Nancy Meyers' ``The Something's Gotta Give'' sparked a revolution in the romantic comedy industry.

Courage to start new relationships later in life

Another revolutionary aspect of this film is that it frankly introduces the real-life problems faced by middle-aged and older people. Decline in sexual function due to age. The shame I feel about my aging body. Anxiety about loneliness. fear of death. Erica and Harry openly share their troubles with each other by getting naked and hugging each other. Harry is thrilled to be able to have sex for the first time without relying on Viagra, and Erica regains confidence in her body. The scene where she always hides her neck with a high neckline and instructs him to ``slit her high neckline with scissors'' seems both humorous and truly moving.

Meyers himself has described the film as a film about people who fall in love late in life. Erika is a woman whose first marriage has come to an end and she no longer thinks she will ever have a deep relationship with anyone. As she lives an independent life, love is no longer necessary for her. However, somewhere in my heart, I am longing for something different. The same goes for Harry, who runs a record company. The reason he continues to pursue young women even in his 60s is not just because he is a lolicon. He has been so afraid of getting deeply involved with other people that he has protected himself by having casual relationships with young women.

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As people grow older, they acquire armor to protect themselves. If that armor becomes too thick, people will not be able to accept new elements. If love is about accepting the differences of others and transforming each other, perhaps it takes courage for middle-aged and older people, who are equipped with thick armor, to fall in love. Myers drew on his own experiences to portray the struggle of people who have grown older and become more stubborn as they try to have a relationship with someone again.

After ``Something's Gotta Give,'' Hollywood's romantic comedies have turned to ``I Could Never Be Your Woman'' (Amy Heckerling, 2007), in which Michelle Pfeiffer falls in love with a younger man. , Mamma Mia!, a powerful love story between middle-aged women. '' (Phyllida Lloyd, 2008), and `` There's a Lie in Adult Love '' (Nicole Holofcener, 13), in which she falls in love with her friend's ex-husband, and more themes of love and sex for middle-aged women. It is starting to be portrayed in a positive light.

Nancy Meyers herself later released the romantic film ``The Bakery'' (2009) starring Meryl Streep. Once again, it celebrates the romantic and sexual desires of older women and praises their courage to start new relationships. And Diane Keaton has continued to play women in love in romantic comedies such as `` The Griffin Wedding Notebook '' (Justin Zackham, 13) and ``See You at the Book Club '' (Bill Holderman, 18). There is.

[References]

Patrick Mcgilligan, Backstory 4, University of California Press, 2006.

Deborah Jermyn, Nancy Meyers, Bloomsbury USA Academic, 2019

Text: Rie Tsukinaga

Film writer and editor. Editor of the magazine "Eiga Yokocho". He writes film reviews, columns, and interviews for Asahi Shimbun, Metropolitana, Weekly Bunshun, iD JAPAN, etc. He also edits books and movie pamphlets under the name Eiga Bar Editorial Office. Currently in charge of MC for the web program "Katsuben Cinema Club". eigasakaba.net 

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