Romance: 132

China Girl (1987) is an independent neo-noir romantic thriller film directed by Abel Ferrara and written by his longtime partner Nicholas St. John. Set in 1980’s New York City, the story follows teenage boy Anthony ‘Tony’ who lives in Little Italy and works at a pizzeria making dough. During a night out at a nightclub, he meets and dances with the beautiful Chinese teenager, Tye. Their encounter is cut short when Tony is pursued by the local Chinese street gang led by Tsu Shin, but he is saved by his older brother Alberto ‘Alby’, who heads ...

Touch and Go (1986) is a romantic comedy-drama directed by Robert Mandel, centered around Bobby Barbato, a professional ice hockey player in Chicago. Accustomed to adoring fans and the attention of attractive women, Bobby’s routine is disrupted when a group of youths attempt to rob him. Despite the altercation, he manages to overpower them and apprehend the youngest member, Louis DeLeon. As a result, Bobby offers to give Louis a ride home where he meets his mother Denise, a Hispanic woman. Though they initially clash, Bobby soon finds himself developing feelings for Denise and their relationship begins to blossom. ...

Written and directed by John Sayles, Baby It’s You (1983) is a romantic comedy drama set in 1966 New Jersey. Jill Rosen, an upper-middle-class Jewish girl headed for Sarah Lawrence College, enters into a relationship with the Sheik, a blue-collar Italian boy with dreams of becoming the next Frank Sinatra. While Jill excels in high school acting productions, the Sheik has a one-night stand with Jody, one of Jill’s close friends. However, their budding romance is cut short when the Sheik is expelled from school and flees to Miami, Florida after being involved in an attempted robbery. In the fall of 1967, Jill ...

In the suburbs of Chicago, an American romantic drama film by Franco Zeffirelli, titled Endless Love (1981), tells the story of 15 year old Jade Butterfield and 17 year old David Axelrod. After being introduced by Jade’s older brother Keith, the two fall deeply in love and share a passionate relationship. The intensity of their connection is not unnoticed by Ann, who seems to live vicariously through them. However, David’s presence in Jade’s life creates tension with her husband Hugh, who becomes increasingly jealous and insists that David stay away from Jade. To make matters worse, even Jade’s ...

Tim (1979), a romantic drama, marks the directorial debut of Michael Pate. It tells the story of Mary Horton, a wealthy and well-educated American woman living independently, and Tim Melville, a charming 24-year-old who is developmentally impaired and works as a builder’s labourer under her employ. Tim resides with his parents Ron and Emily, as well as his older sister Dawnie. When Dawnie marries her boyfriend Mick Harrington, they do not shy away from expressing their disapproval of Mary and her relationship with Tim. Despite this opposition, Tim ultimately marries Mary.

Manhattan (1979) is a charming romantic comedy-drama from the renowned director Woody Allen and producer Charles H. Joffe. The movie opens with captivating scenes of New York City, set to the delightful tune of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. As the camera pans over the city, we hear Isaac Davis, our main character, narrating an introduction for his book on a man who adores this vibrant metropolis. A 42-year-old television writer and two-time divorcee, Isaac decides to leave his unfulfilling job. He’s currently dating Tracy, a young student at Dalton ...

The American satirical romantic comedy-drama film, Annie Hall (1977), was directed by Woody Allen and co-written by Allen and Marshall Brickman. Its main character, comedian Alvy Singer, reflects on his past relationship with Annie Hall that ended a year ago. Growing up in Brooklyn, he often challenged his mother with existential questions. While waiting in line for ‘The Sorrow and the Pity’, they overhear a man criticizing Federico Fellini and Marshall McLuhan’s work. In his mind, Alvy imagines inviting ...

The Great Gatsby (1974) is an American film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel of the same name, directed by Jack Clayton. Writer Nick Carraway visits his cousin Daisy and her husband Tom at their East Egg mansion, where he discovers their troubled marriage and Tom’s affair with a woman in New York. Nick resides in a modest cottage in West Egg, next to an enigmatic tycoon named Gatsby, who throws lavish parties at his estate. During one of these gatherings, Tom introduces Nick to his mistress Myrtle, who is married to an auto mechanic named George ...

Breezy (1973), a romantic drama directed by Clint Eastwood and produced by Robert Daley, follows the story of a young couple who wakes up together after a one-night stand. Edith Alice ‘Breezy’ Breezerman quickly gets dressed and steps into the daylight. Having lost her parents in a car accident and leaving her aunt’s care after high school, Breezy now roams California as a carefree hippie, spending her nights couch surfing. Meanwhile, Frank Harmon, a middle-aged wealthy man with a successful career in real estate, is saying goodbye to an overnight guest ...

A Fine Madness (1966) is a Technicolor comedy-drama film directed by Irvin Kershner. It is based on the novel of the same name written by Elliott Baker in 1964. The story centers around Samson Shillitoe, a poet living in Greenwich Village with his supportive wife Rhoda, who works as a waitress. However, Samson’s struggles with writer’s block lead to outbursts of aggression and sadness. On top of this, he is constantly pursued by a debt collector for unpaid alimony to his ex-wife and faces potential arrest if he does not pay up. His troubles escalate when he ...

Columbia Pictures released the romantic film In the French Style (1963), directed by Robert Parrish. Christina James, an American student, moves to Paris for the vibrant art scene. Amidst the bustling crowds at a gallery, she meets sixteen-year-old Guy and they begin a love affair. She also indulges in relationships with European men. Despite her father’s warning about temporary love, she leaves her long-term fling with a British journalist to wed American surgeon Dr. John Haislip.

Casablanca (1942) is a romantic drama film directed by Michael Curtiz. The main characters, played by Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid, find themselves in the city of Casablanca during World War II. Rick Blaine, an American expatriate who runs ‘Rick’s Café Américain’, welcomes all types of patrons to his club – Vichy French officials, Nazi Germans, refugees seeking a way to the United States, and those looking to take advantage of ...