The Movies I Have Been Watching In Anticipation For Valentine’s Day

For Lovers Only is a 2011 romance film produced by the Polish brothers and Sean O'Grady. The brothers also had different roles in the film, with Michael as director and Mark as writer and also actor himself.

In the film, Katic plays Sofia, a journalist and former model, while Polish plays Yves, a former fashion photographer.

FOR LOVERS ONLY is a story of a MAN and a WOMAN in love. After seeing each other for the first time in years while on separate work assignments in Paris, the LOVERS flee together and travel by train, car and motorcycle, as their love affair takes them across France-from Normandy to St. Tropez. Throughout their trip, both characters experience long periods of carefree bliss and unrepentant joy punctuated by brief moments of guilt and confusion. The final outcome of the affair is left open to interpretation.

It’s truly so provocative and beautiful. And the soundtrack is glorious.

Before Sunrise: On his way to Vienna, American Jesse (Ethan Hawke) meets Celine (Julie Delpy), a student returning to Paris. After long conversations forge a surprising connection between them, Jesse convinces Celine to get off the train with him in Vienna. Since his flight to the U.S. departs the next morning and he has no money for lodging, they wander the city together, taking in the experiences of Vienna and each other. As the night progresses, their bond makes separating in the morning a difficult choice.

Thought-provoking and beautifully filmed, Before Sunrise is an intelligent, unabashedly romantic look at modern love, led by marvelously natural performances from Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy.

Benny and Joon is nothing if not unique. It combines the slap-stick humor of Buster Keaton with a more serious tale of unique individuals finding love that works. Johnny Depp plays Sam — a young man who may think a little slower, has difficulty reading and writing, but knows how to iron a decent grilled cheese with a sunny disposition and strange brand of physical comedy that make him brilliant in his own right.

It also makes him the perfect partner to the troubled young woman, Joon, who’s brother Benny cares for her to the neglect of his own love life. Joon is intelligent, a painter, both well-read and well-spoken, but socially and mentally tormented beyond a point where her brother considers her capable of romantic attachment. Then Sam comes to stay with them after Benny loses a bet and life gets messy.

The film pairs two challenged individuals, but makes their challenges complementary. Of course, the movie isn’t without its frustrations, worries, and difficulties surrounding a family with special needs — even high-functioning disorders — but it adds humor and sweetness in there as well.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is one of the most artfully made and in-depth looks at love, break ups, and relationships with all their ups and downs, failures, and obsessions. This film takes a look at what would happen if, after love goes sour and you break up, you could simply erase the memories of that person rather than deal with the emotional fall out.

Jim Carrey’s mastery of drama as well as comedy is thoroughly showcased, and the end of the film feels real in a way that many romantic movies don’t. It’s satisfying, but not over-saccharine. The filming and special effects are also worth a comment — the type of quality that ages well with time, managing to still be charming rather than corny.

Now I have a plethora of movies to recommend …even some super obscure heart wrenching films that work for Valentines Day too! I will compile a list soon but these 4 are always on my radar every February!