Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. The holiday is traditionally known for its multi-colored conversational hearts that aren’t cognizant of current sexual politics, speedy dinners out (and equally speedy sex) and mediocre romantic comedies.
Although we can’t change the candy or food industry — or change how anyone jacks it with their partner — we can suggest a few strange and somewhat romantic movies to you to help get you in a loving and slightly sarcastic mood for one of the strangest holidays of the year.
Harold and Maude (1971)
Nothing depicts that love is blind like a May/December romance. Harold and Maude follows Harold, a young man who loves death and is adverse to his mother’s matchmaking tendencies, and Maude — an older woman who loves life and controlling her destiny.
Although this film was released in 1971, its fantastic dark humor and fresh story remains charming today.
Her Alibi (1989)
Most romantic comedies have a formulaic plot: A man chases a somewhat “weak” woman, woos her and wins her heart. Although Her Alibi certainly follows a traditional plot — man chases woman — it’s certainly not traditional in that the woman being chased is more than capable of caring for herself.
Let the Right One In (2008)
Although Let the Right One In is a horror film, it’s driven by an innocent love story between a boy and a vampire trapped in a young girl’s body… Stay with me.
Throughout the film, Oskar becomes closer with his new, mysterious friend, Eli. As the film progresses, Oskar becomes privy to Eli’s dark secret while also benefiting from her monstrous abilities.
Grey Gardens (1975)
This film is by far the most Galentine’s Day pick on this list. Although Grey Gardens isn’t a traditional love story, it is still, at its heart, about love. The film follows Edie and Edith Beale—a mother and daughter who happen to be the eccentric relatives of Jackie Kennedy Onassis. The film is billed as the first true documentary.
During the documentary, the women spat, sing, dance and stay fashion-forward. Although it’s true that the duo did live in squalor, their ability to remain sassy and sarcastic makes this doc a must-watch for anyone who loves fashion and eccentricity.
Spring (2014)
This adorable creature feature follows Evan, a young American man who’s hellbent on escaping his criminal past in the US during an aimless trip to Italy.
During his stay overseas, Evan meets Louise, an Italian genetics student. Although he’s a bit baffled as to why this young woman is attracted to him, he decides to throw caution to the wind and spend time with the sexy stranger. This often strange but in-the-end incredibly sweet film is a classic love story with a strange, genre twist.
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Abbie Stutzer is a writer and editor from Lawrence, Kansas. Find her on Twitter at @abbiestutzer and on Insta at @abbiestutzer. Email her at abbie@ynotcam.com.
Here’s your invite to Leslie Knope’s Galentine’s Day Brunch!
Image via Mike Swope.
