28 January 2021
5 romantic movies for when social distancing gets too much
Unprecedented, uncertain, unexpected…the pandemic has created many challenges. One of the biggest being… love. We all need “the only thing that there’s just too little of” even if social distancing and masks aren’t exactly helping when it comes to whispering sweet nothings! These love stories now streaming on Showmax and Netflix shed light on modern romance in all its intricacies.
Water is often linked with emotion, which gives you an idea of what to expect from this powerful romance drama. Written and directed by Trey Edward Shults, this critically acclaimed movie is like Moonlight meets The Place Beyond the Pines. Following the saga of an American family in South Florida, it is a heart-rending and haunting portrait of a family who pull together in the aftermath of a tragedy. In two chapters, we watch as a school wrestling champ struggles to navigate his family and future, only for his sister to take centre stage.
Moonlight stunned audiences with its elegant, poetic and gentle undertow when it came to social drama. The same goes for Waves, combining sweeping visuals with a soundtrack in the capable hands of The Social Network’s Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. It’s becoming difficult to ignore films featuring Manchester by the Sea’s Lucas Hedges, who stars opposite Taylor Russell. Kelvin Harrison Jr is also on the up and up, having collaborated with Schults on It Comes at Night. From text break-ups and social pressure to pushing the boundaries of new romance, Waves grapples with love in all its forms.
IMDB rating: 7.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 84%
2
Always Be My Maybe (Netflix)
Crazy Rich Asians and Always Be My Maybe have been a welcome refresh when it comes to Hollywood style romantic comedies. Both films feature predominantly Asian casts, ushering in a complement of new talent and a twist on well-worn stories. Sticking closely to the formula, Always Be My Maybe is smart enough to reverse roles, making it a modern romance. Playing into a Dawson’s Creek turned Notting Hill style romance, it’s about a celebrity chef and a failure-to-launch guy who rekindle their awkward high school flame 15 years later.
Written by and starring both Ali Wong and Randall Park, to say the charming co-leads know their lines is an understatement of epic proportions. Having penned the screenplay, they know exactly how jokes should land and allow their natural chemistry to infuse this fun, upbeat and mostly silly romantic comedy. Touching, laugh-out-loud funny, and witty enough to be quotable, the movie spans their childhood and 30-something lives. It’s wonderful to have a romantic lead wearing prescription eye-wear, and you’re obviously doing something right when Keanu Reeves agrees to play his complete antithesis!
IMDB rating: 6.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 89%
Meisies Wat Fluit (Girls That Whistle) is a South African romance comedy drama about a couple who fell in love too soon, got married too soon and got divorced too soon. Coming from Wonderlus filmmaker, Johan Cronje, the film has a similar sense of spontaneity and coming-of-age cool, which is compelled by committed performances. Stiaan Smith and Leandie du Randt co-starred in the short film Gebles, where their magnetic chemistry demanded more screen time and story. Both talented local actors, they revel in the chance to tease out this “friends with benefits” scenario with du Randt’s fireworks offsetting Smith’s cool-headed swagger.
There’s an anything-goes sense of freedom to Meisies Wat Fluit, which is uncommon for South African films. This is a mature and modern romance, carried forth by an independent spirit that offers a nuanced and even subtle exploration into a tricky reunion. This finesse is counterbalanced by the film’s coarse language and offbeat comedy. Shifting from prickly drama and some steamy scenes to much lighter buddy-buddy comedy, there’s a range of love stories at play in this progressive drama. With settings that include swanky bars and fine-living apartments, the movie has an urban character, and is offhandedly charming, yet still able to tap into real emotion.
IMDB rating: 6.7/10
4
All the Bright Places (Netflix)
All the Bright Places is a coming-of-age romance drama about finding real purpose in life, coping with grief and celebrating your unique talents. A budding romance develops between a sad girl and an oddball boy who are paired off for a class project involving visiting places across Indiana. Playing out like a road trip, the newfound romance between Violet and Theodore begins to shimmer as the two grow closer and secrets come to light. Elle Fanning is a wonderful actor whose face is fascinating, whether she’s playing opposite Timothee Chalamet in A Rainy Day in New York or as a talent-quest hopeful in Teen Spirit. It’s hard to believe Justice Smith isn’t related to Will Smith, as filled as he is with natural charm.
Based on the book by Jennifer Niven, All the Bright Places isn’t without its setbacks, grappling with mental challenges as the modern love story gathers momentum. Quoting Virgina Woolf and making a spectacular photographic expedition to inspire the Instagram generation, its visuals are as intoxicating as its uplifting and suave soundtrack. The modern romance dares to tackle tough issues, wearing its heart on its rolled-up sleeve. It does dip into the realm of teen melodrama but remains upbeat and thoughtful through its flair and artistic expression.
IMDB rating: 6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 66%
Tumbledown is a haunting small-town music romance drama about a New York writer who forces a young woman to confront the death of her husband, who was an acclaimed folk singer. Starring the unusual pairing of Rebecca Hall and Jason Sudeikis, the genre blend is an equally curious mix, incorporating comedy and mystery. This fuzzy co-lead chemistry works in Tumbledown’s favour, informing their complicated relationship. Hall is elegant, Sudeikis is obscured and while they don’t make obvious co-leads, this isn’t any ordinary romance. Imagine Twin Peaks without David Lynch or The Shining without Stephen King to capture the mood of this sleepy and snowy rural town romance drama.
There’s a veil of mystery and melancholy that seeps through as the lilting folk music and voice of a man who remains anonymous and ghostly filters into the soundtrack. Attempting to capture the beauty and tragedy of life through its thoughtful and sensitive screenplay, Tumbledown is not without a sense of humour. Eliciting the odd chuckle, this wistful romance aspires to The End of the Tour in its tone, beckoning you to immerse yourself in its haunting yet offbeat atmosphere.
IMDB rating: 6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 70%
