The Film: The Greatest Showman (2017)
The Pair: Phillip (Zac Efron) and Anne (Zendaya)
The Moment: Phillip romances Anne in song.
Some movies feel like they’ve jumped straight out of our imagination. And then, there are moments in these films that feel like true fairy tales. The Greatest Showman is one such film.
Believe it or not, I only watched this Oscar-nominated film recently. I missed out on the buzz and hype when it was first released, but I don’t mind catching up now. Here’s the movie’s gist:
Inspired by P.T. Barnum’s story, the film centers on a visionary who rises from nothing to create a dazzling spectacle. – Fox Movies
I’m revisiting this film to highlight a moment that’s a classic example of romantic storytelling—one that every memorable love story should aim to achieve.
The Lead-in: The Romeo and Juliet Syndrome
From their first encounter, Phillip is captivated by Anne. It happens during her trapeze act when their faces come just inches apart. Phillip’s interest is clear as he softly asks, “Who is that?”
Despite their instant connection, their potential relationship is doomed by societal norms and class differences. However, Phillip doesn’t give up. He plans a night out for Anne without her knowing.
With tickets in hand, Phillip—who comes from wealth and privilege—takes Anne to the theater. It’s an experience she’s never had before and something he wants to share with her. But things don’t go as planned.
At the theater, Phillip’s parents disapprove of his choice in a companion, which upsets Anne and drives her back to her trapeze. A place where she feels safe…
Classic Romantic Moment of the Month: The Greatest Showman!
Phillip follows Anne to her safe place. He tries to convince her, but she’s hesitant and unwilling to risk her heart. Phillip begins to sing, pouring out his feelings in a heartfelt melody.
“You know I want you. It’s not a secret I try to hide. I know you want me. So don’t keep saying our hands are tied.”
As he sings, he tries to win her over. “You claim it’s not in the cards. Fate is pulling you miles away. And out of reach from me. But you’re here in my heart. So who can stop me if I decide that you’re my destiny?”
He suggests they control their own destiny:
“What if we rewrite the stars? Say you were made to be mine.”
Drawing her close, he continues:
“Nothing could keep us apart. You’d be the one I was meant to find.”
Anne pulls away, still protesting. But Phillip relentlessly pursues her, pulling her back into a dance that makes her smile.
“It’s up to you, and it’s up to me,” he sings, “No one can say what we get to be.” They twirl in a kind of dance, her smile growing brighter.
“So why don’t we rewrite the stars? Maybe the world could be ours. Tonight.”
As he bares his soul, she leans in as if to kiss him but then uses her trapeze rope to shoot into the air and escape Phillip. Puzzled, he looks for her in the dark, tall spaces above.
Anne responds in song:
“You think it’s easy. You think I don’t want to run to you. But there are mountains….”
As they continue their dance and aerial twirls, she sings, “No one can rewrite the stars. How can you say you’ll be mine? Everything keeps us apart. And I’m not the one you were meant to find…”
Briefly safe in his embrace, she wonders:
“How can we rewrite the stars? Say that the world can be ours. Tonight?”
They fly through the air, singing together:
“All I want is to fly with you. All I want is to fall with you. So just give me all of you.”
Momentum and emotion bring them closer, and as she sings “It feels impossible,” Phillip answers, “It’s not impossible.”
But then, she disappears from his sight again, and Phillip sings, pondering: “How do we rewrite the stars?”
They continue their duet while twirling in the air, until Phillip jumps onto the rope with her. They soar through the air, their voices harmonizing:
“And why don’t we rewrite the stars? Changing the world to be ours.”
Finally, as they softly land, Anne’s face turns serious again. She bares her heart:
“You know I want you. It’s not a secret I try to hide. But I can’t have you. We’re bound to break and my hands are tied.”
For a brief moment, she lingers. But then, without another word, she walks away.
In Conclusion
Despite how this might sound, it’s not the end for Anne and Phillip’s romance. If it were, it would be a bittersweet ending, but at this moment, it overflows with romance.
This scene from The Greatest Showman is one of the most tenderly romantic sequences I’ve seen in a long time. There’s an authenticity that goes beyond the usual “swoons” of filmmaking. It could be the chemistry between Zac Efron and Zendaya, the unexpected setting, or the unique “dance” the scene portrays. Or maybe it’s the song’s lyrics. Whatever it is, this scene is sure to give you all the feels.
Have you seen The Greatest Showman yet? Did this scene captivate you as much as it did me? Would you have preferred it to play out differently? Share your thoughts below!
