Love through the ages – 30 best historical melodramas: part 1

Historical films have always been popular because they lift the veil of mystery over the past. Medieval castles, noble knights, legendary kings and palace intrigues are a win-win for a script. However, historical love melodramas have a special charm, because passion pushes the events of past eras into the background.

Jeanne du Barry (2023)

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The new movie tells the story of a girl from the lower strata of society. Will Zhanna be able to get out of poverty using only her charm and beauty, or will it not be enough? And who will patronize such an unexpected person at high court? History shows that the main thing is to present yourself correctly and make the right choice at the right time.

Emily (2022)

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The new historical melodrama will show the incredible love story of Emily Brontë. The girl hardly ever left her home and lived under the patronage of her older sister. Everything changed the moment the vicar William Waitman was admitted to their estate, and Emily fell in love with him at first sight. But does this couple have a future?

Eiffel (2021)

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The idea for the film originated in the mind of the writer Caroline Bongrand back in 1997, but it was not filmed until 2021. The historical melodrama reveals the life of Gustave Eiffel. The events begin in 1860, when the man planned to build a railway bridge in Bordeaux and this led him to fame. The story continues until 1887, when Gustave found love, which inspired him to build the Eiffel Tower. He pledged all his possessions to realize the idea that became a symbol of Paris.

Emma (2020)

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The top movies continue with a new movie based on the novel by Jane Austen. The enviable and rich bride Emma Woodhouse is in no hurry to get married, having not yet met the man of her dreams. As a form of entertainment, the girl organizes the personal lives of her friends and acquaintances, considering herself a successful psychologist. Emma’s next advice turns against her, because fate does not tolerate interference with her own plans.

Curiosa (2019)

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This French historical film about love and secret passion will take viewers to nineteenth-century Paris. Young Marie is forced to marry a wealthy nobleman who will provide her with a prosperous future. The marriage turns out to be boring and burdensome, so the girl seeks solace in the arms of another. The charming dandy Pierre knows how to attract a woman, and Marie is ready to fight for the photographer’s attention with charming rivals.

Ophelia (2018)

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A good historical melodrama will show Shakespeare’s Hamlet through the eyes of the beautiful Ophelia. The girl at a young age becomes the queen’s maid of honor, who noticed the extraordinary mind of her subject. Ophelia was an outcast among the gossips at court, but her impeccable behavior and beauty attracted the attention of the crown prince. The story of unequal love unfolds against the backdrop of tragic events when Hamlet’s cruel uncle Claudius gains the throne and power in the kingdom.

Padmaavat (2018)

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The plot of this beautiful historical love story, which is definitely worth watching, tells the story of a treacherous sultan. Ala ad-Din Hilji made a fatal mistake by taking in a disgraced brahmin. Raghava told the sultan about a woman of incredible beauty who could make a man strong and powerful. The lord sets out in search of Padmavati, and no obstacles can force him to turn off the path.

Mary Shelley (2017)

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The British melodrama is based on real historical events and includes a segment of the famous writer’s biography. Young Mary Godwin never left England, so her trip to Scotland brought her many surprises. One of them was the acquaintance with the talented poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, who became a muse for the young writer. A few years later, the romance disappeared from the relationship, and Mary created the legendary novel about a terrible monster, splashing out all her inner experiences on paper.

Victoria & Abdul (2017)

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The historical love story does not touch on the theme of passion, as the plot will focus on an unusual friendship. On the occasion of the Queen of England’s anniversary, guests gathered at Buckingham Palace, and the Indian Empire sent a gift through a servant. The humble Abdul Karim restored Victoria’s interest in life, which she had almost lost. The friendly relationship between the queen and the servant was condemned, and even the authorities considered it criminal.

Love & Friendship (2016)

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After the death of her husband, the charming Lady Susan Vernon is left without any means of subsistence. In desperation, she travels to the estate of her late husband’s family to get her life back on track. Susan hopes to get her daughter a favorable position using her talent for intrigue. However, the girl does not support the plans of her calculating mother, so the widow has to play a double game.

Read more:

• Love through the ages: 30 best historical melodramas – part 2
• Love through the ages: 30 best historical melodramas – part 3