This month marks the 36th anniversary of the comedy drama that still proves to pull at anybody’s heartstrings…
The plot of this story is focused around the mother and daughter relationship between Aurora Greenway, played by well renowned actress Shirley MacLaine and her daughter Emma, played by Debra Winger, famously known from An Officer and a Gentlemen.
From the onset, it is apparent there is some friction between this mother and daughter as they can’t seem to agree on anything, but then again, I would not want to get on the wrong side of Shirley MacLaine as she is a feisty woman. Aurora gives the impression to the audience from the she likes to be independent as she has a string of several suitors throughout the movie, including none another than Danny Devito.
Emma, however, is keen to move out from her mother’s house and start a new life, so as a result she meets college professor Flap Horton, marries him against her mother’s wishes and then moves away. Matters seem to get worse for the mother and daughters’ relationship when Emma announces she is pregnant at an awkward dinner, and it is clear that Aurora is not happy. Emma later has three children but for her and her husband, problems arise leaving Emma to go back to her mother. Without revealing too much, their mother daughter bond is really tested when the worst possible happens that will leave viewers in tears.
Positives that arise from this film is definitely the portrayal of the characters and the relationships between them. The main one of course is the bond between Aurora and Emma, even though they may fight and disagree a lot during the film, it is the true love between the two that is at the core of the plot and makes the film even better to watch with all the pure emotion contained within this connection. Coming from someone who is very close with their mum, a daughter between a mother and daughter is something that can never be broken no matter what, and it is excellently portrayed in this film – no wonder it won so many Oscars.
The genre of the film is clearly defined as both a drama and a comedy. The comedy effect towards audiences is mostly from the characters Aurora and one of her many suitors Garrett Breedlove – played by Jack Nicholson. It does take some time for these two to finally get together, but in the meantime, audiences view their amusing interactions that later lead to their ultimate fate, which is their forming of a couple. When looking at the drama genre of the film, it is this dramatic performance and storyline that again is so full of emotion and depth that it will definitely leave any one watching in tears.
The only downside I can say to this film is the length of some scenes. Some of the scenes in particular when watching them you would expect to bring to an end and then move on to the next one. However, they seem to drag on and make the viewing not as good as it would turn out to be meaning you lose interest in the film. On the other hand, the longer scenes could potentially have a more metaphorical meaning behind them meaning it is those longer scenes they want the audience to think in and take notice of what is actually going on.
Ultimately, Terms of Endearment is a must watch just to experience the pure emotion and depth that goes into an award winning film like this one, and maybe a watch even if you just want a bit of a cry.
By Katie Green
Feature image credit: Paramount