Blue Valentine is a film about the start of a relationship; when we are heady with the love drug, and the end when things get so bad, that you actually hate the person you once loved. Harsh and brutal? Yes. But who hasn’t been there?
A question I have asked myself many times over the years, is – are human beings actually capable of having ‘happy’ long-term, monogamous relationships? Relationships where you actually still ‘like’ your partner after say, ten years?
I think it’s rare. You are probably thinking that I’m a total love-cynic, but actually, I’m a true romantic. Maybe I haven’t met ‘the one’ or maybe I’ve never been in ‘love’.
Blue Valentine is a film about the start of a relationship; when we are heady with the love drug, and the end when things get so bad, that you actually hate the person you once loved. Harsh and brutal? Yes. But who hasn’t been there?
Ryan Gosling plays Dean and Michelle Williams plays Cindy. The story starts out following Dean who is a hopeless, slightly-annoying, idealistic romantic and Cindy who is a bit of a bitch, but independent with big dreams of becoming a doctor. The two have a chance meeting, Dean chases Cindy and then Cindy falls for Dean. Simple really.
They have cute, little encounters like all new couples do, amazing sex, interesting conversations (this is a dialogue-heavy film) and it’s all a bit lovely.
Director Derek Cianfrance uses the words ‘freedom’ and ‘opportunity’ to describe his film – which are slowly killed by the loss of love. We witness a young couple excited by the future literally rust away though childbirth, demanding jobs, receding hairlines and bad clothing choices (Dean’s eagle sweatshirt is definitely worth a mention at this point).
Cindy asking her grandmother about love was a scene that has lingered in my mind. Did it ever happen? (love) asks Cindy. Her grandmother replies, ‘yes, maybe at the start’. And gives Cindy some advice – ‘Watch out for men that have no regard for you’ and ‘Humans treat each other badly’. Dean crying in Cindy’s arms at the death of a pet was also a scene that tugged at my heartstrings, the portrayal of intimacy and vulnerability was beautiful and awful all at once.
The final dance of deterioration peaks with an overnight excursion to a love hotel that Dean, desperate to rekindle what has sadly gone, books. The awful sex scene that plays out on the bathroom floor brought tears to my eyes; this scene was shot amazingly over two days by acclaimed cinematographer, Andrij Parekh who lent a beautiful, raw, honest portrayal of Cindy and Dean’s world through his lens. The end shows the start and fades out in blurry wedding day bliss open to all the opportunities that await.
Blue Valentine is an extremely emotional film, with some scenes that are hard to swallow (the girl next to me walked out) but the chemistry between Ryan and Michelle is unmistakable and both are totally engaging and heartbreaking as their respective characters.
Also worth a mention is the soundtrack by Brooklyn band Grizzly Bear whose instrumental versions from albums Yellow House and Veckatimest provided the perfect soundscape to Cindy and Dean’s journey.
By Christine Young 13 February 2011
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