Research films

I’m prepping a new film.

It’s a modern-day adaptation of an old Russian short story about a love affair.

I’m doing research while writing, which really just amounts to watching a bunch of similar movies. Soaking in various styles. Noticing trends. Stealing things.

Here’s what I’ve watched so far:

Brief Encounter (1945) - David Lean’s stiff-upper-lip, non-linear take on adultery. IMDB. Full film.

L'atalante (1934) - A masterpiece of the early sound era about a young bride who finds herself stuck and stifled on her new husband’s boat. IMDB. Full film (in the original French).

Partie de Campagne (1936) - Jean Renior’s unfinished film, perhaps the most famous and intriguing uncompleted film of all time about two young Frenchmen attempting to court two ladies in the country one afternoon. IMDB. Full film.

Charulata (1964) - The female gaze. IMDB. Full film.

Casablanca (1942) - This one needs no introduction. If you’ve never seen it, do yourself a favor and correct that immediately. IMDB. Opening five minutes.

The Apartment (1960) - The conceit is great, but what continues to get me is how effortless the humor and the sadness comingle. IMDB. Trailer.

Love in the Afternoon (1957) - More Billy Wilder. Can you imagine if it were Cary Grant insead of Gary Cooper? IMDB. Ending scene.

Roman Holiday (1953) - More Audrey Hepburn. The one that made her a star, and you can see why. IMDB. Clip.

Hiroshima Mon Amour (1959) - Love is suffering. IMDB. Opening scene.

Before Sunset (2004) - An incredible sequel, with a constant tension based on the actors’ chemistry and the driver, waiting to take Jesse to the airport at various stops until: “Baby, you are going to miss that plane.” IMDB. Ending scene.

Medicine for Melancholy (2008) - The day after a one-night stand. IMDB. Trailer.

Columbus (2017) - To quote from the movie’s official description: “A showcase for its director's striking eye for the way physical space can affect emotions.” IMDB. Full film.

Some trends I’ve noticed:

  • Use of animals — to connect characters or allow for a meet-cute.

  • Long scenes of dialogue — we want to see them getting to know each other by talking, flirting, conversing in ways that they probably wouldn’t with someone they were more familiar with.

  • Exotic or picturesque scenery — where they fall in love should be featured prominently — we like local color, we like to imagine where they fall in love externally being as interesting as what’s happening to the characters internally.

  • Apart — when they are apart, we want to see them, visually and viscerally, thinking of each other and yearning.

  • Trains — especially for older films, the drama of getting on or off a train and the permanence of that. What would be a contemporary equivalent?

  • Water — there’s a preponderance of scenes taking place on the water or in a boat. What is it about courtship that leads us to the sea? To rivers? To lakes?

The biggest issue is figuring out the appropriate conflict, especially as this is an updated telling of a story from over 100 years ago. I’m reminded of this line from David Mamet’s “Bambi Vs. Godzilla”: “The engine of a love story is not what attracts them — we know that: they’re young and pretty. The work should into the construction of the plausible opposition to their union.”

Conflict in this way can also come from age differences, personality differences (homebody vs. adventurer), cultural differences, adultery.

What should I watch next? Some possibilities: Lost In Translation, 28 Hotel Rooms, Shame, In The Mood For Love, An Affair to Remember, The Seven Year Itch.

What do you think?