noah is being narrated by an epistolary voice, as an older version of Noah recounts their love story to an older Allie from her own notebook, given that she suffers from Alzheimer's disease. The film idealizes the moments not only following the couple in their early years, but also at the end of the movie. Achieved through the lighting and colors, seeming bright and alive throughout the film, and at the end the hospital seems to resembles heaven more than an elders facility as the couple dies together. The symbolism of the house and what it represents to the main characters doesn't go unnoticed. The literal building of their home that went from an abandoned place to Allie's dream house parallels the couple building their life towards each other. For last, the movie poster captures Allie and Noah kissing under the rain when they finally make the decision to be together. Placing a staple moment of the movie as the selling point, and showing the yearning of the characters for each other.

OTHER FILM RECOMMENDATIONS:

            Pride & Prejudice (2005)

            Brokeback Mountain (2006)

            Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

            If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

            Marriage Story (2019)

            Casablanca (1943)