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The 1970s have certainly been a golden decade in terms of movies. From ingenious comedies to extravagant musicals, the 10-year period boasts a long list of cults. Among these, romances shine particularly brightly, offering narratives filled with passion and drama through unique stories that capture the nuances and complexities of human relationships.

However, not all these movies have happy endings. Many of the most romantic tales of the era embraced a different path from the traditional rom-com's cheerful conclusion, and they opted for more dramatic, often realistic resolutions, that would emphasize not just the beauty of love but also its complications and, sometimes, its fleeting nature. By focusing on the fragile beauty of relationships and the pain of separation or loss, these films portray love's impact on the human soul, even in its impermanence, making these stories profoundly memorable.

Love Story (1970) Directed By Arthur Hiller

Love Story

Love Story, directed by Arthur Hiller,...

Robert X. Modica, Memorial CelebrationApril 8th630-830at The Players 16 Gramercy Park South, NYCin honor of New York legendary acting teacher who taught the craft to the likes ofBroadway legend Marian Seldesand award winning Actors and Directors in Theater, Film and TV,John Turturro, David Duchovny, Bill D'Elia,Louise Lasser,Tyne Daly, Terrence Mann, Rachel Ward, Scott Cohen, Jennifer Beals, Jennifer O'Neill, Ali McGraw, JohnDoman andMichaelBadalucco.

Carnegie Hall has not only been the place where great classical music is performed. It has housed 165 studios above the theaters since 1895, where artists live and work to create dance, music, art, photography, and act. The artists who live there taught students in these very studios, and many 20th century luminaries graced these illustrious halls, including Isadora Duncan, George Balanchine, Elia Kazan, Marlon Brando, and Martha Graham. But in the past few years, Carnegie Hall has decided to tear down the studios to replace them with offices and music studios, leaving many of its elderly residents out in the cold, many who were instrumental in the mid 20th century art scenes of New York City. With studios full of fifty years’ worth of their life’s work, it seems hypocritical that an institution devoted to the arts would throw out many of the people who are living works of art.

A delightfully irreverent romantic comedy about lonely people looking for love in big, impersonal New York City, Amos Kollek's "Fast Food, Fast Women" is a witty and tender crowd-tickler.

Blessed with colorful characters and vibrant performances, this agreeably fractured fairy tale should make fast friends with select-site audiences with an appetite for something fresh and sexy.

In a career-making turn, working actress Anna Thomson is a real treat to behold as Bella, a world-weary diner waitress with a looming 35th birthday that is forcing her to reassess her longtime, dead-end relationship with a married man (Austin Pendleton).

To placate her hyper-critical mother, she arranges to meet Bruno (Jamie Harris), a womanizing, cab-driving Brit whose ex-wife, unbeknownst to Bella, has just dumped their young daughter and a toddler he's never met before on his doorstep.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the coffee shop, Paul (Robert Modica), a shy widower looking 70 squarely in the face, summons up the courage to take out a personal ad. It's answered by Emily (a superb Louise Lasser), a lively widow who keeps hoping she'll find true love and happiness but is willing to take a little amorous attention as a consolation prize.

As their stories intersect in interesting and amusing ways, Bella and Bruno and Paul and Emily ultimately have their happy ending.

After the much edgier "Sue" and "Fiona", writer-director Kollek, who divides his time between New York and Jerusalem, displays a wry, light touch here with a winning sense of humor that never undercuts the film's more heartfelt moments. And he sure knows how to pick a cast.

Drawing on New York's wealth of unsung character actors, he's come up with a heck of an ensemble. Thomson, who also appeared in Kollek's two previous pictures, is destined to attract some significant Cannes attention for her pitch-perfect portrayal of the story's emotionally bloodied but unbowed heroine.

As her elder counterpart in the dating game, Lasser makes a welcome return to the screen with a performance that is both hysterical and achingly heartfelt.

There's also standout work from a couple of second-generation actors. Jamie Harris (son of Richard) is engaging as the put-upon Bruno, while Angelica Torn (daughter of Rip and the late Geraldine Page) does a nice job as a stuttering Polish hooker with a heart of gold.

"Fast Food, Fast Women"

Ocean Films

A Lumen Films presentation

in association with

Bim Distribuzione/Pandora Films/Paradis Films/Orly Films

CREDITS:

Director-screenwriter: Amos Kollek

Producer: Hengameh Panahi

Director of photography:

Jean-Marc Fabre

Production designer: Stacey Tanner

Editor: Sheri Bylander

Costume designer: Pascal Gosset

Music: David Carbonara

CAST:

Bella: Anna Thomson

Bruno: Jamie Harris

Emily: Louise Lasser

Paul: Robert Modica

Sherry-Lynn: Lonette McKee

Seymour: Victor Argo

Vikta: Angelica Torn

George: Austin Pendleton

Running time -- 96 minutes...