Right at the first moment when Ms. Hui gave us a hint for mid-term exam preparation “Hey guys, please go home to watch one or two pieces of romance or drama. You will need it for your mid-term paper,” I thought of the movie named ‘No Reservations’ released in late 2007.
The movie is for the Relationship Development analysis. I chose this movie because it fits the Knapp Model of Relationship Development, which contains 10 stages, moving from ‘Coming together’ to ‘Coming apart’ stages in a relationship. This entry will mainly mention about the 5 stages of ‘Coming together’ and will touch on a little bit on the first stage of ‘Coming apart.’
Coming together
1. Initiating: Kate and Nick, the two main characters in the romance are both famous chiefs. So it is obviously that the first place they meet will be at the kitchen of a well-known restaurant. Nick presents himself to Kate with a smiley face and the reason why he comes to work for this kitchen is because of her. He admires her talent in cooking. In the other hand, Kate appears cold and very cautious as thinking that Nick comes here to take away her job.
2. Experimenting: Because of the job feature, they start having some small talks even though Kate does not want to. At the same time, the ‘feeling each other out’ process begins. Kate is perfect at creating recipes but holds too much pressure when working, while Nick plays and inspires others by his enjoyment when he cooks. Nick finally makes Kate smiles by helping her niece move out of the shell.
3. Intensifying: Nick and Kate disclose more personal information to each other as well as sharing their feelings oftenly. Trust hence has been built up between the to souls. That’s when intimacy takes place. More physical contacts are shown.
4. Integrating: Nevertheless, I think the movie doesn’t review much this stage. Since their is no announcement from Kate and Nick that they are a couple, no body knows, except Kate’s niece.
Coming apart: Differentiating
However, love never runs smooth. Kate and Nick have conflict. Kate concerns about Nick taking away her job rises again as the owner of the restaurant follows Nick’s advice and change everything Kate has built up.
Coming together: Bonding
As mentioned in the lecture note, the stages in Knapp Model of Relational Development are not linear, which means it can skip and then go back to the previous stage.
‘No reservations’ is a case. Nick and Kate later realize that the problem is not that intense. They then get into peace again and even more attach to each other. When Nick and Kate feel that they have understand each other enough, enough commitment has been formed, they move in to live together and open their own restaurant. A happy ending, isn’t it?
Overall, ‘No reservations,’ like most of other romances I have seen, has a typical story line, which follows through most of the parts of the Knapp Model of Relationship Development. I realize that in any romance, the relationship needs to either pass the 5 stages of Coming together, or follows the other 5 stages of Coming apart. Sometimes, it can also move back and forth between ‘coming together’ and ‘coming apart,’ like the movie ‘No Reservations’ itself. I believe that my analysis above has explained it clearly enough.
I like Catherine in this movie she is cute when she get mad…The story of romance in the kitchen awesome…