Although the number of modern holiday films that have reached classic status is relatively slim, Love Actually became a surprising hit that is part of many households’ seasonal viewing each year. The sweet, slightly satirical writing style of Richard Curtis has earned both criticism and praise over the years, but Love Actually showed more nuance than his other projects because of its ensemble cast. As with any film that involves multiple intersecting storylines, there are bound to be some components and characters that work better than others. Love Actually does not hold its characters in equal regard, as the film expects its female characters to be responsible and forgiving to their male counterparts, regardless of how old they are. And there’s no aspect of the film that better illuminates this issue than the discrepancy between the storylines involving Keira Knightley and Thomas Brodie-Sangster who are much closer in age than the movie would have you think.
Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Keira Knightley Are Only Four Years Apart
Knightley and Brodie-Sangster are involved in two of the most memorable storylines in Love Actually, one of which is far more wholesome and innocent than the other. Brodie-Sangster appears as Sam, who begins to connect with his stepfather, Daniel (Liam Neeson), in the aftermath of his mother Joanna’s death; Sam is encouraged to start pursuing his crush, also named Joanna (Olivia Olson), by performing in a school show. Knightley stars as Juliet, who has just married Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor). Their storyline revolves mostly around Peter’s best friend Mark (Andrew Lincoln), as we learn that his initial hostility towards Juliet is actually him hiding his deep love for her. Two very different stories featuring actors of not-so-different ages. Brodie-Sangster was 13 when the film was shot, and Knightley was 17, but the characters are intended to be at completely different stages in their lives. While Sam is supposed to be young enough that he is first discovering what love is, Juliet is a married woman with not one but two men madly in love with her.
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The discrepancy between the ages of the actors is more glaring when considering their actions. The storyline involving Sam works very well because it is entirely sincere, and Brodie-Sangster is able to convey how a young boy would have to deal with both loss and heartbreak, all while trying to understand his stepfather. Comparatively, the storyline involving Juliet is much more uncomfortable, as the film seems to lionize the behavior of Mark, who seemingly stalks a woman to who he has never confessed his feelings. Even though she is the object of both Mark and Peters’ affections, Juliet doesn’t really have any agency in the film and does not get a moment to showcase her personality in the same way that Sam does. It’s a problematic message to send, but it’s made even more unusual given the fact that Knightley was acting opposite two co-stars who were significantly older than her.
‘Love Actually’ Hasn’t Aged Well
Love Actually showed the differences in how men and women are treated in Hollywood, particularly when looking at the roles that Brodie-Sangster and Knightley took on over the following decades of their respective careers. Brodie-Sangster was still able to convincingly play child roles for nearly ten more years, as he scored a leading role in the family franchise Nanny McPhee, and played a teenager in the young adult adventure series The Maze Runner. However, Knightley was almost immediately expected to star in more mature romantic roles in which she was once again cast opposite co-stars who were far older than her; she soon after starred in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and Pride & Prejudice and was not given the chance to appear as a younger character in the same way that Brodie-Sangster was.
There’s a significant quality gap within the various storylines in Love Actually. In general, the storylines that are more broadly silly, such as Hugh Grant as the love-stricken Prime Minister and Bill Nighy as a rock star, work well because they are simply intended to entertain; some of the more straight-up romantic components, such as Colin Firth’s affection for a woman he can’t speak to, are less compelling because there is not the same element of irony. Love Actually has both wonderful moments and scenes that are quite sickening, and the age difference between Knightley and Brodie-Sangster is the perfect distillation of how apparent that is.
Love Actually
- Release Date
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November 14, 2003
- Runtime
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135 minutes
- Director
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Richard Curtis
