Hollywood Ending: Has movie romance ruined modern love?

Has the constant diet of schmatlz and heart-warming fairytales piped in from LA affected our romantic culture in the UK, and if so - is that a problem?

I speak to film and TV screenwriter Emily Carlton about how the depiction of love and romance has changed on the silver screen and what effect this is having on relationships in the real world.

We discuss how women and relationships on film have changed over the past 30 years: from the classic rom-coms of the 1990s, to the modern representations of 'Anora', 'Challengers' and 'Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy'. Emily references Nina Menkes's documentary 'Brainwashed', which explores the sexual politics of cinematic shot design and how male and female actors are treated differently by the camera.

Emily mentions her work with 'Breaking Through The Lens', a non-profit initiative that advocates for gender equality in film by providing vital support at the financing stage. Their program is open to women and gender-expansive filmmakers, offering action grants, fiscal sponsorship, curated meetings and industry mentorship. They are taking applications, so do check in on their current projects in film.

Produced by the Bloomsbury Institute in London.