In honor of the relationships theme week, I thought that I would watch a romance that had long been on my list. The Way We Were is a 1973 film starring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford set from the mid-1930’s to the 1950’s. Katie (Streisand) is hard-driving, very politically involved, and an activist. Hubbell (Redford) on the other hand is a writer who is uninvolved in Katie’s political world and looks for more laughs in life. Despite their opposite outlooks on life, the two share a romance that is worth more than politics. The romance, however, is tested by their own convictions throughout the film as their opposite outlook on experiences drive them apart.
The Way We Were is essentially heartbreaking. It does not romanticise the idea that people cannot change who they are and instead shows that sometimes you need to let go. In this film, you are watching a couple fight for love. The Way We Were is just tragic enough to leave you hanging on, but not so hopeless that you want to give up on the movie all together. Towards the end, it does seem to drag on a bit too long, but once again not enough to ruin the movie. The ending is disappointing in the way that you wish it would have worked out in the fairy-tale ending that many romance movies offer. The end of the story for Hubbell and Katie is much like the ending of La La Land, without the music and vibrant colors.
What makes the movie stand out is the chemistry between Hubbell and Katie. The way that Redford and Streisand look at each other is even more powerful than words. The scenes of their happiness outweigh their conflict, which makes their demise even sadder. Overall, this movie is a great watch if you’re looking for a classic, romantic tear-jerker. It will break your heart, but leave you wanting more from the story of these characters and the lives that they have built.