Valentine's Day is a great opportunity to do something fun with your significant other and celebrate your love.. but what about the rest of us? ⊙△⊙
Whether you're alone or not this mushy season, here's a list of 8 of my favorite quirky romances I want to share with you! Quirky and awkward romance is my favorite film genre, specifically foreign ones. Some of these might not be classified specifically as "romance," but they all carry many romantic and heartfelt notes.
(no particular order, no spoilers)
1. Romantics Anonymous ("Les Émotifs Anonymes," France)
The passion of chocolate brings two emotional people together despite their fears and social awkwardness. I promise I haven't given anything away! This film will definitely inspire hope in your heart and make you all warm and giggly. It's also probably the most awkward in my list!
2. Spirited Away ("千と千尋の神隠し," Japan)
I'm sure most of you have seen this Miyazaki film, but it's always worth another watch! Spirited Away puts a young, spoiled brat into the spirit world where she's faced with changing her attitude in order to save those she cares about. The romantic tones may not be as strong in this film, but that's the beauty of Miyazaki's work; most of his films aren't explicitly a romance. They're first and foremost a
story.
3. The Hedgehog ("Le Hérisson," France)
Paloma is disgusted with the lives of the rich; Unfortunately for her, her family is rich. The young girl decides to kill herself on her 12th birthday, but as the date approaches she makes friends with a new tenant in her apartment building, a kind, elderly Japanese man and the elegant but lethargic landlady. One of my favorite things about this movie is all the little things the characters do that add to their personality but also add to their believability as a person. Look for those little things and you'll enjoy the movie even more.
4. I'm a Cyborg But That's OK ("싸이보그지만 괜찮아," Korea)
This film gets my "Quirkiest Award"! This movie's plot is kind of hard to describe, but I'll try! Young-goon thinks she is a cyborg and is checked into a mental hospital, where she meets another patient named Il-soon who helps her get back on her feet when her insanity begins to be detrimental to her physical health. This movie is hilarious and very cute. I highly recommend it for k-pop lovers, since 비(Rain) plays Il-soon!
5. Notting Hill (UK/USA)
I think we all wish we could relate to this movie.. I can't say much without giving the plot away, but the story reveals what happens when a British Regular Joe meets a world-famous American movie star in his tiny travel book shop. It also has many hilarious bits! Anyone can enjoy this movie because I'm sure we all have celebrity crushes, hehe.
Who's your top celebrity crush? Leave a comment, I want to know! (Mine is T.O.P from Big Bang ♥)
6. Breakfast at Tiffany's (USA)
This is a classic and a definite must-see, especially if you're interested in the fashion and culture of the early 60s! Audrey Hepburn plays Holly Golightly, a naïve socialite who meets a writer who's just moved into her building and her carefree, independent nature is challenged when she finds herself becoming attached to him.
7. Lars and the Real Girl (USA/Canada)
I promise this is not a perverted movie! Lars is a socially awkward and strange guy who buys a life size doll online and starts up a relationship with her. This is a funny and cute movie and it's mostly about how the small town he lives in deals with his relationship and how Lars deals with his own delusions.
8. Howl's Moving Castle ("ハウルの動く城," Japan)
Another Miyazaki film! This one is great if you're feeling gross or ugly because the main character, Sophie, is characterized as being such (even though she doesn't look like it..) Sophie meets a selfish wizard named Howl and works for him in his moving castle as his house cleaner. This is a very sweet movie about love and what's truly in our hearts.
Another good one that is not on this list to watch if you're feeling not-so-pretty or unloved is 100 Pounds Beauty. It's a Korean movie about a chubby, unattractive girl who gets a full body plastic surgery so the man she likes will return her feelings.
❦ I want to hear your thoughts if you watch any of these lovely films ^___^ Happy Valentine's Day!
Miss Kellie
P.S. Did you know South Korea has a holiday for singles? Valentine's Day is when girls give boys chocolates; then on White Day (a month later), the boys return the girl's gifts with candies; and lastly, another month later is Black Day, when singles eat black bean noodles (짜장면)!
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