Melodrama is a genre of cinematography, literature and theatre.
Melodramatic works usually contain many emotional and tragic
scenes, and they are characterized by open conflict between positive
and negative characters.
1. Exaggerated emotionality of the main heroes, on which all attention is focused.
2. The main task of works of this kind is to make readers (spectators) empathies with
the characters.
3. The final of a classic work of this genre is tragic.
4. Although such productions sometimes raise social inequality issues or show the
individual's attempts to confront society, at the center of a classic modern
melodrama is a love story.
* Exaggerated - преувеличенный
The term "melodrama" appeared in the 18th century in
France. It comes from the French word mélodrame,
which is derived from the Greek mélos - song, poem,
lyrical work - and drama - action. In the beginning
melodramas were called musical dramas and comic
operas. Then the term began to apply to works of
literature in which there were well-written love lines,
adventures and sentimental scenes.
One of the first examples of melodrama is the French
philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau's play Pygmalion.
It is based on an ancient Greek legend about a sculptor
who fell in love with his work. Rousseau invented a
special way to present his works: his melodramas were
read to music. For "Pygmalion", Rousseau wrote
several melodies together with the composer Oras
Kuanier - they were played in dramatic moments.
Movies in the melodrama genre appeared in France during the silent film era.
Melodramas became particularly popular in the USA in the 1930s and 40s. By this
time, a pattern had been developed by which films such as
"love - suffering - trials - finale" were filmed.
«Lady with the
Camellias», 1936.
«Lady Hamilton», 1941.
In the 50-60s, films of this genre went out of
fashion in Europe and the USA. But in India,
melodrama movies started to be incredibly
popular during this period. Since the second half
'Man and Woman' (France), 1966
of the 1960s, melodrama has been popular all
over the world again and is still so today. The
classic films of this kind are 'Man and Woman'
(France), 'Cranes Flying' (USSR).
'Cranes Flying' (USSR), 1957
«Titanic», 1997
«Office romance», 1977
«Love and doves», 1984
«Three meters above the sky», 2010