By Jas Mack, First Year Film and English
With Valentine’s Day rapidly approaching, couples and singletons alike wait in anticipation. Either excitedly preparing to spoil their loved one or dreading the day that every year brings an onslaught of unnecessary PDA, reminding them of their aloneness. Whichever category you fit into, whether that be deeply in love, just fallen out of it, or terminally single, I’m here to recommend some atypical, unlikely films to impress your date with (something other than a cheesy rom-com), or to distract you from the expectations of the day and the prying messages from your mum asking if you’ve found that ‘special someone’ yet. Sometimes all you need is a few para-social hours with some quirky characters to remind you that a lack of romantic relationships isn’t the end of the world, and that the 14th of February is just another day.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010)
Firstly, if you’re looking for fun, messy characters, hilarious editing and performances, and a soundtrack worthy of adding to your playlist, may I introduce Scott Pilgrim Vs the World. Released in 2010 and directed and produced by Edgar Wright of ‘The Cornetto Trilogy’, this film encapsulates mid noughties pop culture and every hipster’s life aspiration in fashion, music and general wittiness. Adapted from the series of comics of the same name written by Bryan Lee O’Malley in 2005, every character brings a unique, funny flare to this film, and the editing and overall style stays true to its comic book roots creating a fun colourful feast for the senses. In this film, Scott Pilgrim (played by world-renowned sweetheart Micheal Cera) becomes infatuated with Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) the colourful haired, “dabbles in being a bitch”, Toronto newcomer from America, who every 14-year-old girl manic pixie dream girl wannabe (including my past self) wishes she could become. However, in order to date her he must first defeat her 7 evil exes… This would make a great watch alone, or with a partner, and would definitely bring some silly fun to your Valentine’s Day, along with a whole lot of laughs.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Now, on the other end of the emotional spectrum, if you’re looking for a heart wrenching exploration into the temporality of relationships, memories, and the invisible thread trope, the best film to open-mouthed sob to this Valentine’s Day is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. This film is an absolute masterpiece of experimental editing and non-linear narrative, with a script by Charlie Kaufman real and raw enough to feel like a repeated stab in the gut (this one goes out to all the emotional masochists out there), and a refreshingly serious performance from Jim Carrey as Joel Barish, and Kate Winslet as the chaotic, colourful haired, cool girl Clementine Kruczynski. Directed by Michel Gondry, released in 2004, this film should come with a preface warning the number of tears that will inevitably be shed during the watch. Therefore, I strongly discourage you from watching this if you are freshly out of a relationship and are still healing, or in a relationship on the rocks, as I promise you will feel like all the air has been punched out of you and an elephant is sitting on your spleen, whilst you sob uncontrollably. However, sometimes that’s exactly what you want, so I thoroughly recommend this film for a solo watch to insight some seriously cathartic crying.
Run Lola Run (1998)
Another option is the severely underrated German experimental thriller Run Lola Run. Written and directed by Tom Tykwer and released in 1998, this film explores how even the smallest decisions can impact the lives of strangers around us, and asks the question how far would you go to save your lover? Would you hold your dad at gunpoint, rob a bank or a supermarket, or run for over an hour? The title of this film is no exaggeration and Lola does, in fact, run, and she runs for almost the entire duration of the film. What could’ve been a dull viewing of a girl on a jog is instead saved by interesting, fast paced, experimental editing, fun intercut cartoon sequences, a gripping, fragmented, episodic narrative and a vibrant electrifying colour pallet. This would make an excellent alternative to the standard date night romcom, as long as you two keep your eyes on the screen and not on each other to keep up with the subtitles.
Bones and All (2022)
Finally, ramping up from thriller to horror, if you’re looking for a gorier watch, my recommendation is Bones and All, released in 2022 and directed by Luca Guadagnino. This film follows a couple of young cannibals as they travel across 1980s America and of course fall in love in the process. This isn’t a particularly scary film if you aren’t a typical fan of horror, but I will warn you that it is gory and quite disturbing. However, it is a stunningly beautiful movie, shot entirely on film rather than digital, capturing the vast magic hour sky, and the incredibly detailed practical effects, all in a mastery of cinematography. Bones and All is incredibly thought provoking, exploring ideas such as cannibalism as a metaphor for love, ostracism and possible homosexuality. It is such a softly romantic film despite its violent subject material and would make a sincerely sweet date night watch. However, I must warn you once again the ending will make you cry, so prepare yourself for the confusion of crying over cannibals.
Do you have any atypical Valentine's Recs?
