The Holiday

The Holiday, pictured above, is the story of two women who participate in a home exchange program at difficult points in their lives and ultimately fall in love with men they never expected to meet in a foreign land. The two love stories that develop and progress between the four main characters in the movie can represent micro-level perspectives on love that focus on the interpersonal nature of love with three different combinations of the components of love within Sternberg's triangular theory of love and two unique types of love within Lee's styles of love. Iris and Miles, played by Kate Winslet and Jack Black, represent Sternberg's Liking in the film because they have a good friendship that lacks passion and commitment throughout the movie as they spend a significant amount of time together but are emotionally attached to other people. They eventually realize at the end of the film that they have developed feelings for each other and that their relationship could lead to Sternberg's Consummate Love which contains all three components of love, intimacy, passion, and commitment, if they choose to pursue it further. The behaviors of these two characters also represent Lee's Storge love because their love develops slowly as a friendship as they get to know each other and finally advances in the areas of commitment and intimacy to become a comfortable love once they discover their true feelings for each other. Amanda and Graham, played by Cameron Diaz and Jude Law, represent Sternberg's Romantic Love in the movie because they are deeply passionate and intimate with each other as they get to know one another, but they do not have any degree of commitment in their relationship as they live across the world from each other and do not desire a long-distance relationship. After deciding to pursue the relationship without commitment, they discover that they do not want to give up their special connection and decide to put all of their time and effort into achieving Sternberg's Consummate Love, the kind of love that encompasses all that love can be. While they are getting to know one another, their actions represent Lee's Ludus love because they are playful and carefree with each other without thinking about or discussing short-term or long-term commitment for they would rather enjoy the little time they have together than say goodbye shortly after meeting and making a connection. These different parts of two micro-level theories on love are displayed by a romantic comedy that attempts to communicate the complexities and capabilities of love and loving relationships.