The Film “The Notebook”, Movie Review Example

Exploring Communication and Relationships in the Film “The Notebook”

Interpersonal communication is more than just exchanging information between two people. It includes the process of sending and receiving messages that involve creating and interpreting meaning. This can be done verbally, nonverbally, or through a combination of both. The way people communicate with others affects the relationships they have with them. In this paper, I will be discussing how interpersonal communication is portrayed in the film I chose to analyze. In addition, I will be looking at how various theories of interpersonal communication are demonstrated in the film and how they contribute to the development, maintenance, and termination of relationships. The file I chose to analyze is “The Notebook.”

Film Summary

The film “The Notebook” follows the story of two young lovers, Noah and Allie, who are separated by their families due to social conventions and must navigate a long-distance relationship (Cassavetes). Throughout the film, we see various aspects of interpersonal communication between Noah and Allie as they struggle to maintain their relationship despite the many obstacles in their way. We see how they use communication to overcome these obstacles and how it ultimately affects their relationship.

Communication Theories in the Film

Interpersonal communication plays a vital role in the development and maintenance of relationships. In “The Notebook,” we see how various forms of communication are used to start communication, maintain, and terminate communication relationships. The film provides examples of how important communication is in creating and sustaining positive connections with others. Communication is an essential part of every relationship, whether it’s communicating our thoughts and feelings, perceiving others accurately, or using nonverbal cues to express ourselves. The following are some of the concepts portrayed in the film.

Perception

Perception is another important aspect of interpersonal communication. In “The Notebook,” we see how perception can affect relationships as Noah and Allie struggle to understand each other’s perspectives. For example, when Noah tries to get together with Allie, he perceives her rejection of his advances as a lack of interest in him and begins to distance himself from her. (Alder 48) However, Allie is interested in Noah but is hesitant to pursue a relationship due to her own personal issues. This misunderstanding between Noah and Allie highlights how perception can affect interpersonal relationships. Another example of this is when Allie is on the phone with Noah and she hangs upon him. In this case, Noah perceives Allie’s actions as a lack of interest in him and their relationship. However, Allie hangs up on Noah because she feels overwhelmed and needs some time to herself. This example shows how two people can have different perceptions of the same situation and how those perceptions can affect their relationships (Alder 52). The way we perceive others affects the way we communicate with them. Noah and Allie’s perception of each other changes as their relationship progresses in the film. When they first meet, they have a negative perception of each other. Noah perceives Allie as a spoiled rich girl out of his league. Allie perceives Noah as a poor, uneducated boy who is beneath her. As they get to know each other better, their perception changes. Noah starts to see Allie as a kind-hearted, caring person. Allie starts to see Noah as a sweet, down-to-earth guy. Their change in perception leads to a change in their communication. They become more open and honest with each other as their relationship develops.

Communication Processes

One of the most important aspects of interpersonal communication is the communication process. This process includes sender, message, channel, receiver, feedback, and context (Alder 29). In the film “The Notebook,” we see various examples of this process in action. For example, when Noah is trying to woo Allie, he sends her a letter expressing his love for her (Cassavetes). The sender, in this case, is Noah, the message is his expression of love, the channel is the letter, the receiver is Allie, feedback is Allie’s reaction to the letter, and the context is their long-distance relationship. Another example of the communication process in action is when Noah and Allie are having a fight, and Allie hangs up on Noah (Cassavetes). In this case, the sender is Allie. The message is her anger and frustration. The channel is the phone call. The receiver is Noah, feedback is Noah’s response to being hung up on, and the context is their tumultuous relationship. Through these examples of the communication process, we can see how interpersonal communication is used in the film.

Models of Communication

In addition to the communication process, communication models can also help us better understand interpersonal relationships. Two of the most commonly discussed communication models are Knapp’s Model of Relationship Development and the Dialectical Model (Alder 210). In “The Notebook,” we see both of these models in action as Noah and Allie work to build their relationship despite the many obstacles that come their way. For example, we see Knapp’s Model of Relationship Development in action when Noah and Allie first meet and start to develop a relationship. We also see the Dialectical Model at play when Noah and Allie try to overcome their differences and maintain their relationship. The Dialectical Model is also evident in the scene where Allie is on the phone with Noah, and she hangs upon him. Through these examples, we can see how interpersonal communication theories can help us understand relationships in “The Notebook.”

Verbal communication

Verbal communication is another important aspect of interpersonal relationships. In “The Notebook,” we see how verbal communication can be used to initiate, maintain, and terminate communication relationships (Alder 262). For example, when Noah and Allie first meet at the carnival, they use verbal communication to initiate their relationship. We also see this in the scene where they are on the phone, and Allie hangs up on Noah. In this case, verbal communication is used to maintain their relationship by helping them to understand each other’s perspectives (Cassavetes). Finally, verbal communication is used to terminate their relationship when Allie breaks up with Noah. These examples show how important verbal communication is in interpersonal relationships.

Conclusion

Interpersonal communication is a key factor in building and maintaining relationships. In “The Notebook,” we see how verbal, nonverbal, and perception can be used to initiate, maintain, and terminate communication relationships. Through examples from the film, we can better understand the role of communication in relationships and its importance for creating positive connections with others. Communication is an essential part of every relationship, whether it’s communicating our thoughts and feelings, perceiving others accurately, or using nonverbal cues to express ourselves.

Works Cited

Adler, Ronald Brian, George R. Rodman, and Athena DuPré. Essential Communication. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2015.