Memory Loss, Chopping off fingers, and Erotic musical numbers: A Perfect Valentine Trio

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Tis the season of romance! Whether you’re looking for a film for your next night in with your significant other, or to drown the bitter feeling of rejection, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is surely the answer. It’s a film that’s suitable for all couples, whether you’re on the first chapter of your life as a pair or just staying together for the kids.

Pushing the boundaries of conventional rom-coms, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind juggles romance, comedy and science fiction. We meet Joel and Clementine through an awkward but sweet meet-cute on a train. The pair immediately gets on, and romance surely ensues. But there’s a snag. Although we’ve been introduced to all the necessary ingredients for a blossoming romance, there is more to this recipe under the surface.

This is not your common-or-garden rom-com. What follows is a twisty drama framed like a psychological thriller, dealing with themes of memory and identity. The two leads, Jim Carey and Kate Winslet, are excellent and breathe life into the wonderfully written characters. Charlie Kaufman’s imaginative script embodies the energy of a five-year old, and is complemented by Michel Gondry’s surrealist direction. All these elements come together to produce a perfectly balanced wholesome and insightful take on relationships.

Valentine’s Day may be over, but be sure to check out Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. It’ll make your latest date seem like your very first. -SSM

Avaliable on Netflix

The Handmaiden

Long time fans of Felix Film will no doubt have seen The Handmaiden crop up multiple times before, and for very good reason. It is hard not to find an excuse to recommend this movie. Especially at this lovey dovey time, singles, couples and more alike should look no further then settling into your comfy spots and diving in.

This movie is a myriad of achievements, one of Park Chan Wook’s finest accomplishments: the stunning beauty portrayed by the camera work and editing, accompanied by a score which perfectly complements and accents every single meticulously-taken shot.

The four lead characters feel like the only four characters in the movie due to their on-screen presence and scene-stealing emotion at every step, which works greatly to its favour. The power dynamics, the intricate relationships, the secrets, the deception, the love, the loathing are all so well presented throughout, with the body language really shining through. The romance in the movie is spectacular, with characters fleshed out into genuine human beings with real emotions for each other, which has recently been getting harder to come by with romance.

This is wrapped up with a very tight plot, which never stops twisting, turning, and drawing you in, split into three acts. These make extremely good breathers, making the very intense plot and the longer runtime, less intimidating.

Seriously, this movie brings romance, thrills, dark humour, eroticism, twists, beauty and more, it is not to be missed. -MD

Avaliable on Amazon Prime

Moulin Rouge!

Ambitiously directed by Baz Luhrmann, Moulin Rouge! is one of the most extravagant musicals ever put on screen. Admittedly, the frequent explosions of music and colour might be too overwhelming for some. Especially, the first 30 minutes of the film, which is an assault on all senses, and does need some time getting used to. However, afterwards, the film becomes a poignant, epic, and totally unforgettable love story between Satine and Christian, brilliantly brought to life by Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor respectively. Moulin Rouge! is a compilation of classic love story tropes: The beautiful girl, the poor boy, and the rich villain. However, the presentation of these elements is utterly original. This is shown in its music as well. The Elephant Love Medley is a novel and romantic repackaging of the most cliché love songs, and El Tango de Roxanne, in my opinion, formulates one of the most captivating, striking and heart-stopping musical sequences ever made.

So, this weekend, sit back and relax, and witness the magnificence, the romance, and the utter chaos that is Moulin Rouge! -AC

Avaliable on for very cheap, or “unofficial” streaming.

For all inquires send your Valentines cards to ffilm@ic.ac.uk, or Felix office, Beit West Basement. For all complaints, see nearest bin. Happy Valentines from the Felix Film team and remember, “The truest love, is the love of film” -SK 2019