Three Romantic Dramas Feature Both Love And London

Now that the Summer Olympics are well underway, we thought everyone might want to get into a LONDON frame of mind  Here are my favorite romantic dramas set in London.

Last Chance Harvey is a fabulous, sweet romantic comedy that deals with father-daughter issues, aging issues, and later-in-life love issues. Emma Thompson shines as a woman in the middle of her life...dealing with a possessive mother and friends who continually try and set her up with Mr. Right. She meets Dustin Hoffman, a man in the midst of a life-crisis, and they befriend each other. When the idea of the friendship becoming “something more” surfaces, both characters’ insecurities get in the way, at first. A sentimental and pure story of love and relationships that succeeds even when all is not perfect.

Possession is a classic love story, based on the award-winning novel by A.S. Byatt. Told in both the present time and Victorian times, Byatt’s story and characters leap off the pages and director Neil LaBute captures that same vividness in the film. Aaron Eckhart and Gwyneth Paltrow play academics in modern-day England. While researching the relationship between two historical lovers, they fall in love themselves. LaBute does a great job of combining the past and present elements throughout the movie—scenes go seamlessly from historical times to the present day. LaBute lends equal time to both eras, allowing each love story to evolve in its own way...at its own pace. Beautiful scenery and lush dialogue enhance the emotions of this timeless love story.

Did you ever see a car accident on your way home from work and think…could that have been me if I had caught that elevator I missed? Well, Sliding Doors asks a question like that…how does a split second in the life of a London woman alter her existence forever? The movie then plays out two scenarios…one with her making a train and one with her just missing it. From that moment in time, the story splits in two and this film becomes an excellent example of how life, love, happiness, etc. can all change on a dime. Gwyneth Paltrow plays the woman here…and she’s never been better…she captures the perfect combination of innocence and naïveté that is required to play the role of a woman whose life hinges on a moment in time. Not as metaphysical as it sounds...this is a good film for all romantics, as well as people who’ve ever thought…”if only I’d made that train…”

Last Chance Harvey: 2008, PG-13, 93 minutes, directed by Joel Hopkins, starring Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson and Kathy Baker. 

Possession: 2002, PG-13, 102 minutes, directed by Neil LaBute, starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Aaron Eckhart, Jeremy Northam, Jennifer, Ehle, and Toby Stephens.

Sliding Doors: 1998, PG-13, 99 minutes, directed by Peter Howitt, starring Gwyneth Paltrow, John Hannah, and John Lynch. 

The Niles Public Library owns these titles on DVD.