Thread: Films and books with OW/YM

Originally Posted by fiorinda

I dunno Luna, the thought of anyone being sexually attracted to someone they've watched (as an adult) grow from a small child into adulthood makes me a bit on edge to be honest. Personally I could naver have dated a younger man that I'd known as a child. Can't imagine I'd enjoy a film about it.

I didn't watch the trailer before I saw the movie, but I did read reviews and it turned out to be quite good. There's just short parts where they are younger, the rest of the film the young men are fully grown. It's an Australian film, and I enjoy their films, English films too. But read the reviews before you opt out.

If you think about it, a lot of people get really turned off about watching Harold and Maude when they hear it's about a 20 year old very young man and an 80 year old woman. They have to see it to open their minds to the idea. ;-)

Here's another, I rented this one a couple of years ago. It was made for TV I think. And it was a remake of one called Tim that might have been Mel Gibson's first film, I remember seeing that one many, many years ago, but don't remember it well. Anyway, this one is about a mentally handicapped young man and an older woman. Have to see the preview though to get that it's a very sweet film.

Originally Posted by fiorinda

the thought of anyone being sexually attracted to someone they've watched (as an adult) grow from a small child into adulthood makes me a bit on edge

I suspect that is a distinctly modern and urban concept. In the small social circles of rural communities in the past, most AGR's involving people from the same place would have involved the older one having seen something of the younger as a child. In Jane Austin's time and social circles, an OM/YW relationship would often have involved the older man having known the younger woman as a child, simply because they lived in the same village, attended the same social functions and probably the two families had been visiting each other from time to time. For example, in Austin's novel 'Emma' exactly that occurs: Mr Knightly has known Emma since childhood because their families are among the few in the same social stratum in the village, and so it would have been unusual to the point of being scandalous if they had not socialised frequently, but that is no obstacle to their eventual romance.

SW

Wow, the original, complete film Tim with Mel Gibson and Piper Laurie is available on Netflix. I don't remember it though so can't recommend, but if it's like Mary and Tim it's probably quite good.

Tim is a very sweet movie.

I love Harold and Maude, the ending still makes me cry.

The Letter. With Kate Capshaw, one of the best older women younger man movies of all time.

Hello My Name is Doris I loved and hated. They made him out to be kind of an idiot who led her on without seeming to realize that he was doing it. She was socially immature, and unable to separate fantasy from reality, and it was really sad and gut wrenching when it wasn't hilarious.

They seem to have a problem making a movie about an older woman with a younger man that doesn't ultimately make the older woman somehow have to learn a lesson on sticking to her own kind.

Even Tim, as sweet as that movie is, the only reason they let them stay together, is because he was mentally handicapped and she could "take care" of him.

Originally Posted by Bella

Tim is a very sweet movie.

I love Harold and Maude, the ending still makes me cry.

The Letter. With Kate Capshaw, one of the best older women younger man movies of all time.

Hello My Name is Doris I loved and hated. They made him out to be kind of an idiot who led her on without seeming to realize that he was doing it. She was socially immature, and unable to separate fantasy from reality, and it was really sad and gut wrenching when it wasn't hilarious.

They seem to have a problem making a movie about an older woman with a younger man that doesn't ultimately make the older woman somehow have to learn a lesson on sticking to her own kind.

Even Tim, as sweet as that movie is, the only reason they let them stay together, is because he was mentally handicapped and she could "take care" of him.

In Harold and Maude I was, like most, very upset at the ending, but it's a sad fact I think that people wouldn't have watched it if they had stayed together. Similar issues with Mary and Tim. However, the three movies I posted (all much newer than the other two) did end up with a message just the opposite. That the younger man and older woman relationships were just as legitimate as any and all the men loved the women deeply and it was forces outside of them that caused issues.

I don't want to give anything away, so don't read below if you don't want to know some of the story lines.....

But both The Rebound and Adore have the women pushing away the men due to age but later they end up together. Cheri has a sadder ending, but still the man truly loved the woman, outside forces messed them up more than anything. Because of that I enjoyed all those films.

This is a classic.... I like how it portrays a very real grittiness of the relationship. Not all OW are accomplished in their careers, sexy etc...


White Palace (1990)
Max Baron (James Spader) is a 27-year-old high-flying advertising executive still recovering from the death of his wife. One night he is in a bar when he meets Nora Baker (Susan Sarandon), a 43-year-old waitress with a fixation on Marilyn Monroe. The couple gradually fall in love, though age and social differences mean that the path of true love is strewn with problems.