Removed from the cliches of the average romance movie, these three fictional plots exaggerate the lives of defiance led by the protagonists and their admirers. As we will see, even Brad Pitt can be brought down to size, as he played a supporting role in a film about two women whose feats are far more impressive than his. Taking place in the United States, France and South Korea, these films provide acute social commentary while being entertaining and developing their characters to make any romance simply a byproduct of their bonds with each other.
“Pierrot le Fou”
French is a lovely language to listen to, but it is thrown into a deadly context to follow the crimes concocted and corpses created by Ferdinand and Marianne in this 1965 thriller. They are a couple traveling the vast expanses of the French countryside, except their journey is prefaced with the fact that Ferdinand has a wife, yet he chooses to rekindle with Marianne for a life less defined by money and house parties. This taboo relationship is the least of the pair’s worries, though, as they spend their time either stationarily screwing around or escaping their enemies, including but not limited to the French authorities and anyone who is out of a car as a result of their adventure.
There is a jovial nature to their relationship that is somehow in line with their compulsion to commit very serious crimes. Nothing is planned, though they always find a way to execute evil and escape the scene. Their desire for each other wanes and peaks during the film, yet they always end up back in each other’s presence. Physical separation is no limit for these fiends who have enough skill to independently triumph against three people wanting their heads, or maybe it is just not real. That is how their feats are possible. Nonetheless, it is a fun watch; just do not watch the dubbed version for optimal immersion.
“Thelma and Louise”
Featuring Brad Pitt in his first widely recognized film role, “Thelma and Louise” is a tumultuous tale of two friends who want an excursion from their mundane lives, in turn bringing out repressed urges to rebel. Directed by Ridley Scott and released in 1991, the film is a diversion from his recognizable style of science fiction, although he has done many more romance-centric films since. Both Thelma and Louise remain platonic friends despite growing inseparable, yet they give each other space to pursue men throughout the film, whether they be past lovers or strangers they spot on the side of the road. Seriously.
Brad Pitt was portrayed as a bad boy bandit that irresistibly charms Thelma, only to steal her much-needed money. Roughly set in the American southwest, there are plenty of outlaws, diners and payphone booths to talk to the sheriff abundantly placed in the plotline. Additionally, the large landscapes of the desert produce a level of isolationism where the partners must get along, regardless of the growing grievances between them. As with “Pierrot le Fou,” the adventure is mostly supplied by stolen cars and is exacerbated by violence, but you will have to watch to see the intensity of the police chases that make your traffic stop look like a walk in the park.
“Castaway on the Moon”
Less action-packed than the previous two, the 2009 rom-com “Castaway on the Moon” follows the life of Kim Seong-geun, a man who washed up on a Korean island and is observed and driven mad by his secret admirer, Kim Jung-Yeon. She is confined to her room in her parents’ apartment of her own accord, and upon discovering Seong-geun through distant observation, she assists him during his struggles with self-sustainability on the island.
Although there are no explosions and escapades like in the previous films, “Castaway on the Moon” and its focus on nature itself as the action makes for an enthralling and beautiful film. The sense of anonymity felt in the loose relationship between Seong-geun and Jung-Yeon is also a characteristic of many distant relationships in this day of age, though they never speak face-to-face, because Seong-geun’s cell phone stops working at the beginning of the film. Despite this, the sentiment rings true that one does not truly know who they are talking to on the other side of the monitor, as Jung-Yeon is chronically online, too.
Love is a wondrous concept even to those most experienced, and the methods in which people pursue others are hard to empirically explain, especially when people’s lines of communication are advancing in the digital age. All things considered, “Castaway on the Moon” is ahead of its time in taking an absurd situation to emphasize people’s ability to exist on their own these days while placing importance on human connection.
Exploring both life and death, these films tend to show why the audience should make the most of their lives. Daily life is not as exciting as the brief snippets of these character’s lives portray it to be, but a good slice-of-life film will put the audience in a reflective state about how they are spending their time and who they spend time with. Do not con people out of their cars like in “Pierrot le Fou” and “Thelma and Louise.” Save that for when Grand Theft Auto 6 comes out. Rather, look outside like Jung-Yeon did in “Castaway on the Moon” to see who is out there in the world. You may be surprised at what you find.