Directed by Billy Wilder, Sabrina is a 1954 romantic comedy that tells the story of Sabrina Fairchild (Audrey Hepburn), daughter of Thomas Fairchild (John Williams). Thomas works as a chauffeur for the Larrabees, an aristocratic family from Long Island. Sabrina falls in love with the Larrabees’ son, David (William Holden), a playboy who doesn’t give her the time of day.
Throughout the film, Sabrina feels like an outcast, not only from David but from the entire aristocratic world to which the Larrabees belong. She becomes so dependent on her unrequited love for David that she can’t function normally. As a result, Thomas sends Sabrina to culinary school in Paris, hoping that she’ll gain her own identity away from Long Island.
Two years later, Sabrina has blossomed into a sophisticated, attractive woman. In her refined state, she catches the eyes of both David and his successful older brother, Linus (Humphrey Bogart). Sabrina then becomes a love triangle, where Sabrina is forced into choosing one brother over the other.
I enjoy Hepburn’s ability to transition into multiple personas, all the while maintaining a charming quality. The changes in Sabrina’s physical appearance and mannerisms help the audience track her overall growth in the movie
Sabrina is a simple and light-hearted film that is highlighted by Hepburn’s wit and elegance. It prompts the audience to laugh and accept that unrealistic romances are one of the most entertaining narratives to watch.
