Romantic Scene

[clevermanka]

Since I didn't post anything yesterday, here's yesterday's dump on cm.net. And now back to the questions!

resonant asked "What's one of the first romantic scenes you remember really being moved by?"

I wrote my thoughts about Yentl last year, so I've already talked a little about that scene where (spoiler? I guess?) Hadass kisses Yentl (thinking she's actually Anschel). It was my first experience seeing accidental same-sex kissing not played off as a joke and I thought it was beautiful. I wanted them to kiss! Like, for real kiss! I've always been a sucker for romance. I unashamedly admit to loving romantic comedies and I wish there were more of them that weren't actually misogynist creeper fantasies.

Being so in love with people in love, I was sufficiently swept up in the emotions of the movie I didn't have the space to be repulsed by the kiss (as I'd been taught to be, raised in a Southern Baptist home). I can't say it was a ~sexual awakening~ or anything like that, but it certainly put me on the track of feeling like same-sex attraction wasn't necessarily a bad/evil thing. It's not that I wanted them to kiss only if Yentl was actually a boy, but as Yentl and Hadass. Their relationship was so sweet and loving. How much should sex/gender really matter when you loved someone?

At the tender age of 14, still heavily entrenched in my religious upbringing, I didn't have the means or the internal language to really understand that question, much less ask it of myself. But it definitely helped put me in a space to rapidly shed those prejudices four years later when I went to college and met people for whom sex and gender didn't determine whom they loved/kissed.

This was a lovely question, thank you for asking it!

Comments

[mekare]

Aaah I remember that scene! It was very moving, I agree.

>> I unashamedly admit to loving romantic comedies and I wish there were more of them that weren't actually misogynist creeper fantasies.

Same.

[clevermanka]

*romcom high five*

I'll ask the question I ask anyone who admits to enjoying the genre: Have you seen Big Eden???

[mekare]

No I haven‘t! I don‘t think it got a release here back then. I just read the summary, however, and it sounds like something I'd very much enjoy! Native American characters are so rare and a gay one? I don‘t think I've ever seen one on film.

[clevermanka]

IT'S SO GOOD. It's one of the five DVDs I have with me here in my new place. I wish I knew where you could stream it. It was on Netflix for a while but I don't think so anymore.

[minoanmiss]

*eams* I so hear you. I had a similar reaction when I read my first Mary Renault book, _The LAst of the Wine_.

[clevermanka]

Wow, it was written in the 50s, too!

[ceruleancat]

I remember it as a tender scene (might be wrong, of course. Haven't seen that movie in decades!) and I was so disappointed they didn't stay together in the end. Was a good movie. Thank you for reminding me.

[clevermanka]

It was a very tender scene! I was happy with the ending (for reasons I outline in my earlier post about the movie), but it's a bummer you didn't get the HEA you wanted. Glad I could remind you! It's a beautiful film and I still love the music.

[resonant]

Nice! I havent actually seen Yentl, and now I'll have to put it on my list.

[clevermanka]

Please let me know what you think if you watch it! There are still a few parts that I wince at (nothing worth a warning or spoilers imo), but overall so good and of course the music is *chef's kiss*

[brandywine28]

It all comes back to Yentl! As it should, of course. *nods sagely* As it should.

[clevermanka]

*Yentl Admiration Fanclub Hug*

[tinny]

I've always been a sucker for romance. I unashamedly admit to loving romantic comedies and I wish there were more of them that weren't actually misogynist creeper fantasies.

Yes, that. <3 I love them too, but it's so hard to find good ones.

Yay for formative experiences!

[clevermanka]

*romcom solidarity fistbump*