As the credits roll, very rarely is an entire audience left with their mouth agape. Sure, plot twists happen all the time, but few expect to watch a romantic movie with an ending that is anything but. These films draw viewers with the promise of feel-good endings and fuzzy feelings, but sometimes a route is taken that shows a harsh reality: not all relationships are bound to last. This can leave bitter audiences who immediately dismiss the film, but these unexpected endings can be more beneficial than just a breakup on the big screen.
An Ending that Everyone is Familiar With
Loss of love is a painful feeling that resonates so deeply with everyone. Even mentioning it can bring something to mind such as the end of a relationship or unrequited love. Heartbreak is universal and nobody is safe from it. These feelings are some of the most powerful and can feel isolating until you see characters navigating similar issues.
While seeing happy endings temporarily brings happiness, they can set unrealistic expectations. Real life is not as black and white as these films sometimes portray, so seeing an outcome that goes against the expected can mirror reality. Through this, we can relate it to our own lives and even confront the feelings that we may otherwise avoid.
Emotional Destinations
For those brave enough to face these films a second time, the ending may come as less of a shock. Usually, signs throughout the character’s journeys show them confronting these difficult emotions. Whether it be fighting to maintain their relationship, miscommunication or even unrealistic hopes for the future, it can be relatable to viewers. As the story moves on these characters confront their anger and sadness until they finally accept their reality. This can be healing for viewers to see this passage of time and the process of growth that might kickstart their own.
Loving and Letting Go
While these painful stories show the buildup to the break, ultimately it’s all about letting go. No matter how much we can care for a person, or want it to work out, life can be unpredictable. If we continue to hold on to the idea of someone, it’s a permanent fantasy. Things do not always go as planned, but learning to let go can be one of the most difficult yet rewarding aspects of a relationship.
For example in the final scenes of the film “La La Land,” the two main characters Mia and Sebastian take one last look at each other. Despite their deep love, ultimately both chose to pursue their dreams, with Mia becoming a successful actress and Sebastian owning a jazz club. This is followed by a clip of the happy life that the two could have lived together had they chosen it. This scene acknowledges their love for each other while recognizing that their respective dreams were able to come true. That decision to go their separate ways shows that sometimes personal growth requires letting go of a relationship.
These stories often deal with complex emotions and topics that can be difficult to explore in real life. It can be difficult to show vulnerability with such intense passion, but through these fictional characters these feelings can be addressed or even provide guidance to a viewer. While the endings may make us teary-eyed, they allow us to empathize with their struggles and even come to terms with our own.
Do you prefer the fairytale ending? Let us know your thoughts @VALLEYmag on X!
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