Let’s be honest; we all take our life advice from films in some way or another. Those poignant scenes aren’t just for the giggles. In fact, most of them have an important message or two. It’s called the moral, guys, and applying it to your life can be more useful than many of us realize. For example, there are many romantic movies that have taught us many lessons in love…
If you pick the right movies to learn from, you could go far. There are lessons about growing up, adulthood, and often most prominently – love. The majority of films have at least some touch of romance, and so can teach us a lot about the art. To prove the point, let’s look at some romantic films and the lessons hidden therein.
Bridget Jones’s Diary
We can’t talk about romance films without talking about Bridget Jones’s Diary. This British classic took the world by storm in 2001 and has been part of popular culture ever since. Based on the book by Helen Fielding, this follows 32-year-old Bridget as she traverses the world of singledom. Along the way, she hooks up with bad boy Daniel Cleaver, and battles with Mark Darcy, a childhood friend she can’t get a grip on.
There are so many things here. Few romantic scenes top the moment when Mark Darcy tells Bridget she’s perfect ‘just the way she is’. Because, of course, she is, and so are we! Power to women everywhere. Bridget’s dalliances with Daniel Cleaver teach us all that the bad boy isn’t the right one. He’ll never change. Oh, and let’s not forget the main lesson to be learnt – never opt for big knickers.
Eat, Pray, Love
2010 saw the release of a movie adaptation of the best-selling memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert. The film shows Gilbert’s realization of unhappiness, her proceeding divorce, and a life-changing trip to three countries. Boy, is this a life-affirming film. If you’re looking for lessons to learn, this is the place to head.
First lesson – if you aren’t happy, make a change. Pretty soon after she realized her dire situation, Gilbert contacts family law help and initiates a divorce. She doesn’t hate her husband, but she needs more from her life. The changes aren’t easy, and there are many moments of struggle. But, by the end of the film, Gilbert’s a lot closer to the life she wants for herself.
500 Days Of Summer
In 2009, pixie-dream rom-com 500 Days Of Summer came into our lives, and we’ve loved it ever since. This non-linear masterpiece consists of snippets from the ‘relationship’ of Summer and Tom. We start at the end, and jump through the relationship to piece together what’s happened. Quite refreshingly, though, Tom is the one left heartbroken.
Again, there are lessons galore to learn, most importantly that men get hurt too! Along the way, we also learn about the rose-tinted glasses through which we view past relationships. And, let’s not forget the central moral of the film – if someone walks away, they aren’t right for you after all.
