A Little Romance (1979) is one of those rare romantic films that depicts young love as something born out of self acceptance. The film stars Diane Lane as Lauren King and Thelonious Bernard as Daniel Michon, as two highly intellectual teens who struggle with finding a place in this world but instead find a place with each other. This was the first film role for both Lane and Bernard. Diane Lane has of course gone on and etched out an incredible career as an actress while Bernard left acting shortly after and became a dentist.
This romance begins with Daniel on a school trip and Lauren visiting a set where a movie is being made because her mom is friends with the director. Daniel sees Lauren and hears her name being said then he says to her, "Call me Bogie.” She asks why and he answers, “Because they belong together.” Daniel was referring to the great love story of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. And with those iconic words their little romance begins.
While navigating this new found love they decide to embark on a journey that ends up leading them all the way to Venice. Their adventure is inspired by their unusual new friend Julius Edmund Santorin (Sir Laurence Olivier) who is a man with a sketchy past but has a longing for romance in his life. While witnessing Lauren' and Daniel's connection Julius shares with them a story about a tradition that if a couple kiss in a gondola beneath the Bridge of Sighs in Venice at sunset while the church bells toll, they will be in love forever. Lauren and Daniel decide to make this tradition theirs and take Julius along for the ride. Things get complicated along the way but the promise they made to each other is fulfilled.
Although Diane Lane and Thelonious Bernard were new to film making they were surrounded by pros including Olivier as their friend, Sally Kellerman as Lauren's mother, Arthur Hill as Lauren's stepfather, as well as, David Dukes, Anna Massey, and Broderick Crawford playing himself. The actors who played Londet, Natalie, and Daniel's father also added some laughs and fun to the film.
At the end of the film Lauren she tells Daniel that she fears that when they grow up they will end up being like everyone else but then Daniel tells her, "I don't want you to be like everybody else. I don't want to be like everybody else. We're different. I'm glad."
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