valentine's day viewing

Here are my recommendations if you're looking for something to watch with your sweetheart tonight:

Un homme et une femme (1966)

I’m going to come out and say that this is probably the most romantic film ever made. A woman, still grieving the loss of her stuntman husband, falls for a race-car driver who is also recovering from a broken heart. Sounds simple, but it’s the marvellous execution that sets this one apart.

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Forget the fact that this movie is about gay cowboys. It is a beautiful, universal tragedy about two people who love each other but can’t be together. The scene where Ennis Del Mar, played by Heath Ledger, is clutching his dead lover’s old shirt is one of the most moving moments on film.

In the Mood for Love (2000)

Wong Kar Wai’s classic gem is just as remarkable for its atmosphere as its story. One of the most beautifully-photographed films in recent times, the music, languid pace and rich colours will truly put you in the mood.

Big Love (2006-2011)

This is not a movie, but a fantastic HBO show now entering its final season. Well worth watching from the beginning, it tells the story of a fictional modern-day polygamist family in Utah dealing with universal issues of marriage, belief and intolerance. Featuring a complex family tree of brilliantly drawn characters and more plot twists than a soap opera, this show will keep you chained to the screen for hours.