Valentine’s day is upon us—a time dedicated to roses and chocolates, the color red, and a special date night with your cherished loved one. It’s a period for celebrating love, a time you specifically allot to show your appreciation and fondness for your special someone, especially when busy work days have prevented you from doing so.
While a significant moment for couples, typically resulting in the addition of another family member, unfortunately for some, it had become a bitter reminder of the love they don’t have; as if their loneliness is being shoved into their faces. But it doesn’t have to be that way; here are 5 films you can watch for your solo Valentine’s date.
Lost in Translation
Released in 2003 and starring the legendary Bill Murray and a young Scarlett Johansson, ‘Lost in Translation’ follows the story of Bob Harris, an aging American movie star at the twilight of his career who finds himself in Tokyo to appear in a series of advertisements for a whisky brand. Isolated halfway across the world, surrounded by a culture foreign to him, and a language he does not understand, he is left to his own devices, kept company only by the dissatisfaction with his current circumstance, and his apprehensions for his future. Such was the case until he comes across a fellow American named Charlotte, a young Yale graduate who shares the same disenchantment as he does—strangers yet familiar, the pair bond over their shared pain.
The perfect watch for anyone tired of the mushy and the gushy, this film however does not do well to inspire or rouse someone’s mood; it’s rather slow and cerebral. Instead, teasing romance and the prospect of adultery driven by isolation and anxiety, for a narrative that centers around finding kinship with someone who somewhat understands what you’re going through—it’s an unexpected friendship—it’s a late-night watch that may bring a tear to your eye when you’re least expecting it.
Begin Again
Riddled with chart-topping original music, ‘Begin Again’ starring Mark Ruffalo, Keira Knightley, and Adam Levine in his cinematic debut, is all about starting anew, hence the title. Devoid of romance as its primary motivator, the film primarily centers on the journey of Gretta James (Knightley) as she bounces back from a failed relationship with singer Dave Kohl (Levine) and finds her sound together with veteran producer Dan Mulligan (Ruffalo) who is struggling with alcoholism brought about by his failing career and crumbling family life.
More than the ear-worm inducing music, and the astounding performance by its cast, ‘Begin Again’ is a much-needed warm hug, telling you that whatever you’ve gone through, whatever you’ve lost, and no matter how much time you think you’ve wasted, it’s never too late.
I Give It a Year
A little pessimism here goes a long way. ‘I Give It a Year’ follows the story of newlywed couple Nat (Byrne) and Josh (Spall) as they come to terms with their differences, not for the sake of moving forward together, but rather separately with those that truly have their hearts. A different cup of tea than what you would expect from a romance film, maybe a little more selfish, or pessimistic than usual, but the movie diverges from the typical messages of patience and perseverance in love, to show that maybe sometimes there’s nothing wrong with jumping out from a sinking ship; perhaps letting go erases the needless pain caused by holding on.
Blended
Name a better onscreen pair than Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. I’ll do it for you, you can’t. The two once again join forces, this time as single parents Jim and Lauren, who against their will, are brought together by an untimely coincidence at a luxury family-themed honeymoon (familymoon) trip in Africa. Together with their respective and immensely contrasting families, the duo is forced to set aside their differences for a successful much-needed holiday.
I know we’re supposed to do away with the mushy and gushy, and this perhaps tops it all, but the film is bombarded with so much wholesome energy that it’s infectious—it’s impossible not to smile to this—not to mention, every appearance of the muscle-clad Terry Crews is hilarious.
Meet Me in St. Gallen
Directed by Irene Emma Villamor, ‘Meet Me in St. Gallen’ stars Carlo Aquino and Bela Padilla in this heart-wrenching odyssey, mirroring the likes of ‘Love Rosie’ and ‘The Notebook’—tales about love that span years, even decades. A story of a love that meets, develops, and crumbles over time, the film follows the journey of Celeste and Jesse as they come to terms with the fact that not every love, not even your greatest, is the one you will end up with.
