Both "Sweet November" and "A Walk to Remember" are American romantic drama films that depict realistic events in relationships. They explore themes of love, separation, disease, death, and how people should focus on making the most of the present moment rather than the future. While the films have sad endings, they aim to communicate the importance of love and fulfilling dreams, even in the face of terminal illness.

1. Name: Peerun Bibi Ameerah
Student ID: 0313939
Course: Foundation in Natural and Built Environment- April 2013
Module: English 2
Teacher: Miss Cassandra

2. “A walk to remember” and “Sweet November” are two amazing American romantic
drama films. Both movies depict events that actually take place in some couples lives.
Adam Shankman and Pat O’Connor are fabulous directors that have achieved great
success through these movies. These movies portray human life entities such as: love,
separation, disease, death, marriage, success, affections, moral values and so on.
“Sweet November”, directed by Pat O’Connor, is a movie based on two individuals.
Keanu Reeves playing the role of Nelson Moss and Charlize Theron that of Sara
Deever. These two characters are both adults and mature enough. However, we get to
know that through the minor character Chaz, that Nelson is Sara’s “November”. On
the first night itself Sara sleeps with Nelson and as audience we note that Sara has a
childish behavior, Nelson is certainly attracted to her. Throughout November, the two
experience happy moments together and during their adventures Nelson comes across
a fatherless child named Abner, another minor character who definitely plays a
significant role in the whole plot. Eventually, Nelson realizes that he loves Sara and
he asks her to marry him. To his surprise, Sara refuses the proposal. Later on, it is
revealed that Sara has cancer and it is in terminal stage. As she cannot bears to see
Nelson suffer because of her, she decided not to continue their relationship. Nelson,
stubborn character, does not let Sara escape, he then surprises her during thanksgiving
and they spend another night together. However, the sweet moment did not last long
as Sara asks Nelson to leave so as he can have happy memories of her.
“Elliott Kastner, Steven Reuther, Deborah Aal, Erwin Stoff ( producers) & Pat
O’Connor ( Director), February 16, 2001, Sweet November [ Motion Picture]: United
state: Bel Air Entertainment “
“A Walk To Remember” is a movie based on teen romance, directed by Adam
Shankman. This movie is about Shane West playing the role of Landon Carter, who is
threaten to be expelled but who is punished in some other ways such as “after school
activities, playing lead role in the drama clubs, spring musical”. Mandy Moore
playing the role of Jamie Sullivan is known to be old fashioned. Despite Landon rude
behavior toward her we get to know that later on he asks for her help as he was having
troubling in learning his lines : Jamie agrees to help him, if he promises her not to fall
in love with her but the worst is yet to come!. During their visits and moments spent
together, we see that Landon is changed into a better person who falls in love with
Jamie. However, Landon’s happiness does not last for long when he came to know the
truth about Jamie who is suffering from cancer. Later on, Landon does his best to
fulfill all dreams of Jamie and her first one was to marry. Landon marries her and she
dies some time later. The movie end with a note of happiness as Landon is described
as the miracle that Jamie wanted.

3. Denise Di Novi , Hunt Lowry ( producers) & Adam Shankman (Director),
January 25, 2002, A walk to remember [ Motion Picture], United state: Gaylord
Films, Di Novi Pictures, Pandora Cinem
Romantic movies usually consist of scenes of happy endings and joyful thoughts of
the future. However, in these two movies we learned that we should not think about
the future but to live fully the very present moments. “Sweet November” reveals how
a busy person is losing his grasp on time. For some time is money and for others time
is life. The same can be seen in “A Walk To Remember” where the characters spend
fully the time they remained. As audience, we note that time plays a great role in
every person’s life. Time does not wait for anyone. These two movies make one learn
how to make an option turn into a priority. Time is the biggest theme and similarities
in both movies.
Furthermore, themes such as love and marriage are both significant in both movies.
The directors have eventually put quite an effort to make their audiences to view love
differently. In “Sweet November”, we see love between two adults but who knows
that marriage will never fulfill their dreams and going separate ways is the obvious
way to avoid any more heartbreaks. However, in “ A Walk to Remember” the
director lay emphasis that despite there is not much time left the final dreams of the
dying character are realized. Both directors have make an amazing job by creating an
atmosphere of belongingness, hope and love.
Moreover, both films talk about changing a person into a better being. The directors
shows how a person can change with circumstances and time. Great impotances is
given to the theme appearances and reality. “A Sweet November”, reveals the main
character Sara as being a joyful kind of person who attaches great importance to life.
However, the movie reveals that Sara hides her real self, that is someone who feels
alone, in need of attention and care, who has fought with her dear ones and who
suffers from cancer. Here, one can apply the theme of appearance and reality as Sara
puts on an appearance that she is happy. The audience can see a big similarity in a “A
Walk to Remember” as the main protagonist, Jamie, hides her real self to Landon.
Jamie might be old fashioned, conservative and attaches great importance to God,
However, she is quite fun to be around with. She hides her disease so as to lead a
normal life and tries to make the most of her remaining time better. Here, also one can
see that appearance and reality plays a crucial role.

4. In addition, the audience can also note the similarity that of sickness and death. Death
is eminent in both films and the audiences evoke sad feelings toward both endings.
The death of both characters Jamie and Sara is not shown directly to the audience. We
get to know through the male characters that both females one have met death but
they had their wishes fulfilled. The directors show how love can help a person to die
peacefully. Both movies have a sad ending, but ends with a note of hope and faith in
God.
To conclude, one can certainly say that “Sweet November” by Pat O’Connor and “ A
Walk to Remember” by Adam Shankman, are two movies with many similarities but
the morals of both stories are different. The audience should see the inner meaning of
the movies. The films might have sad endings but one should understand what the
directors want to communicate to people. These movies deserve positive critics rather
than negative ones.