The romance film is a genre that elevates in popularity during the Valentine’s day season, but the classic romance film relationship with the protagonists getting back together against all odds isn’t for everyone. Real life relationships are often much messier and grounded than the Hollywood romance idealization, and that’s where the anti-romance comes in. For the Valentine’s Day cynics out there, these movies challenge the soulmate tropes and visualize the more ambiguous or darker sides of romance on screen. In this episode, we are joined by Veronica Phillips to discuss two films that challenge the traditional romance film through either more authentic approaches or unconventional narrative styles.

Chapter Timestamps:

  • 0:00:00 Introduction
  • 0:10:22 Preface
  • 0:15:36 Blue Valentine
  • 0:55:32 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
  • 1:42:55 Comparison
  • 1:45:36 Polls
  • 1:52:36 Conclusion


The Rolling Tape is a multimedia film and entertainment outlet for podcasts, online publications, and film production. The podcast is a TRT production covering weekly film reviews, industry updates, and awards season news.

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Follow our guest online:
Veronica Phillips on Letterboxd, Twitter, and Film Daze

Follow our team online:
Danny Jarabek on Letterboxd, Instagram, Filmstagram, Twitter, and TikTok
Eugene Rocco Utley on Letterboxd, Instagram, and Twitter
Becca Johnson on Letterboxd, Instagram, Twitter, and Film Focus Online
Bryan Sudfield on Letterboxd, Instagram, Twitter, and Film Fragments

Films mentioned:
Letterboxd list

Have questions? Emailinfo@therollingtape.com

Credits:

  • Theme music by Eugene Rocco Utley
  • Artwork by Danny Jarabek
  • Edited by Danny Jarabek