Romantic, refreshing, and cool — like a cleansing baptism from nature. Unlike the melancholy and gloom often found in literature, rainy days can bring a sense of serenity and quiet clarity. Amid thunderous storms and heavy downpours lies a rippling inner peace; in the fine drizzle like silver needles, there lingers a soft nostalgia for the past. As the rainy season resonates with our emotions, here are four carefully selected films to accompany you through the rain.
- The conjuring
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Coolly chilling — the thrilling and creepy narrative is unsettling, with the mansion and its dusty past and the ghostly figures deep in the darkness that all coincide with the atmosphere of the gray, rainy season. James Wan’s iconic The Conjuring series feels like a slightly spicy dessert on a rainy day — sweet at first, then a creeping heat that numbs the tongue, leaving behind a unique and lingering aftertaste. A total of three, as well as the spin-off Annabelle and The Nun series, are classics in the horror genre, together creating the classic Conjuring universe. The thrilling world of supernatural spirits, tracing the origins of the occult and demons, and the tricks of the exorcist couple, the Warrens, all add more goosebump-inducing, yet nerve-tingling colors to the Perron family’s ghostly encounters. Sleepwalking, possession, moving furniture, jittery fantasies, spirits, and evil — all the classic elements of horror are mixed together without feeling piled on or passed over, but instead are presented in the story in just the right way to make the audience feel the same frequency of unease as the movie’s protagonists, making this a masterpiece of horror. The classic scene of the devil clapping her hands beside Mrs. Perron in the darkness is a head-turner, and with the rainy, gloomy atmosphere, it’s a real treat.
- The Great Gatsby
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Accompanied by Lana Del Rey’s song Young and Beautiful, the scene depicting the glow under the twilight of city lights always evokes memories of those carefree summer days, filled with laughter and warmth. Amidst the golden haze of reminiscence, that one fleeting glance back reveals a person of breathtaking elegance — someone whose beauty and presence engraved themselves into a memory that is unforgettable for a lifetime. The Great Gatsby is always suitable for watching again and again on rainy days when you don’t go out, as if in the rotten world above, we also follow Gatsby to fall into the gorgeous, bright love and the American dream together. The Great Gatsby has gorgeous artwork and a beautiful soundtrack. The movie is restored to the original portrayal of the utility and true feelings of intertwined emotions, while a variety of costumes, props, and scenes are extremely classic — Daisy, with her short platinum blonde hair and pearl earrings, wearing a white flower and an elegant dress; Gatsby in the West Egg District of the big castle, is embraced by the woods and the river in the distance, with the darkness of the night shimmering; they are also in the rain when Gatsby, dressed in a white suit, pretends to run out and meet Daisy by chance, where the house is piled high with pink and white flowers. The final scene of Gatsby’s death in the swimming pool, far from the green light of his dreams, is mesmerizing and penetrates the viewer’s heart. All the colors complement each other, giving people a visual feast of paper and gold, to see a gorgeous and tragic love story in a flashy world.
- Titanic
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Titanic is a timeless romantic film, perfect for rewatching no matter how many years have passed. Its tone and atmosphere are exquisitely beautiful and deeply moving, stirring the heart with every viewing. Paired with the quiet of a rainy day, it evokes the poignant feeling of a love that transcends decades. The story begins on April 10th, 1912, the day when the Titanic started to sail, with Rose in a wide-brim hat with a lavender bow and a white suit dress to attract the audience’s attention, while young Leonardo DiCaprio’s boyish appeal as Jack is simply unmatched. Next to a clear blue sea, the horizon dyed light blue, Jack and his friends stand on the bow of the boat, looking out to sea, shouting, “I’m king of the world”. Unlike this freedom, Rose is trapped by the hypocrisy and vulgarity of the so-called upper class, but Jack teaches her to be brave and free. There are countless heartwarming scenes in the movie; in the setting sun, the light and shadows give the movie a warm tone, and two similar souls are unknowingly close to each other, spitting vulgarly into the sea. It’s the staircase stare-down between two men, dressed in suits and ball gowns, with Cupid’s bronze and gold statue in the background. It’s also Jack hugging Rose from behind, spreading his arms wide and feeling the sea breeze and listening to the ocean. This bond between two people is shown meaningfully in a few minutes of footage. Late in the movie when the disaster takes place is the demise of true love, whether it is determined to go into the cab on the Titanic with the captain of the death of the ship, playing the violin under the crisis of the musician, or embracing each other on the bed waiting for the last moments of life to come to the old couple — the disaster and the death of the former for the freedom and love of the eulogy.
- ponyo
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Ponyo, also known as Goldfish Hime on the Cliff, is a Hayao Miyazaki classic that has brought coolness and calmness to countless anxious people, just like rainfalls. Whether it’s the friendship between Ponyo and Sousuke, the love of the three grandmothers, or the mouth-watering ramen with ham that mom Risa makes for her two children, it all expresses the innocent desire for happiness and beauty. The movie is like a summer sea breeze, depicting all kinds of lovely scenes in a natural mix of colors. Whether it is a storm or a tsunami, or the beauty of Gran Mamare, the mother of the ocean, shining over the whole sea, one can be mesmerized by Miyazaki’s paintings, as if reading back to the days of childhood when he was thinking freely and happily. Precious feelings are also naturally presented in Miyazaki’s writing and painting. Ponyo is the child of the sea god and a human magician, while Sousuke is a human boy with a loving heart, and the coexistence between the children is a symbol of innocence and hope, which makes people see the sparkling love in countless scenes.
I hope you enjoy these recommendations, whether you watch in the rain or not!