February 10, 2022
Movie for Celebrating Love
Thinking about having a movie night this Valentine’s Day? Whether you’re looking to laugh or cry (no, really), we’ve got you covered with love stories our Driftwood staff love.
If Beale Street Could Talk: At the heart of If Beale Street Could Talk is a love story both beautiful and poignant. Adapted from James Baldwin’s novel of the same title, Beale Street centers around Tish and Fonny, a Black couple living against the harsh racial landscape of the United States in the seventies. They are young and in love. The film’s camera angles are expertly framed close captures—steady, lingering focuses on holding hands and shots that don’t shy away from centering in on a character’s eyes. It’s near mythical. Tish and Fonny don’t stay in this place of blissful reverie. The viewer quickly learns two things: Fonny has been wrongly imprisoned, and Tish is carrying their baby. The movie is a slow burn as we puzzle together the events. If Beale Street Could Talk is honest, vulnerable even, in its dealings with racial injustice. We are forced to reckon with the truth that Tish and Fonny are not just two people who dream of a life together. Yet, the film’s power comes in the form of love’s resiliency and salvation. We catch soft affections through bars and witness how far a family’s fierce dedication will go. It is artfully done, and I could not look away. If Beale Street Could Talk boasts a talented cast and is worth every tear you might shed. Just remember to bring the tissues! Available on Hulu and to rent on other streaming services.
Pitch Perfect: Anyone looking to turn away from the traditional romance movie on Valentine’s Day should be tuning in to Pitch Perfect. This comedy, the first in a trilogy, puts a new spin on love and shows it between a group of young girls singing acapella for their university. Beca (a newly enrolled student at Barden University) is told by her father that she must join one after school activity if she wants help moving to L.A. to achieve her dream of becoming a music producer. After joining one of the leading a capella groups on campus, her attention shifts to their competition and building up their team. Seeing the characters bond throughout the movie with jokes, drama, and singing pop songs will leave you happy and smiling. Starring Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, and Elizabeth Banks, this film and the whole three-part movie series really is the perfect for Gal-entines Day or just a good laugh. Available on Hulu, Amazon Prime, or HBO Max with premium subscriptions, or to rent on any movie-streaming service.
Roma is an Academy-Award-winning film about the life of a family in Mexico City during the 1970s. During that time, the country was filled with political unrest, which often led to citizen protests. The film focuses on Cleo, a middle-class family’s Indigenous live-in-maid. As the parents of the family go through marital problems, Cleo must face the potential of being a single mother while working for this family. Throughout the film, we see that Cleo loves the family’s children, and they love her in return. It shows how even if romantic relationships don’t work out, you will always have someone who loves you. In this case, the selfless familial love holds Cleo, the family matriarch, and her children together during trying times.I really love the message of this movie. There is something so heartwarming about the idea that someone will always have your back. At times, the film can feel a bit slow, but for the most part, it remains interesting. The film acts as a testament to the strength of the people who lived through all the historical events that occur throughout the film, and how life can be difficult in more ways than one. I would like to point out some potentially triggering content within the film for those who might be more sensitive certain themes. The film is rated R. For those who don’t want to see any potential spoilers in the trigger-warning list, stop reading here.Content warning: nudity, violence, death, infant death, child endangerment.