One of the most watched categories of films is romantic comedies, or rom-coms. Viewers can enjoy a heartwarming story in a lighthearted style without becoming too attached thanks to the marriage of romance and comedy. Given Nora Ephron’s brilliance in Sleepless in Seattle and Nancy Myers’ It’s Complicated, rom-coms have supplanted other film genres as a favourite among many fans.
It’s obvious that romantic comedies succeed because they adhere to a pattern because new ones are created every year. But it’s easy to grow weary of hearing the same story over and over again. If you enjoy rom-coms but want to see something new, exploring independent films can be a wonderful idea for you. If you’re tired of the same old formulaic rom-coms, here are ten independent romance films that are even better.
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Blue Jay
Blue Jay stars Mark Duplass and Sarah PaulsonIn The Orchard Blue Jay, Jim and Amanda, high school sweethearts who reunite after 20 years apart, are the main characters.After spending time together, the two are abruptly transported back in time to Jim’s mother’s home. Blue Jay, however, has gone unnoticed because of its constrained availability. According to IndieWire, the entire movie was filmed over the course of seven days. On Rotten Tomatoes, Blue Jay has a 91% approval rating, garnering praise for its joyful depiction of romance.
Closer
In this independent romance, Jude Law and Natalie Portman play writers Alice and Dan, who start dating after he sees her get hit by a cab. One year later, Dan becomes bored with Alice and starts flirting with Anna (Julia Roberts), whom he poses as in a chat room. This causes Anna to unintentionally run into Larry (Clive Owen). A fantastic examination of the intricacies of relationships and how they profoundly effect our lives, Closer has received praise and received nominations for various awards, including the Oscar and the Golden Globe.
Her
Her by Spike Jonze tells the tale of the sensitive Theodore, who after his marriage finds up falling in love with a new computer operating system that names itself “Samantha,” played by Joaquin Phoenix in an almost unrecognizably different role. The two get along, and strangely enough, they end up falling in love. Critical acclaim has resulted in five nominations for Her at the Academy Awards, including one for Best Picture, and she finally won for Best Original Screenplay.
In the Mood for Love
In the Mood for Love is a classic film from Hong Kong. The movie centres on the friendship that forms between journalists Chow Mo-wan and Su Li-zhen after they discover that their wives are having an affair. The two become close because of this and start to fall in love, but they must battle these feelings because neither of them wants to accept their husbands’ disgusting behaviour. In the Mood for Love, which h as a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, has won praise from critics and is regarded as one of the best films of all time.
Lars and the Real Girl
In this quirky love story, Ryan Gosling excels as Lars, who introduces his life-sized sex doll to his family as his girlfriend and has an honest relationship with her. A therapist’s recommendation that the family support Lars’ illusion until he is ready to move on makes Lars’ delusions both humorous and serious. The film Lars and the Real Girl has won praise from critics and gained numerous nominations, with Ryan Gosling winning the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
Moonlight
Moonlight won the Academy Award for Best Picture for a reason. As Chiron struggles with his sexuality throughout his youth, adolescence, and maturity, Moonlight chronicles his existence. Even though it didn’t do well at the box office, Moonlight is regarded as one of the best films of the twenty-first century. Out of its eight nominations, Moonlight ended up winning three Academy Awards in total. If you haven’t seen Moonlight yet, you should make the time to do so since it’s an excellent movie that examines the relationship between race and sexuality.
Ruby Sparks
Ruby Sparks tells the tale of award-winning author Calvin, who constructs an outgoing redhead named Ruby Sparks in order to overcome his writer’s block. The film stars real-life couple Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan. When Ruby manifests in reality and grows to play a significant role in Calvin’s life, things take an intriguing turn. On Rotten Tomatoes, Ruby Sparks is rated fresh and has received accolades for its original plot and performances by Dano and Kazan.
Sleeping with Other People
Sleeping with Other People, starring Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie, is not always as difficult to understand as it sounds. The movie centres on a couple who reconnects 12 years after having a one-night stand. The two battle their attraction to one another and try to maintain their platonic friendship. The movie has received mostly positive reviews from critics, who laud its innovative take on romance from the perspective of lovers who are reunited and battling their emotions.
Tangerine
An original film, Tangerine is. Tangerine, a film shot completely on an iPhone, following Sin-Dee, a transgender sex worker who has just been released from prison, as she learns that her boyfriend Chester has been having an affair with a cisgender woman. Sin-Dee looks for Chester and the woman with the assistance of her best friend Alexandra in an effort to learn more. Tangerine has won praise from critics for its directing, transgender depiction throughout, and the difficult circumstances that Black trans women must deal with.
The One I Love
The One I Love centres on a couple who, on the advice of their therapist, decide to take a vacation at a remote home in order to repair their marriage. While at the house, the pair has a bizarre event that, thanks to other influences, upends their entire trip. The movie, which has a 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, has received accolades for its in-depth, realistic portrayal of marriage that incorporates a supernatural element.
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