If there is any constant theme that runs through film, it is love. Be it an action thriller, sci-fi, adventure or comedy, the idea of love stays fundamental in all angles of a good movie.
Among some unforgettable classics lies whip-smart scripts that zoom into sensitive happenings engulfing the life of a married couple. For Meryl Streep’s turn in ‘Out of Africa’, she plays Karen Blixen, an affectionate damsel who travels to Africa to be with her husband, Bror (Klaus Maria Brandauer). Expectant of a good relationship, things turn bizarre as the true traits of Bror begin to unfold.
Likewise, the African tale ‘Tango with Me’, a rape incident hatches an unseen coldness between newly-weds Lola (Genevieve Nnaji) and Uzo (Joseph Benjamin). Their envisioned happiness gets compromised as Uzo is unable to erase the night’s events from his memory.
While fiction plots of married couples garner impressive commercial success, love stories in tune with class difference are equally at their best in cinemas and streams. ‘Titanic’, the tragic love story between Rose (Kate Winslet) and Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) stayed atop as the highest-grossing film of all time until a decade and half later.
Despite the unpleasant scenarios these films and their counterparts illustrate, there still is an appetite for the genre. In the end, love saves the day for a happy ever after.
As we celebrate the day of love with whoever we consider our special one, let’s indulge ourselves with some of the best works that cinemas and streams have produced in past years.
Films
‘Out of Africa’
Synopsis: Initially set on being a dairy farmer, the aristocratic Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep) travels to Africa to join her husband, Bror (Klaus Maria Brandauer), who instead spends their money on a coffee plantation. After discovering Bror is unfaithful, Karen develops feelings for hunter Denys (Robert Redford), but realizes he prefers a simplistic lifestyle compared to her upper class background. The two continue on until a series of events force Karen to choose between her love and personal growth.
Cast: Meryl Streep, Klaus Maria Brandauer
Director: Sydney Pollack
Available to watch: Netflix
‘Tango with Me’
Synopsis: Lola and Uzo’s lives seem to be perfect, then their happiest day becomes their worst.
Cast: Genevieve Nnaji, Joseph Benjamin
Director: Mahmood Ali-Balogun
Available to watch: Iroko TV
‘Titanic’
Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Rose hails from an aristocratic family and is set to be married. When she boards the Titanic, she meets Jack Dawson, an artist, and falls in love with him.
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet
Director: James Cameron
Available to watch: Hulu
‘The Notebook’
Synopsis: Duke reads the story of Allie and Noah, two lovers who were separated by fate, to Ms Hamilton, an old woman who suffers from dementia, on a daily basis out of his notebook.
Cast: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling
Director: Nick Cassavetes
Available to watch: Netflix
‘Road to Yesterday’
Synopsis: A struggling couple try to save their failing marriage by reconnecting on a road trip.
Cast: Genevieve Nnaji, Erhuero
Director: Ishaya Bako
Available to watch: Netflix
‘Mr. and Mrs.’
Synopsis: Susan is the low self-esteem wife that her husband undervalues. However, when she summoned courage to face her fears, she found a new confidence that shocked him.
Cast: Nse Ikpe-Etim, Joseph Benjamin
Director: Ikechukwu Onyeka
Available to watch: Amazon Prime Video
‘Devil in the Detail’
Synopsis: Ben is suspicious of his wife after noticing she was making secret calls and lying about her whereabouts. Lacking the courage to confront her, he gets involved with someone else.
Cast: Nse Ikpe-Etim, Adjetey Anang
Director: Shirley Frimpong-Manso
Available to watch: Sparrow Station
‘Malcolm & Marie’
Synopsis: Smoldering tensions and painful revelations push a filmmaker and his girlfriend toward a romantic reckoning.
Cast: Zendaya, John David Washington
Director: Sam Levinson
Available to watch: Netflix
