Films are so much better when you relate to them, from movies that inspire spontaneous actions, to the ones that are realistic about the complications of love for ourselves and others.
Treat yourself to movies that make you feel something, whether that feeling is being less alone, laughter, or love. I hope these four films are as moving to you as they were for me!
Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
The wide range of human experience, from the cultivation of love and relationships to the experiences of hurt and healing, all fit into this 1 hour, 45 minute story. The main character Charlie is an introvert until he meets Sam and Patrick, and his isolation from the world changes. This film will make you feel everything; like Sam says, “pain demands to be felt.” Plus, the message is as immaculate as the soundtrack.
Availability: You can stream from Netflix or Purchase from YouTube, Apple TV, Vudu, or Amazon Prime. It is also available as a book (on Amazon, Kindle, Apple Books etc) which came out in 1999.
Into the Wild (2007)
Materialism doesn’t matter to Christopher McCandless. Based on a true story, a rich, smart, everything-going-for-him kind of guy decides to let go of everything to pursue his dream of going to Alaska. His actions are controversial because many people argue that he was crazy for leaving everything behind, including his money and family after he graduated college. But I think he is inspiring to manifest his goals and actually be a free-spirited person with nothing. The soundtrack is also my favorite: it’s a studio album by Eddie Vedder, the main singer from Pearl Jam. The first time I heard “Society” was my junior year of high school. It speaks so much truth of how we get easily wrapped up in things that we want rather than what is important.
Availability: You can stream from Netflix or purchase from YouTube, Vudu, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV. I also recommend reading the book by Jon Krakauer which was published in 1996.
Dead Poets Society (1989)
Have you ever had one of those amazing professors who are just so passionate about what they teach that it makes you inspired and excited to learn? That’s the English teacher John Keating, played by the famous Robin Williams. He is a new teacher at an all-boys preparatory school that is very conservative and traditional, where the boys’ lives are planned out by their parents and the school. However, Mr. Keating subverts their constraints through the freedom of poetry.
Availability: Stream from Hulu Premium, Sling TV, Amazon Prime or purchase from iTunes or Vudu. It’s also available as a book by Nancy H. Kleinbaum published in 1989.
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
If you love movies, this one is about the love of films. All of the dialog is in Italian which makes it all the more beautiful. Scenes of romance in movies were foreign to this small town, but in the end, they can’t help falling in love with love. There’s also a genuine friendship between the movie theater’s projectionist and a kid who aspires to be a filmmaker in a war-torn village.
Availability: You can stream from Hulu Premium, HBO Max, or Amazon Prime Premium. You can also purchase Cinema Paradiso from Vudu, iTunes, and Apple TV.
