Happy Valentine’s Day! Struggling to find something to watch? Maybe you’ve memorised The Notebook word for word and now you’re looking for something new to sink your teeth into? Well don’t worry, we’ve done the work for you. Whether you’re looking for thrill or chill, there’s plenty here to ensure you’re well versed in the language of love.
If You Want To Head To Cinemas:
Céline Sciamma’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire revolves around young painter Marianne, who is hired to secretly paint a hesitant bride-to-be. Dripping in colour, passion, and desire, each scene feels like a rich painting. You do not want to miss this in cinemas from Feb 28th, with some exclusive previews on Feb 14th.
However, if period cinema is not your thing, give Melina Matsoukas’s Queen & Slim a shot (if you haven’t already). This modern-day Bonnie & Clyde story tackles racial discrimination and police violence, but the audience can also observe a rebellious love of the stunning pairing that make up Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith. But we hope that your date will not take a surprising turn like theirs.
If You’re Celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month:
Ira Sachs’s Love Is Strange is not only a streetwise romance but also an extremely unique story. Knowing someone better than yourself, getting married after a long time and overcoming challenges together… It might sound familiar but the love of George (Alfred Molina) and Ben (John Litgow) is nothing like we’ve seen before. It’s a sweet and charming choice.
But if you’re keen for something more arthouse, Wong Kar-Wai eliminates many boundaries in Happy Together. Heartbreaking, intimate and contemplating — the film is a real joy for any cinephile. However, don’t let that title fool you, Happy Together is about a failing relationship.
If You Want A Box Of Chocolate And Lots Of Tears:
Paweł Pawlikowski’s Cold War depicts an impossible love in an impossible time. This black and white feature is about a musician who tries to convince a singer to flee communist Poland for France. With the touch of jazz music, this heartbreaking movie is for the audience who wants to witness gorgeous chemistry between two protagonists. Beautiful and heart-wrenching.
And speaking of impossible relationships, Derek Cianfrance’s Blue Valentine is about a disturbing portrait of a toxic relationship between Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams). Throughout the movie, we see two different time frames: the beautiful, exciting and passionate beginning of a relationship and a time where it is all the exact opposite…
If You’re Searching For Fierce Love:
Bong Joon Ho’s masterpiece Mother may not be your conventional Valentine’s movie of choice. But bear with us here — it is a movie about love and after all, isn’t that what today is all about? The 2009 film focuses on a devoted mother’s mission to clear her son’s name after he is charged with murder, asking the question of how far would you go for the ones you love?
However, if you want something a little more traditional, we recommend Sarah Polley’s Away from Her. The film offers a very human portrayal of two lovers torn apart by Alzheimer’s, exploring the sacrifices we make for the ones we love. Cheery, hey?
Happy watching!
