Two For the Road

Article Date: August 29th, 2021

Written by: Elizabeth

---

Introduction

This week's classic movie is Two for the Road directed by Stanley Donen. Released in 1967, the movie stars Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney as Joanna and Marcus Wallace. Marcus, a successful architect, and his wife Joanna, travel to France to meet with a client of Marcus', Maurice.

While there, the couple begins to examine their own relationship, which has wilted over the course of a few years, remembering moments from their past when they were at these very spots early on in their relationship.

Review

The movie takes a look at courtship and the difference that can happen in ten years with a couple that's in love. Director Stanley Donen really gets a solid look into the relationship of Marcus and Joanna Wallace, and showcases what changes in ten years can occur within a relationship after going through a relationship' many phases: meeting, getting married, having a child (and the pressures that come along with raising children), as well as worrying about a successful career.

One powerful aspect of the relationship expressed is the ebb and flow of giving and taking. Where one is lacking or not as strong, the other makes sure to pick up the other (for example: Marcus always loses his passport and Joanna always seems to have it).

As time marches on the relationship which started out warm, full of magic and romantic eventually loses the allure, leaving them both to eventually merely co-exist. Neither is truly happy, but exists because it's almost expected. The loving emotions have dulled leaving both unhappy and feeling the relationship to be more of a burden than something to be celebrated and cherished.

At one point it is revealed that Marcus finds himself in a brief affair (presumably a one-night stand) with a blonde woman putting the future of his relationship with Joanna in jeopardy, during which he writes a letter to Joanna of his yearning to be with her.

The jumps between the past and present really drive home the difference of affection and attitude, as well as the degradation of their romance; one moment being happily in love, the next barely even acknowledging each other's presence. This leads to Joanna eventually falling into a brief, but critically damaging affair with David- the brother of Maurice's wife- as she searches for affection and love with another.

Eventually, Joanna remembers why she fell in love and married Marcus, and returns to him pledging herself to him once more telling him simply "I'm back".