The 1973 movie The Way We Were, nominated for several academy awards, follows the love story of Katie Morosky (played by Barbara Streisand) and Hubbell Gardnier (played by Robert Redford). The story begins in 1937 when Katie is a student of politics and Hubbell is popular athlete and a talented writer.
While both are ambitious, intelligent and are doing well academically, there is a stark contrast to their personalities especially with regards to the way they socialise and how invested they become in their work.
While Hubbell is more relaxed and happy to engage with friends who would joke about politicians and their wives, Katie finds this infuriating. She is quick to stand up for any injustices that she sees. Hubbell admires Katie's fiery personality and her passion, but he recognises that these traits put a strain on their relationship. Katie often gets into arguments with people, including Hubbell's friends, and it often makes for an uncomfortable and difficult time during social situations. This causes Hubbell embarrassment and frustration; Katie too feels equally frustrated and she feels that her partner does not support her.
Katie and Hubbell make adjustments for each other. Both try to compromise, Katie more so than Hubbell. Their relationship develops and eventually they marry. While the two put in a lot of effort to make their relationship work, Hubbell eventually ends the relationship as he could not see a happy future for them should they remain together. At the time, Katie was pregnant. It would have been the couple's first child. Katie requested that Hubbell stay with her for the duration of her pregnancy and Hubbell complied.
The character of Katie Morosky is very relatable and perhaps this was one of the core reasons for the popularity of the film. There are many layers to her personality- she's confident and passionate and at the same time shows insecurity and vulnerability. She undoubtedly is in love with Hubbell but often questions wether she is attractive enough for him, understanding that he is a good looking man; he's popular and the friends he associates with are conventionally good looking.
This is a story of the one the got away; it is a tale of a love that could have been. I think many people, whether they will care to publicly admit it or not, sometimes thinks of a past love that they put a lot of effort into and wished it would have worked out well. And this movie is so relatable in that regard. It is no wonder that Sex and the City dedicated an episode to the film and Carrie Bradshaw famously echoed the dialog, 'your girl is lovely Hubbell' to Mr Big.
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