MOVIES TO WATCH ON VALENTINE’S DAY WITH(OUT) YOUR LOVER
words AYA SOFIA OPPENBERG
editor MAREK BARTEK
Love it or loathe it, February 14th has creeped up on us yet again. For some, an overindulgent ego boost; for others, an inescapable reminder yelling ‘still single!’ everywhere they look. But for those who are toasting to friendship with your besties, or embracing your own presence (as you should), we’ve lined up a selection of movies for every scenario.
THE WAY WE WERE (1973)
image credit THE WAY WE WERE via hollywoodreporter.com
THE WAY WE WERE, a movie with teeth and an unromanticised view on relationships, is for the women of fierce convictions and sharp intellect (whether you are single or not). Drawn to each other for what they lack, Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford build a relationship on borrowed ideals and quiet compromises, until the weight of unspoken truths proves impossible to ignore.
BOOMERANG (1992)
image credit BOOMERANG via paramountpictures.com
This one is for the women who do not play around! BOOMERANG flips the script on the classic playboy narrative, following Eddie Murphy as a smooth-talking ad exec who finally meets his match in a woman even more charming—and ruthless—than he is. With a star-studded all-Black cast, including Halle Berry and Robin Givens, this ‘90s rom-com blends charisma, sex, and humor into a sharp, stylish two-hour ride.
THE LOVE WITCH (2016)
image credit THE LOVE WITCH via lwlies.com
THE LOVE WITCH is a technicolour, feminist masterpiece, and is designated to all the horror fans. Draped in vintage glamour and Lana del Rey-esque aesthetics, this one's for hopeless romantics who also know the power of a well-placed gaze. If you enjoy beautiful cinematography and a hint of weirdness, this one’s for you.
THELMA & LOUISE (1991)
image credit THELMA & LOUISE via npr.org
This is a story about love in a different format, not the kind that ends with a wedding or a grand romantic gesture. THELMA & LOUISE is about the kind of love that saves you, the kind found in unwavering friendship, in shared rebellion, in a ride-or-die bond stronger than any man-made rule. When a weekend escape turns into a desperate run for freedom, two besties find themselves pushed to the edge - literally - proving that some loves are worth risking everything for.
THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD (2021)
image credits THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD via theguardian.com
THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD is for when Valentine's Day is giving you a small existential crisis. Who am I? Why am I not loved? Why do I feel so lost in life? I get it. So does Julie, who we follow through four years of her early twenties as she stumbles through love, ambition, and identity. If you're questioning whether you're in the right place in your relationship, well—chances are, you already know the answer.
THE WAR OF THE ROSES (1989)
image credits THE WAR OF THE ROSES via theguardian.com
This one is for those who experience the existential hopelessness of seemingly perfect relationships, or those who are going through a ROUGH breakup. Many of us share the universal pursuit of that lasting, meaningful relationship, so what happens when you think you’ve found one, only to want to get out? THE WAR OF THE ROSES is a testament to the obsession of material possessions and undiscussed struggles of a relationship.