Cultural Canvas of Love: Sociocultural Perspectives in Cinema

Love has always been a central theme in cinema, transcending borders and languages to touch the hearts of audiences all around the world. 

The silver screen is host to many love stories that leave us in tears or joy as we leave our seats, often serving as cultural artifacts that reflect and critique the sociological and historical contexts of their countries of origin.

Here we present a list of international films that offer a cultural experience and help us look at the world through different windows.

Have You Ever Been to the Moon? (Sei mai stata sulla Luna?)

We love to see a fashion girlie protagonist in romantic comedies. This 2015 Italian romantic comedy, directed by Paolo Genovese, is a heart-warming pick for anyone who loves a good laugh and a happy ending! Set in the beautiful Italian countryside, the film follows Guia, a fashion magazine journalist from Milan, who inherits a farm in the Apulia region in Southern Italy. There she meets the local farmer Renzo, and together they explore the internal conflict between fast-paced urban living and the slow, fulfilling life in the countryside.

Have You Ever Been to the Moon explores Italian culture through Guia's social interactions with the locals, especially Renzo, in contrast to the more isolated and individualistic lifestyle she leads in Milan.

And Then We Danced

Levan Akin's Swedish-Georgian drama film And Then We Danced explores traditional Georgian culture, queer representation in an Oriental context, and identity.

Set in Tbilisi, Georgia, the movie focuses on Merab's training from a young age to join the National Georgian Ensemble and how his life changes after Irakli steps into his dance ensemble. An intense and romantic bond develops between them, leading them to question their sexual identity and the cultural norms of their society.

Cold War (Zimna Wojna)

2018 Polish historical drama directed by Paweł Pawlikowski, Cold War tells a tragic love story set in Poland, Yugoslavia, Berlin and Paris during the Cold War in the 1950s and 1960s.

The main characters, Wiktor and Zula, meet in a state-sponsored folk music ensemble in post-war Poland. Despite the unconventional circumstances, they fall deeply in love and their relationship undergoes numerous separations and reunions as they face the political and social challenges of the time. The film reflects the Eastern Bloc's political environment, Paris's artistic culture, and the harsh Polish countryside.

Elisa & Marcela 

The biographical 2019 Spanish romantic drama is based on the true story of Elisa Sánchez Loriga and Marcela Gracia Ibeas, the first two women to be legally married in a same-sex marriage back in 1901.

Elisa & Marcela touch on gender issues, as Elisa's success in disguising herself as a man shows the constructed nature of gender roles and the social expectations attached to them.

The natural beauty and historic architecture of Galicia add to the depth and realism of the film, providing a contrast to the couple's inner world of love and conflict.

Thanos and Despina (Θάνος και Δέσποινα)

1967 Greek drama film directed by Nikos Papatakis, Thanos and Despina, also known as The Shepherds of Calamity, is a critique of Greek social norms like gender roles, social hierarchy and family honor. 

The movie describes the romantic relationship between Thanos, a shepherd, and Despina, a young woman from an upper-class family. Despite Thanos's romantic feelings for Despina, the couple's relationship is complicated by their socioeconomic status differences. The film paints the perfect example of rural Greek life, while providing a cultural experience for viewers.

Love Songs (Les Chansons d'amour)

Last but not least, the French musical romantic drama film Love Songs, directed by Christophe Honoré, tells the story of modern Parisian love through a series of musical numbers that blend elements of romance, grief and emotional discovery.

The film explores polyamorous relationships in a modern French setting, questioning non-traditional relationships and challenging conventional notions of love. 

Set in the artistic views of Paris, Love Songs captures the essence of Parisian life with its iconic streets, cafes and cultural sights.