Movies We Love About Love | Valentine’s Day 2023
Here are some movies we love about love. Enjoy!
The Shape of Water Dir. Guillermo del Toro
Funny story, I broke up with a boyfriend after we watched The Shape of Water together. (Spoiler Alert) We were in a theatre in Irvine (the only theatre playing the movie near us) and when the creature ate the neighbor’s cat: he laughed. He was the only one in that theatre to make a sound in that moment. I instantly realized we were doomed. I mean, how could a sea creature and Sally Hawkins have better vibes than me and my boyfriend? It had to end.
“Unable to perceive the shape of You, I find You all around me. Your presence fills my eyes with Your love, It humbles my heart, For You are everywhere.”
If Beale Street Could Talk Dir. Barry Jenkins
If you, like so many of us, left Don’t Worry Darling wanting more KiKi Layne; I have the perfect movie for you. Based off of James Baldwin’s novel, If Beale Street Could Talk tells the heartbreaking story of young love. Though based on a story that was published in 1974, the story of Fonny and Tish still feels very present-day. It feel like magic; it’s the way Barry Jenkins, with help from Cinematographer James Laxton, capture light in a room and it’s in the quiet moments between KiKi Layne (Tish) and Stephen James (Fonny). This movie feels like lightning in a bottle, the kind of lightning that you don’t want to hype up too much because really you have to experience it yourself.
“… If You Trusted Love This Far, Don’t Panic Now. Trust It All The Way.”
Little Fish Dir. Chad Hartigan
I will never stop talking about this film. We are thrust into the world of Little Fish whilst they’re in the middle of a global pandemic (I know it hits a little too close to home, but I promise it’s worth the watch), this time in the form of NIA (Neuroinflammatory Affliction) which manifests as massive memory loss. So we meet Emma (Olivia Cooke) and Jude (Jack O’Connell) while they try to hold on to their relationship while terrified that they may get the virus that takes their memories. This movie has my entire heart. Though Heartbreaking, absolutely worth the journey.
“They say you can’t forget feelings, and I still believe that.”
Premature Dir. Rashaad Ernesto Green
IFC Films
A coming-of age story that makes you quickly fall in love. Premature premiered at Sundance in 2019 and I have been thinking about it ever since. This movie is about the kind of love that helps you grow and I think we all need a little bit of that.
“What did I know of my heart before you gave it shape?”
Wander Darkly Dir. Tara Miele
Raise your hand if you like to ugly cry?
I watched Wander Darkly around the same time that Little Fish came into my life and let me tell you something, I was definitely dehydrated at some point during that week. I love this movie for many reasons but there’s something about a film that makes a character Mexican but instead of that being his one characteristic trait, they use that fact to beautifully-amplify the story. After a traumatic accident Adrienne (Sienna Miller) and Matteo (Diego Luna) go through a chaotic journey through their love story. Grab the tissues and prepare to ugly cry.
She’s All That Dir. Robert Iscove
Introducing the very first RomCom I fell in love with. The amount of times I rented this movie!! She’s All That is the perfect RomCom and I don’t want to hear anything else about it! The chemistry between Rachael Leigh Cook and Freddie Prinze Jr. is palpable, the jokes are funny (funny-ish) and the dance scene at the Prom is perfection. I mean, time has definitely not been kind to the content but if we watch it while wearing our 1999 glasses, then it’s a blast!
“Sometimes when you open up to people, you let the bad in with the good.”
Don’t forget to listen to our Valentine’s Day playlist:
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