Six Films about Fall-ing in & out of Love
- Christina Correa
- Sep 23, 2024
- 5 min read
As we move from the sun-soaked days of summer into the cool embrace of autumn, join me for this month's suggestions which took me bit longer to rake into a pile, my apologies.
Much like the changing seasons, relationships can shift from the heat of passion to the quiet, sometimes cold realities of love lost. And so September, as the bridge between summer and fall, mirrors the bittersweet transition many relationships go through.
In this selection of films, we explore stories of falling in- but just as importantly- out of love, where once-burning connections fade and give way to heartache, reflection, and sometimes, transformation. Just as the leaves fall and the air grows crisp, so too do these relationships find themselves moving from warmth to coldness.
Brief Encounter (1945)
Director: David Lean
Runtime: 1h 26m
Stream on Prime and Max
A chance meeting at a train station turns into a fleeting yet profound connection between two married strangers. Set against the backdrop of 1940s England, this film captures the bittersweet pain of a an illicit love that can never be.
With understated performances and Lean’s delicate direction, "Brief Encounter" remains a timeless exploration of unfulfilled longing and the sacrifices made in the name of propriety. The film’s portrayal of a restrained, almost forbidden love story builds up from total innocence. Emotions are held in, yet the intensity of the connection remains palpable, making this one of my favorite films on this list. The quiet devastation of a love that cannot be will be something to mull over a cup of tea.
For fans of B&W classics and bittersweet romances that explore the fleeting nature of forbidden love with poignant restraint.
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
Director: Mike Nichols
DIRECTORIAL DEBUT
Runtime: 2h 11m
Stream on Tubi but also available to Purchase
Taking place between 2am and dawn on a college campus, in this searing drama, a middle-aged couple invites a younger couple over for drinks, only to reveal the toxic, venomous nature of their own marriage. Over the course of the evening, secrets are laid bare, and the façade of their relationship crumbles in a whirlwind of verbal assaults and emotional games. Fair warning, you'll also be up all night thinking about it.
The brutal honesty and raw emotion of the characters make it a gripping, if uncomfortable, exploration of love turned to prolonged bitterness. It’s a masterclass in dialogue and acting, with Taylor and Burton - a real couple at the time - delivering some of the most intense performances of their careers.
For fans of intense, psychologically charged dramas that lay bare the raw, unfiltered emotions of a dysfunctional marriage.
The Way We Were (1973)
Director: Sydney Pollack
Runtime: 1h 58m
Available to Purchase
"The Way We Were" also begins in a college but in the 1930s and tells the story of a tumultuous relationship between two people with vastly different worldviews. Their love affair, spanning decades, is marked by passion, political upheaval, and ultimately, the realization that their differences are too great to overcome.
Although that might seems like a spoiler, this movie is about the emotional journey to that devastating conclusion, the one we all know... that love cannot conquer all. This film beautifully captures the heartache of two people deeply in love but fundamentally incompatible. It's sweeping narrative masterfully led by the late-great Sydney Pollack and iconic performances - with an earworm hit song to boot- make it a poignant exploration of the ways in which relationships can be both something to work on and also something to, if need be, walk away from.
For fans of emotional love stories that examine relationships strained by differing aspirations.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Director: Michel Gondry
Runtime: : 1h 48min
Available to Purchase
In this mind-bending romantic drama, a man undergoes a procedure to erase his ex-girlfriend from his memories after finding out she did the same following their painful breakup. As his memories are relived and promptly deleted, the film takes viewers on a visual journey through pain and love and aims to answer whether erasing the past is truly the solution to heartache.
With its innovative narrative structure and deep emotional core, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" explores the fragility of love and the lengths we’ll go to forget the pain it can cause. Every 10 years Jim Carrey takes on a dramatic role which connects with viewers in a raw way, and in this film he gave everything he'd been storing in that complex heart of his.
For fans of inventive, thought-provoking films that blend surrealism with heartfelt truth.
Revolutionary Road (2008)
Director: Sam Mendes
Runtime: 1h 59min
Stream on Prime
A second film about domestic drama, "Revolutionary Road", set in 1950s suburban America, follows a young couple as they struggle to reconcile their personal ambitions with the conformity of their surroundings. As their dreams begin to unravel, so does their marriage, leading to a devastating conclusion. Based on a book of the same name, Leo and Kate give us a second chance to marvel at their chemistry and artistry.
Not only is Kate Winslet making a second appearance on this list, but she's being directed by her husband at the time, Sam Mendes.
This film offers a bleak, yet powerful, depiction of a relationship slowly disintegrating under the weight of societal expectations and personal disillusionment. The film’s stark realism and intense performances -including an unexpected appearance by Michael Shannon - will likely leave you drained.
For fans of stark portrayals of the disintegration of a marriage or mid-20th century societal pressures.
Carol (2015)
Director: Todd Haynes
Runtime: 1h 58m
Stream on Netflix
Set in the 1950s, "Carol" tells the story of an illicit affair between an older woman going through a divorce and a young aspiring photographer. As their relationship deepens, they must navigate the societal pressures and personal challenges that threaten to tear them apart.
"Carol" is a beautifully crafted film that captures the intense emotions of a love affair doomed by circumstance. Its lush cinematography and subtle performances add layers of depth to the story, making it a fitting end to this collection of films. As an added bonus, watching this one at the end of the season will lead you into Christmas.
For fans of beautifully crafted period dramas that sensitively portray forbidden love in a repressive era.
In these films, love isn’t a warm, comforting embrace; it’s a complex, often painful experience that leaves a lasting impact. As the air grows colder and the days shorter, these stories remind us that not all relationships can survive the chill of reality.
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