In an alternative narrative of the American romantic comedy, Albert Brooks’s Modern Romance would sit side-by-side with Annie Hall and When Harry Met Sally. In actuality, while Albert Brooks is well-known as a comedian and actor, his work as a director is frequently overlooked. But between 1979 and 1991, Brooks made four of the greatest comedies in cinema, and 1981’s Modern Romance is the jewel in his crown.

Brooks himself stars as a Hollywood film editor who can’t decide whether his girlfriend Mary (Kathryn Harrold) is the one. The premise may be familiar, but the execution is singular, operating as a surprising self-critique of the neurotic, solipsistic male protagonist. Brooks proves himself to be adept at navigating contemporary romcom tropes, but what truly resonates in Modern Romance is a genuine struggle to understand modern love.

We were delighted to present a 35mm screening of Modern Romance as part of The Prince Charles Cinema’s Check the Gate season. This was a very rare screening as at the time, the film was not available on DVD or streaming services in the UK. It has subsequently been released on Blu-ray by Powerhouse Films.

You can view a PDF of the programme booklet for this event here.