By Jake Harvey, Sarah Vallance & Tia Bradley
Big Screen Romance for Valentine's Day
Fri 12 Feb 2021
To celebrate Valentine’s Day this weekend, we take a closer look at 10 big screen romances which showcase the highs and lows of love.
From forbidden love and summer romances, to time-travel and fencing, this list has something for everyone… even cynics won’t be able to help falling head-over-heels for them.
Bringing Up Baby (1938), dir. Howard Hawks
This classic screwball comedy follows madcap heiress Susan who makes a shambles of absent-minded palaeontologist David’s life when she arrives on the scene – complete with her pet leopard.
The film’s rollercoaster plot formed the basis for 1972’s What’s Up, Doc? and is notable for Katharine Hepburn’s foray into zany comedy. Watching mild-mannered David fall for the wild ways of Susan is an absolute delight.
Carol (2015), dir. Toss Haynes
★★★★★ – Guardian. In 1950s New York, aspiring photographer Therese (Rooney Mara) works at a Manhattan department store where, one day, she meets Carol (Cate Blanchett), a beautiful older woman who is shopping in the store. Though from very different backgrounds, the pair develop an intimate relationship which has far-reaching consequences.
Nominated for six Oscars, Todd Haynes’ exquisite adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel is an intoxicating tale of forbidden love.
Set It Up (2018), dir. Claire Scanlon
Unfairly overlooked on its release, this smart and funny film stars Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell as two long-suffering assistants to their demanding bosses Kirsten and Rick.
Seeing an opportunity to help ease their workloads and get their bosses to cheer up, the pair decide to set them up, but soon find themselves falling for each other.
There’s real chemistry between the two leads, and a zingy script from Booksmart co-writer Katie Silberman.
Breathe (2017), dir. Andy Serkis
Andy Serkis (Jungle Book, Star Wars: The Force Awakens) makes his feature directorial debut with this inspirational true story of love without limits.
Adventurous and charismatic, Robin (Andrew Garfield) has his whole life ahead of him when he is paralysed by polio whilst in Africa. Against all advice, Robin’s wife Diana (Claire Foy) brings him home from hospital where her devotion and witty determination transcends his disability. Together they refuse to be imprisoned by his suffering, dazzling others with their humour, courage and lust for life.
The Princess Bride (1987), dir. Rob Reiner
“Is this a kissing book?” Opines a young boy as his grandfather prepares to read The Princess Bride to him.
Well maybe, but Rob Reiner’s blissfully enjoyable film has also got fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes and yes, true love!
Buttercup and farmhand Westley are surely destined to be together, but temporary deaths, dread-pirates, conniving princes and kidnappers conspire to get in the way of their love.
End of the Century (2019), dir. Lucio Castro
Enigmatically unfolding in non-linear fashion, Lucio Castro’s beautiful debut transforms a sexy meet-cute into a philosophical meditation on desire, regret and hope.
Whilst on holiday in Barcelona, Ocho meets handsome local Javi not once, but three times. On their third chance encounter, the pair go up to Ocho’s apartment. What might have been a hook-up turns into drinks and conversation, leading Javi to reveal the pair have met before. And so begins a story spanning two decades, where the truths of their past and hopes of their future unravel.
Jodhaa Akbar (2008), dir. Ashutosh Gowariker
Set in the 16th century, Ashutosh Gowariker’s Indian epic focuses on a marriage of alliance of the first Mughal emperor born on Indian soil, Akbar the Great, and fiery Rajput princess Jodhaa. Eventually, mutual respect and admiration between the duo leads to true love.
With gorgeous cinematography, staging and costumes, Jodhaa Akbar oozes magnificent opulence.
Stud Life (2012), dir. Campbell X
JJ, a Black lesbian, works as a wedding photographer alongside Seb, a gay man who is her best friend. When JJ falls in love with the beautiful and mysterious Elle, her friendship with Seb becomes strained as she finds herself forced to choose between the pair.
London-set Stud Life is a sexy, young and cool gay romance that takes a unique look at a slice of British urban life.
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), dir. Aditya Chopra
Having both grown up in London, Raj (Shah Rukh Khan) and Simran (Kajol) meet on a train journey across Europe and fall in love. But Simran is already betrothed, so Raj follows her to India to win her and her father over.
Known around the world simply as “DDLJ”, and often dubbed the Romeo and Juliet of Bollywood, Aditya Chopra’s glorious 1995 romance smashed box office records and is one of the biggest Hindi movies of all time.
About Time (2013), dir. Richard Curtis
Like all the men in his family, Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson) on his 21st birthday discovers that he can time travel. With the advice of his father (Bill Nighy), he decides to use his gift to change what happens (and has already happened) in his life, including getting a girlfriend.
An utterly charming, low-key romantic comedy from genre legend Richard Curtis, Rachel McAdams (Disobedience, The Time Traveller’s Wife) shines in her second role as a time-traveller’s love interest.
Available to stream on Netflix