Warning: There are spoilers ahead for Materialists.
Materialistswriter and director Celine Song talks about the movie’s opening scene, and the decision to show a prehistoric couple exchanging a flower ring in what is one of the earliest marriages.Materialistsis currently in theaters, and is Song’s second feature film, following 2023’sPast Lives. The cast is led by Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans.
PerSlashFilm,Song talked about the decision to open the movie with ancient people being in love, and how it was intriguing to speculate on how love passed between people. She also went on to discuss how there is no record of queer love for hundreds of years, but that doesn’t mean that there weren’t queer relationships. Song also talked about how past relationships contrast with modern ones. Check out her comments below:
Yeah. I love the idea. I mean, I always planned it that way. I wanted it to always feel like you walk in, and you’re like, “I thought I came here to watch Dakota, Chris, and Pedro. What’s happening? Why am I watching ancient people be in love?” But I think that’s what I really want to talk about. I want to talk about how there’s a record of stone tools passing hand to hand, moving from a place to another area, but what we don’t know is what passed between people.
I think about this when it comes to the very final shot of the film, which is the marriage bureau. There is a very material and a tangible record of marriages. One of the most reliable historical records — every historian will tell you, the most reliable record is a marriage record. That’s how we find out so much historical facts.
But when you go through all the people who got married in history, you don’t actually know if any of those marriages were abusive. You don’t know if any of those marriages were amazing, the love of each other’s lives. If one of them grew into love, if in one of them, everybody fell out of love. Who knows what happened? And, of course, not to mention queer love.
There’s no record of queer love for so many hundreds of years. And it doesn’t mean that the love that passed between two queer people it’s not as substantial or meaningful as in any of the marriages that are on the actual record. So to me, it’s always about the gap between what is material and tangible, and what is spiritual, immaterial, and the thing that is completely ephemeral, like that [flower] ring.
What This Means For Materialists' Themes
The Movie Is A Touching Depiction Of How Love Has Evolved Through Time
Materialistsis a movie that explores many themes, but love and relationships are among the key focal points of the movie. With the love triangle between the main characters,Materialiststouches on many modern dating tropes, but Song seems keen to hark back to ancient love, and how relationships have evolved through the years. This was teased before the movie came out inMaterialists’trailer, which shows a charming romance movie that has plenty of heart and has a lot to say about how modern relationships are not so very different from ancient ones.
Song’s comments about playing with audience expectations, and causing people to think, are also very fitting with what the movie is trying to illustrate. The opening shot is an important one in the context ofMaterialists, because it shows that love can endure through the ages, and has always been one of the most powerful human emotions. This is shown withMaterialists’ending, where Lucy (Johnson) chooses a genuine connection with John (Evans), instead of luxury and riches with Harry (Pascal).
Our Take On Materialists' Opening Scene
Song Sets Her Stall Out Early
Song proved withPast Livesthat she is one of the most inventive and intelligent filmmakers working in the industry today. This is further solidified inMaterialists, which is an excellent movie that exemplifies its themes from the opening scene. There is no pomp or pageantry involved, just a stripped-back depiction of two people in love, and this mirrors the theme of the movie, which explores identity, relationships, and intimacy. Song’s choice to display the tenderness of love throughout the centuries by removing the pretense and ridiculous demands of modern dating and romance.
Materialists
Cast
Materialists is a contemporary romantic drama centering on a young, ambitious New York City matchmaker. She navigates personal dilemmas as she becomes torn between a seemingly perfect match and her imperfect ex, exploring the complexities of love and ambition. Released in 2025, this film delves into modern relational dynamics.
