Introduction
The movie “The Story of Us” by Rob Reiner can be acclaimed as one of the most successful romantic dramas released in 1999. This is no wonder as the film features outstanding play by actors, an interesting and thought-provoking layout, and good quality of its accomplishment. Overall, the film appears to be a great piece of film-making art representing the themes of love and affection along with a number of difficulties marriages may face after years of coupledom.
“Erosion” of the marriage
“The Story of Us” is an unusual story as Hollywood normally presents the plots depicting beautiful relations leading to marriage and everlasting happiness to the audience, and this film is a story showing what happens next. After the fairytale-like beginning, life confronts married couples with a lot of challenges weakening their affection. This is the situation shown in this movie. Berardinelli (1999, par.5) makes the following comment concerning this peculiarity of the film:
For about 90% of Hollywood’s romantic comedies, marriage (or some other form of permanent commitment) is the natural climax to the tale. The Story of Us picks up where those films stop. For about 90 minutes, we are witnesses to the erosion of a marriage. Two people who were once rapturously happy are currently involved in a contentious and unpleasant relationship. Now, the only thing louder than their arguments is the silence between them when they’re not speaking. They still care for each other, but they are strangers, and only the presence of two children has kept them from calling it quits.
This comment helps see the very essence of the problems in most marriages which is in the inability to sustain warm feelings and affection by many couples under the influence of life troubles.
Family and affection concepts
“The Story of Us” appears to be a great illustration of the family concepts learned in class, and the affection concept, in particular. The film addresses the problems of saving love, affection, and feelings in the marriage after many years spent together. The information learned in class finds its numerous reflections in the story plot of this movie. As the film begins, the situation when affection leaves the married couple is shown. What keeps these two people together is their obligation to their children; however, they forget the things that made them fall in love and unite their lives. Through the film, the audience may observe the abundance of problems developed in this family as a result of life hardships and daily routines destructing the two people from strengthening their marriage. The situation with this marriage resembles the things that happen to houses: once they are newly built, they shine with their nice looks and wonderful conveniences, but as time goes by and people use them, these buildings begin to totter. This is what happens to numerous marriages: initially, they are strong and happy, but with the duration of time they begin to molder. The only difference between houses and marriages is that usually, people repair their homes, but they forget to repair their relationships. This is the problem addressed in the movie under consideration. “The Story of Us” is a great lesson and visual aid for newly married couples showing what may happen if they will stop putting efforts into strengthening the bonds of union and affection between them. Thus, the film can be evaluated as an efficient illustration of the affection concepts discussed during the studies.
Reflecting on the film’s value, it appears that this romantic drama can be marked as a strong address to a number of critical issues which are times during the whole course of the history of humanity. This film impels thinking about such questions as what is to be done in order to preserve warm feelings and affection in the marriage. The film also encourages thinking of whether those people who broke their family bonds are right. “The Story of Us” impresses greatly and can be evaluated as very engaging; it is mainly explained by the team of professionals busy in it; especially, the director’s cut and the incredible play by its cast including inimitable Bruce Willis and Michelle Pfeiffer.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the film “The Story of Us” can be mentioned among the most successful romantic drama films of 1999. The film relates the themes of true love and affection in marriage along with the need to put the effort in order to save them. “The Story of Us” is a great piece of cinematography art helping to cope with the problems people face through the centuries. Especially nowadays, when people are accustomed to throwing away the things which were broken, the problem of the marriage crisis appears to be burning. In this vein, this film impresses with its wise concepts of saving marriage on behalf of children, on behalf of wonderful times spent together, and on behalf of the future. It seems that following the lessons learned from movies like this one would help millions of modern families to stay together, and to lead a happy and contented life.
References
Berardinelli, J. (1999). The Story of Us. Web.