Some films make you want to fall in love all over again – with yourself

“You truly cannot love another, until you don’t know how to love yourself.” How many times have we come across such a saying? Especially in recent times, when dialogue around self-love was sparked by the prolonged lockdown– one knows its value more than ever. Be it discovering yourself as each day unfolds or living life on your own terms – self-love is something which makes life worth living.

Thus, this Valentine’s Day, let us focus on loving ourselves a little more than before. And to make things easier, why not start with some movies which have explored the theme of self-love like no other! Take a look:

Eat Pray Love: This Julia Roberts starrer film is often termed as the best film to soothe a broken soul. And why not? It has all the elements to make you want to love yourself.  It is a story of a middle-aged woman who sets out to explore life beyond the confines of her world. And the journey isn’t easy – be it leaving her “well-settled” life to navigating foreign lands to find her true self. But after all, self-love isn’t easy, but it’s definitely worth it.

Queen: A woman in her early 20s goes off to Paris on her honeymoon alone, after the fiancée breaks off their marriage. Growing up in a sheltered and molly-cuddled environment, she finally gets to live life on her own terms. With a performance of a lifetime from Kangana Ranaut, the film makes you want to break free from what was holding you back…just like Rani did in Queen!

Under the Tuscan Sun: Starring Diana Lane, this film is all about new beginnings. When a 35-year-old writer gets a divorce, her life changes – but for good. She decides to buy a house in breathtakingly beautiful Tuscan, and this bold step in her life offers some adventures of its own. This gives her life a new turn. After all, it’s never too late to start over.

Amelie: This French film, starring Audrey Tautou, is a comforting watch. It tells the tale of a young woman Amelie who lives life the way she pleases. She finds joys in the smallest of things, and derives happiness by helping others. It makes you want to be kinder – to both yourself and others.

Chungking Express: This Japanese film by Wong Kar-wai is all about love – but of a different kind. A young man tries to get over his ex-lover; another young woman secretly is in love with a man but fails to confess. But unlike typical romance films, here the love these characters feel is something they own and is not shared. They carry it within themselves, while trying to explore their own selves a little more.

Into the Wild: Emile Hirsch starrer Into the Wild is a thought-provoking road movie based on a true story. It’s a fascinating tale of a young man who embarks on a journey which has no end. He renounces the society and societal norms, and merges his life with the wild, amid nature. It makes you want to embrace your fears of being alone when you hear the words (in a song) “have no fear, for when I am alone; I’ll be better off than I was before…”

Dear Zindagi: Sometimes all we need is to be our own refuge. And Alia Bhatt starrer Dear Zindagi is the perfect example of a film that teaches us so. A young woman suffering from depression starts taking therapy, only to view life in a different way. She starts accepting herself the way she is and healing from her childhood traumas – thereby beginning to love herself and her life like never before.

(Cover image: Poster of Eat, Pray, Love)