I can't remember if this movie is from the 80's but a couple meets, the lady is an artist. They get along great but the guy's mom doesn't like her. The girl gets in a serious accident and is disfigured. The guy's mom visits her in the hospital and tells her that if she stays away from her son she will pay all her medical bills. When she's out of the hospital she starts painting again and the guy recognizes her work but she has to act like she doesn't know him. But eventually something happens where the guy realizes it's the girl he loved.

The Promise (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079756/reference)