This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Emerson chapter.
If you don’t have a date this Valentine’s Day, there’s no need to wallow in your loneliness. Especially not when you’re one movie night away from feeling empowered about being a young, independent, single lady. Instead of watching some rom/com where the couple is all roses and unicorns at the end, try watching one of these. The couple doesn’t end up together, and maybe it’s for the best. Lesson to learn: it’s better to be alone than in the wrong relationship. Stay strong!
- Annie Hall (1977) – in what is probably the only romantic comedy to ever win an Oscar for Best Picture, we follow the story of Alvy Singer and Annie Hall. Their love is adorable, neurotic and ultimately unsustainable. Alvy has some serious trouble letting go, but the final scene where they say their goodbyes after an insightful cup of coffee is a classic example of a couple that is better apart, and can finally be truly happy for each other.
- My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)* – it seems so natural, of course Julia Roberts gets the studly guy to fall in love with her and they live happily ever after – but not so fast. This bittersweet comedy follows Jules, a woman who is panicked to find that the guy she always had on the back burner is getting married. Jules tries to win him back before the wedding, but falls short. And it’s a good thing she did, not only because she would be splitting up a stupid-adorable couple, but because she wasn’t chasing after the guy, she was chasing the life she thought she could have had with him. When she accepts that he’s happy with someone else – and someday she will be too – the moment is pure relief.
- The Way We Were (1973) – this classic tearjerker may have you screaming at your television, “Just work it out! You love each other!” But no matter how much bossy Katie and laid-back Hubbel loved each other, sometimes people are just too different. The Way We Were is one of the few movies that offers the very real perspective that sometimes love is not enough, but there’s inspiration to be found in knowing when to stop a relationship that’s causing you pain.
- Broadcast News (1987) – this is the classic stubborn girl’s movie that poses the question “Do you want to be right, or do you want to be happy?” Jane Craig, a whip-smart working woman, starts a romance with a cute coworker who makes her happy but doesn’t share the same high ethics she does. And despite all romantic comedy tropes begging her to choose him over her pride, Jane makes the unheard-of movie choice to dump her guy and keep her principles uncompromised. The bittersweet ending leaves it up to the viewer, she chose to be right and end up alone, what would you do?
- Cabaret (1972) – if you forgo the romance, this is just an awesome, zany musical to cheer you up. Otherwise, it follows the life of Ms. Sally Bowles, a talented, irresponsible, adorable free spirit who finds a friend (and lover) in Brian, a straight-laced British tutor. They teeter on the edge of marriage and domesticity, but ultimately fall apart. And that doesn’t seem sad at all, because you know they would have begun to hate the differences in each other that attracted them in the first place. Sally is too wild to be anyone’s wife or mother. She’s single because she can’t be contained by any man. Make that your motto today.
*Now streaming on Netflix. All others are available on Netflix.com or for rental on iTunes or Amazon.