Type: Romantic Film: Roman Holiday Featured Characters: Princess Ann and Joe Bradley
When I think about the fictional relationships that have shaped the kind of writer I am and the types of stories I appreciate most, the first couple that comes to mind is Roman Holiday’s Princess Ann and Joe Bradley, played by Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, respectively. I remember the first time I watched the movie, and I remember how it not only made me appreciate filmmaking but it made me understand love on a whole new level.
The idea of two people falling for each other quickly isn’t easy to believe. Relationships need time and dedication to nurture, grow, and evolve. However, it’s more than possible for a single person and our experiences with them to completely change us and our outlook on life. That’s what Roman Holiday is in a nutshell—it’s a story about finding oneself and understanding self-worth through another’s gaze. It’s about realizing that love is supposed to equate to freedom and commitment to someone requires an indescribable form of trust at the forefront.