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Even their bond isn’t enough to overcome all obstacles, though. This trope has led to the existence of touching and iconic movies that have the power to make the audience think or cry by portraying love romances that were forbidden, but still existed and don’t end well (most of the time).
7 Lolita (1962)
It’s doubtful whether the relationship between the movie’s main characters can be described as love. An obsession might be a more fitting word. The middle-aged Humbert Humbert is obsessed with the beautiful young girl Dolores whom he calls Lolita, and he marries her mother only to be closer to the object of his passions. Despite the controversial topic, the movie is subtle in its portrayal of the destructive relationship between a young girl and her stepfather.
While it doesn’t go into such close details as Vladimir Nabokov’s book, it can still make the audience think about the fragile balance between James Mason’s Humbert Humbert and Sue Lyon’s Lolita in the movie. While it wouldn’t have been such a great deal today, making this movie in the early 1960s took a lot of courage from its creators.
6 Harold And Maude (1971)
Even though Harold and Maude premiered over 50 years ago, it still remains one of a kind. It shows that older age doesn’t necessarily translate into a lack of energy and passion as many people might mistakenly presume. In the case of this unusual couple, it’s Maude who’s more energetic and livelier even though she’s about 60 years older than Harold.
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The two people find understanding in each other and enjoy breaking rules together. Unsurprisingly, people aren’t thrilled about their relationship since it defies all conventions. Unlike some less fortunate couples, Maude and Harold don’t let other people’s judgment stop them from being happy together as long as they can.
5 Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Being different is difficult, and it can keep a person from those they love. Johnny Depp plays a young man Edward who has scissors for his hands. After the death of the man who created him, he finds a new home with a friendly family and falls for their beautiful and compassionate daughter, Kim. Unfortunately, despite Edward’s ultimately kind character, people aren’t able to accept his and Kim’s relationship.
While nobody has scissors instead of hands in real life, the movie is still a good example that most people are scared of those who are different from them, and that’s something the viewers can relate to. It helps that both Depp and Ryder give excellent performances, and the gentle bond between them comes across as real.
4 Titanic (1997)
Titanic is an icon and also one of the most successful movies of all time, having won record-breaking 11 Academy Awards and with a box office gross of over a billion dollars. Almost all viewers know the story of the tragic romance between Kate Winslet’s Rose and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jack. Jack is a poor artist and Rose is a young woman engaged to a cruel, rich man.
Despite that, they find a way to be together, stealing whatever moment they can onboard the ship. But they’re about to face an even bigger catastrophe. The movie is capable of touching the heartstrings of those who watch it, especially since it’s based on real events and everyone knows the ultimate fate of the Titanic.
3 Shakespeare In Love (1998)
Shakespeare in Love is one of the most successful historical romances. It doesn’t matter that it most likely has very few things in common with William Shakespeare’s real life. The poor playwright Will and the beautiful noblewoman Viola share a love for the theater, and they fall for each other, but Viola is engaged to be married.
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The movie has it all - from touching as well as some hilarious scenes to an excellent cast and beautiful costumes. It became a hit and won several Academy Awards, including the one for Best Picture. At its core, Shakespeare in Love is a perfect story about forbidden love because the viewers know right from the start that the couple is living on borrowed time.
2 Brokeback Mountain (2005)
A romance between two men was considered taboo in the USA in the 1960s, and people often did their best to hide their feelings. That’s what happened to the heroes of this now-iconic movie. Heath Ledger and Jack Gyllenhaal star as Ennis and Jack, respectively, who fall for each other, but because of prejudice and hate, they can never be truly together.
However, the antagonistic attitude of the world isn’t the only problem they’re dealing with, as they also, for example, take their own families into consideration. The fans keep hoping the couple will get their deserved happy ending, but their dreams are squashed when Jack dies.
1 Never Let Me Go (2010)
Never Let Me Go is a hidden British gem that people should pay more attention to, especially if they like actors such as Andrew Garfield, Keira Knightley, and Carey Mulligan, or if they like their forbidden romances with a touch of sci-fi. At first, it seems that the biggest problem is that Cathy (Mulligan) likes her best friend Tommy (Garfield), who’s dating Ruth (Knightley).
However, there’s much more to this complicated love triangle than meets the eye. The less the viewers know about the plot before they watch the movie, the more they’re bound to enjoy it. The ending may leave them crushed, as Cathy, the main heroine, has to give up all hope for the love she once had.
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