Love

Beneath the conflicts and misunderstandings, Iza's Ballad is essentially a love story. It captures the unshakeable love of a husband and wife, and a mother and daughter. It explores past relationships and the way these impact on future experiences of love. It demonstrates that love is not always easy or straightforward, but that despite pain and suffering, it is human nature to pursue love, as best we know how.

Ettie and Vince personify the quintessential love story, with little attention drawn to conflicts between them. With the exception of Ettie's response to Vince's dismissal from his position as a judge, they seem to be unfailingly supportive of each other, and of Iza, role modelling a healthy romantic relationship for her from the start. It is unclear, however, what it is that causes Iza to develop the fear of loss that means that she does not take...