some sweet movies

I recently picked up Eagle v. Shark solely because it had Jemaine Clement from Flight of the Conchords.  It is a story about two social misfits who end up falling in love.  It is painfully awkward in quite a few places and is definitely slow-paced, but I find myself continuing to think back on it.  It is simple (relatively) and genuinely sweet and nothing at all like your standard romantic comedy fare.

For a while, it seemed like everyone I knew was encouraging me to see Once.  I was initially resistant because of the hype, but am so glad I did.  The movie isn't so much a boy-gets-girl movie, but there is such a sweetness between these two characters that is really endearing.  I absolutely loved it, and loved the soundtrack (which I now proudly own).  In all fairness, the movie does essentially seem to be a vehicle for the music, but the relative sparseness of dialogue worked well and charged their interactions in a way that you don't see in most movies. 










Once actually reminded me a lot of The Girl in the Cafe.  I can't put my finger on exactly why, but they have a very similar feel or quality.  The Girl in the Cafe is essentially about an older man who works as an economist for the British government.  He meets a much younger woman in a cafe (hence the title) and invites her to a WTO summit he has to attend for work.   What happens between them is touching and beautiful.  I absolutely loved this movie.









Amelie is one of my all-time favorite movies.  I cannot say enough good things about it.  I own very few movies and this is one of them.  While most people think of this movie as chronicling her adventures, there is a very tender love story at the heart of it.  Amelie creates connection with everyone around her and, eventually establishes a romantic connection for herself.  If you have not seen it, you absolutely must.

I think my favorite parts of the movie are the hide-and-seek game she ends up playing with Nico and then their first meeting in person, though all of it is fantastic.






Well, I hope this provided some not-so-standard options for the upcoming "holiday."*  Enjoy.


*Note: I am not bitter about Valentine's Day per se, rather I dislike the consumer pressure placed on people.  You must show someone you love them and you must do it in very circumscribed ways: a purchased card, purchased flowers, purchased chocolates, dinner out, diamonds, etc.  I believe love should be celebrated every day and in a way that meshes with the people involved.  If you want to celebrate Valentine's Day, great, but don't let commercials dictate your expectations, create your own vision instead.  *puts soapbox away*