7 Most complicated relationships we see in movies

Movies are a mirror to our world. Movies have the capability to portray the complex emotions of human relationships on screen with nuance and realism. Therefore, there have been many movies over the years that have captured the various intricacies and complexities of relationships. From romantic relationships to complex mother-daughter and father-son relationships, here are 7 movies that expertly portray complicated relationships.

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Her, Big Fish, and other movies that depict complicated relationships

1. Marriage Story

Directed by Noah Baumbach and starring Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, and others, this drama movie received critical acclaim for its realistic depiction of relationships. The movie is about a couple, Charlie and Nicole, played by Johansson and Driver respectively, who fall in love, get married, fall out of love, and are now going through a complicated bi-coastal divorce. Their proceedings are complicated by the custody issues about their son. The movie was nominated in several categories at the Oscars and is a riveting watch. The highlight of the movie is its piercing focus on the disintegration of a relationship and the heartbreak and pain that comes with it. While the film starts on an amicable note as the couple decide to separate, it soon however, shifts into a harrowing custody battle for their son. Baumbach has always investigated the institution of marriage and divorce in his work and in this movie as well, there is a strong and central focus on how a couple slowly gets detached from one another. The film also looks at how legal institutions meddle and create a wedge instead of solving problems. The fight scene between Charlie and Nicole became extremely viral as it was immensely realistic, emotional, and performed with precise execution by Johansson and Driver. The ups and downs that Charlie and Nicole face throughout the movie and the self-reflection that they feel is relatable for many couples who have had a troubled past.

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2. Her

Starring Joaquin Phoenix and directed by Spike Jonze, this sci-fi romance movie is about a lonely man, Theodore (Phoenix), who finds himself in a peculiar situation when he finds companionship in an artificially intelligent (AI) operating system and begins to falls in love. The movie was a critical and commercial success and was nominated for multiple awards. The movie has many important themes like the alienating nature of modernity, the intrinsic human need to find love and belonging, and the intermingling of human emotions and artificial intelligence. The virtual assistant is voiced by Scarlett Johansson and is called Samantha. While Phoenix does a stellar job at portraying an introverted and reclusive greeting card writer who is getting lost in his feelings for the technology, even Samantha is given a voice of its own and begins to develop emotions like humans. The relationship between the two is complicated as there is no future for these kinds of companionships but Samantha and Theodore continue to feel their love as being real. The movie has deeply introspective and tender moments of reflection on the part of Theodore and the movie does not seem far-fetched as today’s society is heading towards a total dependance on AI.

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3. The Before Trilogy

Directed by Richard Linklater and starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy as Jesse and Celine respectively, this romance drama spans across 18 years. One of the most realistic depictions of the many phases of romantic love, the movie has three installments and each one of them focusses on the developing relationship between Jesse and Celine. The first movie, Before Sunrise, focusses on the young love between the lead pair as they meet on a train and frolic around Vienna and find love. The second movie, Before Sunset, takes place after nine years and sees the two in Paris as they reunite and talk about their lives. The final movie, Before Midnight, once again happens after nine years and the two have finally married and are on a vacation but they are facing marital problems. The trilogy is a vast showcase of the complex relationship between Jesse and Celine, who face the most intense and realistic marital difficulties in the last movie. Minimalistic yet powerful, the movies are almost entirely filled with monologues that reflect the duo’s personalities. The movies give a full spectrum of the various stages of a relationship and does not gloss over the difficult parts. The final scenes in Before Midnight are poignant as Jesse and Celine engage in a harrowing fight but realize that they love each other and no one is perfect.

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4. Steel Magnolias

Starring Sally Field, Julia Roberts, and others, this comedy and drama movie is directed by Herbert Ross and is a classic yesteryear movie. Based on a play of the same name by Robert Harling, the movie is about a group of women in a small town of Southern America, who have vastly different personalities but bond together like a family. While the movie is lighthearted for the most part, it has undercurrents of tension as it focuses majorly on the complex relationship between Mary (Field) and her daughter Shelby (Roberts). While the other women go about their lives and the movie depicts the light-hearted and sweet nature of the townsfolk who celebrate festivals together, the relationship between Mary and Shelby begins to deteriorate. Even though Shelby has Type 1 diabetes and has been warned by the doctor to not have children, she decides to marry her fiancé and gets pregnant soon. Mary, who is Shelby’s mother, is understandably worried and furious at her daughter’s decision and the two end up disagreeing with each other. The movie looks at small town life in America and the ups and downs that the women of the town face together. The movie balances tragedy and humor but the last scene where Shelby unfortunately dies of complications and Mary attends her funeral is heart wrenching. Field delivers a powerful performance and delivers a monologue that encapsulates the many complexities and layers of a mother and daughter relationship.

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5. 9 and a 1/2 Weeks

Directed by Adrian Lyne and starring Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger, this erotic drama focuses on the tense and passionate relationship between Elizabeth and John. While Elizabeth (Basinger) works at an art gallery, John (Rourke) is a Wall Street arbitrageur. A cult movie, the film received mixed reviews for its explicit content but is now considered a forebearer of many modern erotic movies. The film majorly focuses on the twisted relationship between John and Elizabeth who start dating but John increasingly begins to control Elizabeth. There are various instances in the movie that serve as a moment of self-reflection as Elizabeth becomes totally dependent on John and begins to lose her identity. The develop a sadomasochistic relationship and Elizabeth faces abuse and exploitation at the hands of John, who has his own deep scars from the past. Lyne has always worked on movies that explore the passionate side of a relationship and how it created complexities over time. In this movie as well, the director explores the increasingly volatile relationship between the lead pair and how Elizabeth finally finds strength to leave John. It is one of those movies that focuses entirely on complicated relationships.

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6. Past Lives

Starring Greta Lee and Teo Yoo, this romantic drama is directed by Celine Song and revolves around two childhood friends, Nora Moon and Hae Sung, who begin to develop romantic feelings for one another in their childhood. However, Nora leaves South Korea as her family moves to Canada and the two lose touch. But when the now adult Nora and Hae meet each other after 24 years in New York, the pair reminisce about their past and deep-seated feelings for one another. The movie is semi-autobiographical as it is based on the real-life experiences of Song. Critically and commercially acclaimed, the movie received multiple accolades and was noted for its tender portrayal of love, life, and relationships. The movie offers a realistic look at the role that time and circumstances play in dictating life and how many relationships lose out in this race. Greta and Teo deliver a poignant and expressive performance as the two sweethearts look back at their lives, the nature of their relationships, and the life they have right now. It is one of those movies that forces viewers to introspect into their own lives and think about the opportunities they missed and how their life could have been different. The movie has simple dialogue but it expertly depicts sweeping emotions. In the end, the film is a nuanced observation about the various incidents that make up people’s lives.

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7. Big Fish

Based on the novel by Daniel Wallace, this fantasy drama movie is directed by Tim Burton and features Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, and others. The movie is inspired by the events in Burton’s life as his father dies a few years before the movie. Essentially, the film is about the reconciliation between a dying father and his son. Father and son relationships are fraught with tension and unsaid feelings and the movie expertly captures these complex emotions. As Edward (Finney) begins to reach the end of his life, he tells tall tales to his son, Will (Billy Crudup). While Will is irritated by his father’s fantastical stories, Edward seems to have lived a life full of wonder and Will has to decipher the fact from fiction as his father tells his tales. However, the central motif of the movie does not revolve around the tales told by Edward but the impact it has on his son, Will. As the movie progresses, Will begins to see life from his father’s perspective and begins to appreciate the stories that his father told as a means of staying connected with him. The film explores the intricacies of a father and son relationship through the medium of stories and fantasy and it is one of those movies that is a must-watch.