Because when you’re in Houston and it’s 70+ degrees out, fall is as much a feeling as it is a season.
1. Amélie
Quirky, comforting, and aesthetically pleasing—I’m describing the film Amélie, but could just as easily be compiling a list of my favorite attributes of autumn.
2. Bridget Jones’s Diary
A classic. Watch it in the winter, watch it in the spring, watch it in the summer, and watch it in the fall, but strive to be as resilient as Bridget Jones all 365 days of the year.
3. Dead Poets Society
While I wouldn’t normally make mention of a coming-of-age story that features an ensemble entirely composed of privileged white men, Robin Williams deserves all the praise. And the scenery of Dead Poets Society does exemplify the archetypal New England fall.
4. Emma
Is there anything cozier than a Jane Austen adaptation? Consider curling up with Emma this Thanksgiving, and revel in its nineteenth-century answer to powerful women.
5. A Grand Night In: The Story of Aardman
A Grand Night In chronicles the history of Aardman Studios, the British stop-motion animation studio responsible for Chicken Run and everyone’s favorite clay animation characters, Wallace and Gromit.
6. The Imitation Game
Equal parts fascinating and heartbreaking.
7. Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold
This list wouldn’t be complete without at least one documentary telling the tale of a remarkable woman. Chances are, you know far too little about Joan Didion, so allow yourself to be educated.
8. Madame Bovary
Definitely a bit (ok, a lot) dark, so watch when you’re in the mood for something melancholy, thought-provoking, and gorgeously done.
9. Miss Representation
Who doesn’t want a side of feminism with their turkey???
10. Mona Lisa Smile
So autumnal. Fall foliage, the beautiful Wellesley College campus, and infusions of art history all contribute to the cultivation of a perfect November aesthetic. The film’s message ain’t too shabby either.
11. North & South
Technically a miniseries, but with stunning visuals and a moving commentary on the grim realities of Victorian industrial society, North & South is well worth the three episode investment.
12. Young Frankenstein
Isn’t Young Frankenstein more of a Halloween movie, you ask? Maybe—but why not incorporate some of the silliness of Halloween into Thanksgiving? A gathering of extended family members doesn’t always lend itself to an atmosphere of levity. You need this.