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Irrespective of whether or not we choose to celebrate Valentines, or Galentines, the romance genre will never go out of style. From literature to cinema, romance is interwoven with virtually every genre known to man, resulting in a space that is incredibly diverse. No matter where the story takes place, anyone can fall in love, and popular culture does an excellent job of displaying this throughout its zeitgeist (to the point where consumers complain that there is too much romance in media). There is, however, one day of the year when we are permitted to feel the same amount of love for others as we do for ourselves, which is Valentine’s/Galentine’s Day, which takes place in the month of February, in conjunction with Black History Month on February 13th and 14th.
There are many rom-com listicles in circulation during this time of year, however, for those of us celebrating Valentine’s Day and Galentine’s Day, there are few articles that highlight the concept of both sentiments. (( Here’s How to Watch All of the Galentine’s Day Episodes of “Parks & Recreation.” (2023, February 12). Country Living. )). This implies, more or less in my head (because this is subjective in part), a strong, independent, female (can be any gender!) protagonist who finds love by pure accident because she feels she is so independent that she is destined to be alone, but desires another more than she wants to admit or that she just knows how much she is worth and wants to wait for that to come. It is that feeling of “she could live without love (and be okay because she has herself and a tight friend group), but it would be nice if she had it, too.”
Therefore, let’s discuss some great romantic films that might give you a feeling similar to Lizzo’s, “Special” (2022); the friendship and growth are as powerful as the love within them.
Sabrina (Wilder, Billy; 1954)
Billy Wilder’s Sabrina (1954) captures the freedom and romance of adolescence with effortless realism. With Hepburn’s portrayal of Sabrina, the film feels like a balanced blend of liberation and longing, making it the ideal film to celebrate Galentine’s Day and Valentine’s Day simultaneously. Despite the difference in age between Humphrey Bogart and Aubrey Hepburn in real life, both actors are utterly charming and perfectly paired in this film; on screen, they have an undeniable attraction that has stood the test of time, romantically.
Sabrina is a film about Sabrina Fairchild, a young woman who falls in love with someone she believes is authentic (David Larrabee played by William Holden (( William Holden | Biography, Movies, Death, & Facts | Britannica. (2023). In Encyclopædia Britannica. )) ), only to discover that they are not; in realizing that her love is not reciprocated, she is forced to make the decision to move on. With the attainment of her independence, Sabrina finds in Linus Larrabee her perfect soulmate. Wilder’s Sabrina has a wonderful beginning because it begins with Sabrina’s desire for love, and then her realization by growing that the same love would never die for her (a realization she had to have while she lacked maturity) — Sabrina is defined by that moment. She goes through each cycle before finding the strength within herself to find the one she truly loves.
As Sabrina gains empowerment after her trip to Paris, it is quite beautiful and heartwarming to watch. The wide shot in which Sabrina sits at the forefront as the mature version of her former self is exceptionally well performed. As the audience, we are able to see Sabrina as a new-formed individual who is open to new adventures and desires that she was previously unaware of. It is precisely this sentiment that she expresses in her monologue alongside the illuminating black-and-white slow-zooming-in shot that features a night sky-lit Paris window behind her. As Sabrina writes a letter to her father, she poetically says:
“I have learned how to live, how to be in the world, and of the world… and not just to stand aside and watch.”
Wilder, billy. 1954. Sabrina.
Sabrina Fairchild embodies what I strive to be as a Galentine and Valentine, as she is resonant and understands what it means to let go; she has a strong support system around her as well, and, in spite of her strong and independent nature, she is also willing to trust and open her heart to the possibility of falling in love with Linus.
The Sound Of Music (Wise, Robert; 1965)
With regard to Wise’s 1965 The Sound of Music, Maria (played by Julie Andrews (( Julie Andrews | Biography, Movies, & Facts | Britannica. (2023). In Encyclopædia Britannica. )) ) is every bit as Galentine as she is Valentine; each time The Sound of Music is rewatched, Maria continues to reach new heights as she triumphs and finds her soulmate in Captain Von Trapp. It is not surprising that Maria begins her narrative with only the desire to do what is best for her sisterhood and religion, but she also ends up finding love along the way with an almost-married man. They are united in a dreamlike union, and their beginning is as seamless as the end that never ends.
Within the musical, The Sound of Music, Maria’s independence and longing for another have caught her off guard to the point that she runs away from it, only to realize that nothing will ever be as fulfilling as it was. Upon realizing how much she has become a part of Trapp’s life as well as the lives of his children, she becomes desirous of having her own family. (All protagonists, regardless of how independent they may seem and be, still have the desire to feel and be loved, as does Maria.) In navigating her new feelings, Maria comes to realize that she can equally have both as long as the other desires it as well (which she did not know prior, but they rekindle).
It is Maria’s independence that allows her to walk away from a situation she knows may not be best for her right now, but she is also willing to return and risk the heartache nonetheless. There is something wonderful about The Sound of Music, in that Maria and Captain Von Trapp, both, possess a similar sense of independence.
Funny Girl (Wyler, William; 1968)
Can this list be considered complete without mentioning Barbra Streisand in Wyler’s 1968 Funny Girl? There is no better way to celebrate Galentine’s Day and Valentine’s Day than to watch Funny Girl. The seamless blend between Fanny and Nicky’s desire to have her so bad that she cannot help herself from wanting him is truly gratifying. Funny Girl is renowned as one of the first films that have demonstrated, at least to me, that a female protagonist can be independent, funny, and desire to be lonely, and yet, still, want to have someone complete her heart just as much, if not more.
(The number “People” is representative of that.)
In Funny Girl, Fanny fights for Nicky so fiercely that she even shocks herself; she puts herself out there, desires his touch, and longs for him when he is not present. When Fanny is paired with Nicky it is absolutely breathtaking; the love they have for each other is something I desire to have forever, and, if I could bottle it, I would. While Fanny herself is a Galentine’s Day mood, Nicky and Fanny together make the perfect romantic couple for Valentine’s Day.
Waiting To Exhale (Whitaker, Forest; 1995)
There is no doubt that the film in which she burns her man’s belongings, in a fire no less, is included. Throughout the course of Whitaker’s 1995 Waiting to Exhale, four friends explore their personal and platonic relationships with one another. The story follows Savannah, Robin, Bernadine, and Gloria as they discuss what it is like to get back into their career, what they like about themselves, and how they wish to live the remainder of their middle age.
Whitney Houston (( Whitney Houston | Biography, Songs, Albums, Death, & Facts | Britannica. (2023). In Encyclopædia Britannica. )) plays Savannah and sheds her baggage throughout Waiting to Exhale; Angela Bassett plays Bernadine and regains self-confidence by leaving her husband; Robin (Lela Rochon) chooses to love herself; and Gloria, played by Loretta Devine, finds her true happiness, a man, by finding it in her to love herself.
In Waiting To Exhale, there is more to the story than just romance and the search for someone who completes you; there is also this narrative of being satisfied with the activities you carry out when you are not in a relationship. You must consider these things because they are what you do when you are apart from the one you love (when you hang with your support system); they are also what makes you who you are and how you function.
As an ideal blend of Valentine’s Day and Galentine’s Day, this film conveys an element of girlhood and friendship alongside the desire to be loved as oneself and for everything one contributes. This film truly embodies all love.
Clueless (Heckerling, Amy; 1995)
Yes, tween films can be Galentines, and Cher, played by the superb Alicia Silverstone, is a true Galentine at heart — before anything else. Throughout Heckerling’s 1995 Clueless, Cher pampers her friends, gives Tai (Brittany Murphy) a complete makeover, and helps Dionne (Stacey Dash) resolve her relationship issues with Murray (Donald Faison) in one go. There is no doubt that she gives more to those around her than to herself, and it is important to draw attention to this fact first as that is Galentine’s as hell, Cher.
Nevertheless, the film portrays a wonderful sense of knowing one’s worth and communicating it to others in every single aspect; throughout the film, Cher consistently expresses her disapproval of “high school boys.” Cher’s position on how she feels about the men around her is consistently clear, and every rewatch makes you feel as slighted by her as they do.
This timeless classic continues to captivate as Cher shows her independence by avoiding men who may disrupt her singular goal; even though she goes to such lengths to impress Christian, played by Justin Walker, (that she does not see he is homosexual), she still chooses to be interested in him because she believed he deserves to be interested in her. In turn, Cher is so confident in herself that she knows who is worth her time and chose Christian.
But, in the endgame romance, it is Cher who makes the decision to act on her feelings for Josh, played by Paul Rudd, when she realizes that she is actually in love with him (on a very nice shopping trip), in the best of Galentine’s Day and Valentine’s Day fashion.
(We gotta admit, Cher and Josh are stinkin‘ cute, step-bro situation aside.)
Stella’s Got Her Groove Back (Sullivan, Kevin Rodney; 1998)
Now, Stella Payne (Angela Bassett) did not intend to become involved with Jamaican wild thang Winston Shakespeare (Taye Diggs), but here we are! The purpose of Stella’s vacation in Sullivan’s 1998 Stella’s Got Her Groove Back is to reflect on where she is at the age of forty.
Although she is thriving and assertive, she believes she is missing something in her life and it is her friends who encourage her to seek out a man or at least a one-night stand while on her trip to Jamacia. Bringing her hilarious friend, Deliah (Whoopi Goldberg), along, she tries to reinvent herself.
In the course of her first day at the hotel, she meets Winston, who attempts to woo her, despite the fact that he is quite young. Due to Stella’s age, she does not humor him much, but as the temptation continues to creep in, she begins to see herself as deserving of this fling. In attempting to determine what it means and who she is, she struggles with her desire to satisfy Winston as well as with the age gap between them.
The two realize their connection in the best and most sexual of ways at the end of the film, while Stella continues to grow as a Galentine’s Day fashionista.
The Parent Trap (Meyers, Nancy; 1998)
If you are considering Meyers’ 1998 The Parent Trap as a Valentine’s Day or Galentine’s Day film, it is imperative to take the time to study each character individually as well as as a family unit. Individually, each character is so autonomous, which is why Hallie and Annie (portrayed by Lindsay Lohan) were able to devise their entire plan for reuniting their parents. (But they would not have been able to accomplish this without each other.)
In the present (as opposed to when they first met), Elizabeth James (played by Natasha Richardson) appears to have become more confident and capable of understanding what she wants from Nick Parker (played by Dennis Quaid), as well as the fact that Nick understands what his own love language entails, which is more spiritual than materialistic (this is evident when he meets Meredith Blake, played by Elaine Hendrix). Even Chessy (played by Lisa Ann Walter), despite her appearance as a maladroit, frail character, finds the strength to be loved in the way she desires. The members of this family are all independent and worthy on their own, but as a family, they are also able to support one another effortlessly.
As far as Valentine’s Day and Galentine’s Day films are concerned, The Parent Trap stands out because it is a family film, which none of these movies are (at least like this, aside from Clueless). It is a film that focuses on reuniting a family, but also allows Elizabeth and Nicholas a chance to grow over time. With this being a “second chance” romance, it adds a memorable spin to what it means to celebrate yourself, your family, friendship, and romance.
Literally all the feels.