Love at First Sight
When the film starts Frank catches April smoking a cigarette and he eventually decides to go talk to her. This leads to the dancing and we see them get intimate while dancing. This whole first act leads to make us believe they are falling in love. Ironically, right after this dance, we are shown the cracks in their relationship. How April is struggling as an actress and how Frank is with his temper. And as if to negate the effect of the beautiful slow dance, we are shown Frank and April fighting, along the roadside, to point Frank almost hits her.
Work and Reflect
Frank and April find a house to settle in on the revolutionary road. This house is liked by April. We see Frank and April go through their daily routine where Frank heads off to work and April does chores around the house. During this exposition of their routine we see April reflecting back about her relationship with Frank. Ironically, on the other hand, Frank is shown trying to woe a co-worker. The irony reaches it’s peak when we see Frank sleep with Maureen and return home to realize while he was out sleeping with another woman his wife and kids were preparing his birthday party.
Crazy Society
The moment John, who is a certified crazy person in his words, meets with Frank and April they seem to get along. Even when John is told about Frank and April’s plan of moving to Paris, he doesn’t seem to think it a stupid idea as the other people seem to do. Furthermore, they all agree on the hopeless emptiness that is present in their lives. The irony being that Frank and April are getting more along with this person who is deemed crazy by society than the people that are deemed sane by society’s standards.
Childish Idea
The idea of Paris reinvigorates Frank and April’s marriage. They seem happy after they have decided to move to Paris. This promise of escaping to an exotic place gives Frank and April hope. They face criticism for their idea. But they stick to it. Until, Frank doesn’t and he like the others, ironically, labels it as a childish idea. Persuaded by a promotion and April’s pregnancy, Frank promises her that they’ll be ok living here. Ironically, while Frank finds his calling April descends into madness and hopelessness.
