Co-Quarantine Cuddles: Best Tales of Love and Romance in Movies

At times like this, where we are left with no choice but to be in isolation, many people might be separated from loved ones. We should always hold our nearest and dearest close to our hearts, especially now, more than ever.

Some people might be lucky enough to be with their loved ones. What better way to remind ourselves that love triumphs all than by watching some of the best tales of love and romance in movies. Get your popcorn and blankets, and get ready for some co-quarantine cuddles with movies that will warm your hearts and make you go “Awww…”

Here we share a list of the greatest tales of love and romance in cinema that will tug at your heartstrings:

In the Mood for Love (2000)

Released in 2000, In the Mood for Love is a Hong Kong romantic drama film written and directed by Wong Kar-wai, a pivotal figure in Hong Kong cinema. Frequently regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, In the Mood for Love premiered at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival to critical acclaim, with the film receiving a nomination for the Palme d’Or, the highest prize awarded at the festival, and Tony Leung winning Best Actor.

Set against the backdrop of a bustling 1962 British Hong Kong, the plot follows the story of Chow Mo-wan (Leung), a newspaper editor, whom along with his wife move into a cramped apartment building concurrently as Su Li-zhen (Cheung), a beautiful secretary, also moves into the same building with her husband. With their respective spouses often away, Chow and Su’s lives frequently intersect without connecting as they regularly visit the same noodle stall. When they begin to suspect their spouses are having an extramarital affair, Chow and Su form a budding friendship as they spend more time together, though they resolve not to resort to their respective spouses’ unfaithfulness.

In the Mood for Love is a visually stunning and emotionally moving film about love, betrayal, loss and loneliness. Led by the great performances from its two leads, the film utilises its striking cinematography, production design and art direction to its advantage, enhancing the finished product as an exquisite work of art.

Starring: Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung, Siu Ping Lam, Rebecca Pan, Kelly Lai Chen, Joe Cheung, Chan Man-Lei, Chin Tsi-ang, Roy Cheung and Paulyn Sun.
Directed by: Wong Kar-wai
Written by: Wong Kar-wai
Running time: 98 minutes
Release date: September 29, 2000

Titanic (1997)

A fictional tale based on the historical sinking of the RMS Titanic, Titanic is a 1997 epic romance and disaster film written and directed by James Cameron. Titanic was the most expensive film made at the time and was a critical and commercial success, becoming the first film to reach the billion-dollar mark and the highest-grossing film ever at the time. The film received an astounding 14 nominations at the 70^th Academy Awards, winning 11 including Best Picture and Best Director.

The plot revolves around a 100-year-old woman who recounts her experiences and emotional connection to another passenger aboard the RMS Titanic as a 17-year-old aristocrat named Rose DeWitt Bukater (Winslet). Rose, who boarded the RMS Titanic with the upper-class passengers alongside her mother, Ruth DeWitt Butaker, and her rich snob fiancé Cal Hockley (Zane), meets Jack Dawson (DiCaprio), a poor yet kind artist who wins third-class tickets to the ship in a poker game. Embarking the Titanic in her maiden voyage, Jack and Rose soon form a bond and begin a blossoming romance aboard the ill-fated voyage.

A romantic and emotionally charged film, Titanic remains to be one of the most epic yet tragic love stories in film. The spectacular visuals, flawless production and compelling story, steered by the strong and spellbinding performances of its leads make Titanic a cinematic triumph.

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Frances Fisher, Bernard Hill, Jonathan Hyde, Danny Nucci, David Warner and Bill Paxton.
Directed by: James Cameron
Written by: James Cameron
Running time: 195 minutes
Release date: December 19, 1997

Before Sunrise (1995)

Released in 1995, Before Sunrise is a romantic drama film directed by Richard Linklater that is regarded as one of the best romantic films of all time. The film received critical acclaim upon its release and was praised for the natural performances from its leads and its honest romantic take on modern love.

Before Sunrise tells the story of the romance between two strangers, Celine (Delpy), a French graduate student, and Jesse (Hawke), an American tourist, who meet by chance aboard a train travelling through Europe. Enjoying each other’s company and inciting intrigue, Jesse suggests they get off the train in Vienna spend the day together. Celine agrees, both aware that it will probably be the only time they will see each other. As they explore the city together throughout the night, their connection grows stronger, making the thought of separating the following day a difficult choice.

Beautifully shot, superbly acted and thought-provoking, the simple yet compelling story told in Before Sunrise portrays one of the most charming and endearing love stories in movies.

Starring: Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy
Directed by: Richard Linklater
Written by: Richard Linklater and Kim Krizan
Running time: 101 minutes
Release date: January 25, 1995

Casablanca (1943)

A Hollywood classic that ranks as one of the greatest films in history, Casablanca is a 1942 romantic drama film directed by Michael Curtiz. Based on an unproduced stage play by Murray Burnett and Joan Alison entitled Everybody Comes to Rick’s, Casablanca stars A-list actors Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. The film found unexpected success upon release and exceeded expectations when it received eight nominations at the 16^th Academy Awards, winning three including Best Picture, Best Screenplay and Best Director.

Set in the early stages of World War II, the plot follows the story of Rick Blaine (Bogart), a cynical American expatriate who owns a swanky nightclub and gambling den, “Rick’s Café Américain”, in Casablanca, Morocco. Rick’s café has become somewhat of a safe haven for refugees looking to acquire illegal papers that will allow them to travel freely around German-occupied Europe and to neutral Portugal. However, when Rick’s former lover (and the reason for his cynical nature), Ilsa (Bergman), and her husband show up at the café, Rick comes across a difficult situation that will introduce unexpected problems, devastation and eventually, an agonising decision to make.

The moving performances of its actors, especially that of its two leads, the captivating plot and outstanding screenplay quality, which utilises a perfect combination of moods, action, comedy, drama and suspense, makes Casablanca a timeless piece of cinema loved even until today.

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre.
Directed by: Michael Curtiz
Screenplay by: Julius J. Epstein, Phillip G. Epstein and Howard Koch
Running time: 102 minutes
Release date: November 26, 1942

Call Me by Your Name (2017)

Based on the acclaimed 2007 novel of the same name by André Aciman, Call Me by Your Name is a 2017 coming-of-age romantic drama film directed by Italian filmmaker, Luca Guadagnino, from a screenplay by James Ivory. The film received universal acclaim, with praise directed towards its screenplay, direction and performances of its lead actors. The film garnered four nominations at the 90^th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Chalamet, Best Original Song and Best Adapted Screenplay, winning the latter.

Set to a backdrop of rural northern Italy in the summer of 1983, the film chronicles around the sensual tale of the first love of Elio Perlman (Chalamet), an intellectual and artistic 17-year-old Jewish-American boy, who spends his summer days in his family’s 17^th-century villa along with his father Samuel (Stuhlbarg), a distinguished professor of Greco-Roman culture, and mother Annella (Casar), a translator.

Elio spends a great deal of his time playing the piano and transcribing classical music, reading, and flirting with his friend Marzia (Garrel). Though Elio’s mature intellect and sophistication may picture him as a fully-fledged adult, his naivety and innocence suggest otherwise, especially in matters of the heart. When 24-year-old American college graduate student Oliver (Hammer) arrives for Samuel’s annual summer internship, Elio and Oliver’s lives will be altered forever as they discover the heady beauty of awakening desire amidst the sun-drenched setting that overflows with natural delights.

Driven by the powerful and empathetic performances of its two leads, its breath-taking cinematography, beguiling production design and gorgeous costume design, Call Me by Your Name presents a beautiful and intimate, yet brutally honest portrait of first love and heartbreak.

Starring: Armie Hammer, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar, Esther Garrel and Victoire Du Bois.
Directed by: Luca Guadagnino
Screenplay by: James Ivory
Running time: 132 minutes
Release date: November 24, 2017

Brian Sjarief

Brian is an Associate Editor at NOW! Bali. He developed his central interest in the arts from an early age, pursuing his studies in Motion Pictures & Television in San Francisco with a focus on screenwriting. Through this long-held passion for film, he now channels his creativity into storytelling, be it written, visual or otherwise.