LAST week, I rewatched a movie I have seen back in my late twenties, and boy, does it still delight me! It is a film that focuses on the budding, graduating into a full-blown romance between a sitting president, Andrew Shepherd, and an environmental lawyer-lobbyist, Sydney Ellen Wade. Don’t get ahead of yourself. The president is a widower with a daughter while Sydney is a single, confident, sassy woman.
Before Shepherd met Wade, his approval rating was 64% with a good chance at reelection but as the relationship progressed, his rating dropped to 41% which worried his advisers no end. Who wouldn’t be? It did not help that a presidential aspirant, Senator Rumson is digging dirt on Wade and disparaging the president’s character by exploiting the “girlfriend” issue.
Against the well-intentioned advice of his trusted and loyal team, Shepherd would not engage Rumson in a character debate believing that his personal life is his private life and not the citizens’ concern. What do you think? Do you agree with Shepherd? In the Philippines where the personal lives of politicians are not distinguished from their professional lives, it’s not even thinkable. Anyways, his advisers, particularly, his chief of staff, TJ, reminded him of the consequence. But nah, he wouldn’t hear of it.
Let’s pause for a while and savor the thrill of romance in this fascinating and well-executed film about adult love enmeshed in politics. Two brilliant individuals meeting in an otherwise peculiar circumstance, but sensing chemistry is terrific. The president couldn’t pursue her like an ordinary guy because of the constraints of his job but he’s got perks like finding her unlisted phone number to call her! Come on, maybe the FBI gave him the number, right? Or making the lady feel extraordinarily special by inviting her to a White House event to entertain a head of state and his wife. How flattering could that get! To top that, they danced the waltz! Such elegance! To me, that was the most tender and gentle part of the night. I believe all romances should have a dance element. Dances and romances, they perfectly match!
In the beginning, Wade repeatedly told the president, “This has catastrophe written all over it.” But Shepherd, smitten by the feisty lady, is unperturbed. He invites her to the White House for dinners and even introduced her to his daughter. A titillating scene happened when Shepherd brought Sydney to the China room for a tour inside the White House. The romantic tension was strong as she examined the dishware that they ended up kissing each other, only to be interrupted by an international security crisis!
Can you imagine a relationship like that? The guy is in a high place literally and figuratively, and your time together is dictated by his availability from a demanding job. Anyone who’s not secure and confident wouldn’t want to be the other part of this equation, especially since it’s still blossoming. Well, the good news is, Sydney is a lobbyist and has a career of her own, so she simply thrived in the arrangement. Shepherd’s silence about their relationship didn’t even bother her. It was only when the president derailed her lobby effort – using information she offhandedly shared with him – by employing hard bargaining against the staunchest critics of his administration’s environmental bill thus overturning their earlier decision to reduce fossil fuel use by 20% to a mere 10%, that Sydney felt completely betrayed and went ballistic! Ah, the blurring of the lines. Her incensed and outraged monologue was one for the books, ending with, “Mr. President, you just lost my vote.” Annette Bening’s acting was superb!
That was probably the first big slap of the day, and by nightfall, TJ’s brutal observation of the president’s lack of response against the tirade of Rumson where an intense argument followed, was a punch on the stomach.
I can’t help but be caught up by the witty exchanges of Shepherd and Wade, the buildup of the ruckus brought about by Rumson’s character diatribe, the insightful responses of Shepherd’s advisers, and finally, Shepherd’s speech of conviction towards the end that unambiguously conveyed he was ready to fight for the love of his life.
Addressing his worst critic in his fiery speech, Shepherd said, “She has done nothing but put herself through school, represent the interest of public-school teachers, and lobby for the safety of our natural resources . . . Sydney Ellen Wade is way out of your league.” And for the kill, “I’ve loved two women in my life. I lost one to cancer and I lost the other because I was so busy keeping my job, I forgot to do my job.” Damn!
The movie was worth the watch.
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The writer hosts Woman Talk with Belinda Sales every Saturday, 10 a.m. at 91.1 Balita FM Tagbilaran City. Momentarily, Woman Talk is taking a short break. Email at belindabelsales@gmail.com. X @ShilohRuthie./PN
