Romantic Comedy

An intelligent feelgood project that makes you want to watch even more film!

Elizabeth Sankey loves romantic comedies, and has seen most of them. But after growing up on them, she realises that these films have perhaps taken up more space in her life than she really ever understood. Romantic comedies have played a part in shaping her own views on love, relationships, and even her own self image. But does this only apply to her, or could it be true for all of us?

Romantic Comedy is a critical examination of commercial romantic comedies, and illustrates the extent to which these films influence our lives and our culture. With the help of clips from at least 160 films, Sankey shows us how this ever popular film genre creates problematic perceptions of gender roles, romantic relationships, sexuality and human bodies. Why are the vast majority of romantic comedies centred around a heteronormative, white middle class?

This film is a warm, yet frightening portrait of the film genre we all know so well. Whether you love it, hate it, or think that you have a neutral relationship with the genre, this film will give you some new perspectives – and might even lead to a bit of soul-searching. And, just like in a real romantic comedy, there is of course a happy ending.