love vs. self-preservation theme

A character must choose between protecting themself and their own interests on one hand, or protecting a lover on the other.

2 total · 2 major

StoryLevelMotivation
movie: Ninotchka (1939) major Ninotchka was forced to choose between Léon on the one hand, and a number of things on the other. Choosing Léon would have made her a traitor to Communist Russia.
tftc1989e5x13 major Johnny reluctantly followed the order to execution style murder his lover, Lucy, to avoid facing the wrath of his hard-boiled gangster sugar mamma.