Happy Valentine’s Day from Defacto–55 Great Films About Human Connection

This Valentine’s Day I wanted to share with you my award-winning short film that actually turns 7 years old now titled “Within” The film won several awards on the film festival circuit, even winning the Audience Choice Award at the 2015 Cinetopia Film Festival in which I was up against some shorts that played at SXSW! The film also had screenings in New York at the Queens World FIlm Festival and the New York City International. The film also aired on Shorts TV last year. Down below is the Vimeo link to the short film “Within,” I hope you enjoy!

Also included in this blog post are 55 exceptional films that about lonely individuals who encounter each other during complicated moments in their lives. These films are extraordinary because they examine how their connection allows them to manifest their love that they build together that defines the laws of attraction. The list is an alphabetical order and reflects notable films that have resonated with me over the years that explore the true power of love, how complex love can be0–as love can leave us wounded and fractured, but love can also reinvent us into stronger people that can give us more hope as everything in motion is always uncertain. Life is indeed short, but whether it’s evaporating love or everlasting, love can truly allow us to rebuild ourselves and move us towards being a stronger person. Here are 55 films about lonely and emotionally wounded souls who transcend and rebuild themselves through the healing power of love. I didn’t add text in the reviews because I have said so much already before these films before, so this time I am just allowing the images to speak for themselves. If you haven’t watched any of these yet, please seek them out, or at least revisit these treasures.

Amelie (2001 d. Jean Pierre Jeunet)

American Splendor (2003, d. Shari Springer Berman and Roberte Pulcini)

The Apartment (d. 1960, Billy Wilder)

Before Sunrise (1995 d. Richard Linklater) Before Sunset (2004, d. Richard Linklater) Before Midnight (2013, d. Richard Linklater)

Blue is the Warmest Color (2013, d. Abdellatif Kechiche)

Brief Encounter (1945 d. David Lean)

Brokeback Mountain (2005, d. Ang Lee)

Call Me By Your Name (2017, d. Luca Guadagnino)

Carol (2015, d. Todd Haynes)

Casablanca (1942, d. Michael Curtiz)

Certified Copy (2011, d. Abbas Kiorostami)

Chungking Express (1994, d. Wong Kar-Wai)

Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989 d. Woody Allen)

The Crying Game (1992, d. Neil Jordan)

Edward Scissorhands (1990, d. Tim Burton)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004, d. Michel Gondry)

Fallen Angels (1995, d Wong Kar-Wai)

Far From Heaven (2002, d. Todd Haynes)

The Fountain (d. Darren Aronofsky)

Ghost World (2001, d. Terry Zwigoff)

The Green Ray (1986, d. Eric Rohmer)

Groundhog Day (d. 1993, d. Harold Ramis)

Happy Together (1997, d. Wong Kar-Wai)

Her (2013, d. Spike Jonze)

In the Mood for Love (2000, d. Wong Kar-Wai)

It Happened One Night (1934, d. Howard Hawkes)