Hey Authors and Playwrights,
I have a problem with the ending of the film 'Sweet November'. There. I said it.
I know that sounds harsh straight up I'm trying to improve my drama writing skills so I'm diving deep into novels, scripts and films that have been released to see what lands and what doesn't.
I'm a little late on this film as it was released 25 years ago - but how it ends left my 'happy ending', 'Disney' brain feeling sad and lost. I could think of a few ways Sara and Nelson (the main characters) could have ended their journey together rather than the ending that was released.
But this makes me think - is a shock ending like that one (well, shock for me) draw in the crowds? My 'strong suit' is children's publishing so not exactly the same wheelhouse. Children's publishing is very 'happy ending' and 'what lessons are we teaching our children' etc etc. So very different to adult novels... it is open slather pretty much.
My fellow lounge members - your thoughts on how a commercial drama story should end? All advice welcome.
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Hi! The film Sweet November was shot in the genre of melodrama. The essence of the genre is easier to understand if you imagine it in the form of a comedy in which a couple in love is prevented from being together for the most incredible reasons. So the ending doesn't make much sense, it's just melodramatic.
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Arthur Charpentier and I'm learning it's memorable which is better than the usual 'cookie cutter' ending. It certainly stayed with me. So I'm learning - be memorable!
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Have you seen The Umbrellas of Cherbourg Lauren Hackney? Talk about a downer, albeit a realistic one. The movie isn't for everyone as it's a musical from 1964… in French. So it's also a cultural artifact of sorts, a window into a time long gone. But yeah, it's not rosy.
Also The Break Up (2006)... and then there's Love Story (1970) have a non-Disney endings. Perhaps, 2019's Marriage Story had some influences from those.