Imagine Lost in Translation (2003), without the dreamy soundtrack – specifically the My Bloody Valentine inclusion – and Bob Harris’ (Bill Murray, 52) relationship with Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson, 17 at the time of filming) suddenly seems predatory rather than tender. From Lolita to Phantom Thread to Babygirl, the on-screen age-gap relationship has been a repetitive feature of feature-length films – and we seem to accept it every time.
So, how come we manage to look past the problem of age-gap relationships when we see it on the cinema screen, but are so quick to judge when it walks past us on the street hand in hand?
Much of this magic relies on casting. The fantasy would crumble if it wasn’t Harrison Ford (55) romancing 29-year-old Anne Heche in Six Days, Seven Nights (1998). Casting directors are the invisible architects of audience perception – exploiting cognitive biases like the “Halo Effect” (Dion et al., 1972): a tendency to perceive physically attractive individuals as morally good, despite any questionable actions. This Hollywood trick means viewers may unconsciously overlook problematic dynamics. Even I, when watching Lolita (1997), was charmed by Humbert Humbert, before realising it was Jeremy Irons’ charisma, not the characters, which made him seem appealing.
But it is not simply the beauty of the actors that makes these relationships palatable – filmmaking itself taking a crucial role. Take Call Me By Your Name: on André Aciman’s page, the power imbalance between Elio and Oliver is far more apparent. But through Luca Guadagnino’s dreamy soundtrack and lush scenery, the film adaptation (2017) transforms the relationship into a staple of queer romance, earning Academy nominations and propelling Timothée Chalamet into stardom.
Hollywood has never shied away from glamorising what should be taken seriously – drug abuse, financial deprivation, toxic relationships. Age gaps are just another illusion. Yet, in the wake of the #MeToo movement, one may expect these narratives to fade. Instead, they persist.
However, not all films escape scrutiny. Licorice Pizza (2021) faced significant backlash, as did Babygirl (2015). Notice a pattern? Films depicting older women with younger men often receive more criticism than a situation vice-versa. So, why does Hollywood not only keep pushing these relationships, but favour those where men hold the power? And, more importantly, how long will audiences keep accepting it?
“Jeremy Irons” by Copyright owned by Jeremy Irons [Jonathan Hession/Showtime] is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.