You know how sometimes when you’re feeling a bit down and need something to cheer you up, you watch a comedy movie to distract yourself and laugh for a bit? Or how, when you just watched the scariest movie ever, the best thing to do is to rock yourself to sleep while watching some good old cartoons that will put your mind at ease. I think I’ve always used films and television as a kind of therapy to deal with every single aspect of my life. Maybe it’s because it helps me mirror my problems and situations; somehow, they push and inspire me to act and make decisions. Back when I was in school and I had to work really hard on something, I would put on Legally Blonde. When I was working on my dolls, it was Project Runway, and if I need to have a good cry it’s either Moana or Titanic. I think it’s really normal and that everyone has their own list of therapeutic movies, even if they’ve never thought about it. Now, naturally, basing all our emotional stability on a movie is not the most advisable thing to do; it’s better to sit down and analyze what’s happening so we can solve our problems, but as I said, sometimes movies can help us clear our minds before making important decisions.
We’re very intuitive beings (well, most of us), and sometimes we just know when something is going to happen or something is inevitable. That’s the case with breakups. In some cases, things have gone south, and you just know that there isn’t much more to do and the end is inevitable; either one of you to loses it one day and ends things once and for all, or you stay in a miserable relationship. Of course, there’s also a chance that you both find a way to work things out and save your relationship, but sometimes all you’re doing is just prolonging your misery. Either way, here’s a selection of films that might help you clear your mind and see what’s best for you.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) – Dir. Michel Gondry
Probably the preferred movie of those who like films about relationships but are too stubborn to watch love flicks, this movie shows the emotional journey people go through during a breakup and the events leading up to it. Of course, I was just messing with those who love the movie because there’s no doubt it shows all the complexity of a troubled relationship by exploring sorrow, despair, grief, and confusion through a mask of a bitter humor.
Blue Valentine (2010) – Dir. Derek Cianfrance
This is one of the best examples of how relationships sometimes just fizzle out without an evident or important cause; they just do. In a desperate attempt to spice things up, Dean takes his wife to spend the night at a themed hotel. While they’re there, they start remembering how they met, how they fell for each other, and of course, how the relationship started to deteriorate.
Annie Hall (1977) – Dir. Woody Allen
Probably the most beloved and acclaimed movie by Woody Allen, Annie Hall follows the story of Alvy, a dark and bitter comedian who tells us about his relationship with Annie. As the movie progresses, we see how this man tries to analyze and understand why his relationship failed, going back as far as his childhood to find the answer. A truly classic film.
High Fidelity (2000) – Dir. Stephen Frears
Have you ever had the impression that love is just not meant for you? You shouldn’t feel bad. It happens to most of us. Still, if that’s the case, perhaps this movie can help. After being dumped one more time, Rob Gordon starts going back to his past relationships, trying to understand or see if there’s something wrong with him, or if there’s a pattern he hadn’t noticed before. After some serious soul searching, he finally sees that he wasn’t completely committed to his last relationship, or to any of his past relationships for that matter, which leads him to realize that he was the one sabotaging his happiness all along.
Pierrot, le Fou (1965) – Dir. Jean-Luc Godard
With an intricate narrative, this highly acclaimed Godard film presents the story of a couple that decides to leave everything behind and live a peaceful life on a remote beach. Leaving aside the fact that they got involved in a weapon smuggling business, and all the situations revolving around this, the film shows us how problematic it is when you jump straight into an intense relationship and then, once you’re alone with the person, you just can’t relate to each other.
Love can be easy: it just happens when you meet someone, but staying in a healthy and caring relationship can be really hard work sometimes. Whether it’s something we do or our partner does, destiny, or just a matter of incompatibility, failure is way more common than we think. If you’re on the verge of a breakup, you should analyze all the possible scenarios: whether there’s a solution, or it’s inevitable, and more importantly, what’s best for you. Perhaps, the stories of these characters can help you mirror your own experience and shed some light on your own situation.
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For more movies dealing with relationships check the following:
4 Film Couples That Should Become Your Relationship Goals
6 Films Of Perfectly Imperfect Loves That Will Soften The Hardest Of Cynics
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