Beyond Romance: Love with the Proper Stranger – A Bold Look at Life in Classic Hollywood
‘O Preço de um Prazer’ oferece uma reflexão sobre as escolhas que definem nossas vidas e as consequências que delas advêm.
Rocky Papasano (Steve McQueen) is a struggling musician desperately searching for work. Jobs are scarce, and unemployment is widespread. During yet another attempt to find employment, he’s visited by Angie Rossini (Natalie Wood), a young woman he’d dated casually sometime ago.
Their past relationship meant little to Rocky, who barely recognizes her. But Angie delivers shocking news: she’s pregnant with his child and wants nothing more than money for an abortion. Rocky is stunned but has little time to process. Together, they embark on a chaotic quest to secure funds for the procedure.
While Rocky is facing tough times, Angie’s life is equally challenging. From a very traditional Italian family, she has little autonomy and dreams of asserting herself and taking control of her life. Instead, she finds herself increasingly trapped by societal expectations and a suffocating machismo. For her, having a child in such a chaotic situation is unthinkable. And a pregnancy means another prison she’s unwilling to enter.
Love with the Proper Stranger (1963) tackles a powerful theme, presenting such a delicate subject in a mature way. This isn’t a story about a couple in love; they are virtual strangers whose only bond is a child growing within Angie. Attempting to forge even a minimal relationship in this situation is inherently chaotic. The film, directed by Robert Mulligan, portrays the profound drama that such a bitter resolution brings to everyone involved.
The ending shifts focus somewhat and appears to have been rushed to appease a society seemingly unprepared for a different conclusion. After all, Angie was just beginning to become the woman she desired to be: escaping the house where her brothers and mother subjugated her and finally claiming her own space—a place she could call home, with furniture and the freedom she so desperately craved.
Nevertheless, the chosen ending generally doesn’t diminish the brilliance of a discussion that remains relevant today, involving social issues, public health, and religious beliefs.
Quick note: The film received Academy Award nominations for Best Actress (Natalie Wood), Screenplay, Cinematography, Art Direction, and Costume Design (Edith Head). Natalie Wood won an award at the Mar del Plata Film Festival for her performance.
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