Nothing says “I love you” more than watching a rom-com on Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re celebrating with your partner or your best friend, Aussie pop singer John Paul Young’s lyrics hold true: “love is in the air.” And that applies to both romantic and platonic arrangements.
To celebrate the month of love, CONE has compiled a list of seven indie rom-coms. It’s a mix of soppy moments, eye-twitching crimes, and gripping dramas that’ll have you cackling in despair.
Prepare to laugh, and get ready to cry!
But, I’m a Cheerleader
Year: 1999
Director: Jamie Babbit
The 2020s just aren’t doing it as the early 2000s did, but Jamie Babbit’s cult classic, But I’m A Cheerleader, ranks high as one of the most iconic slapstick comedies and remains an endearing watch.
Its ironic title toys with the plot, which focuses on the cultural perception of how a lesbian should look, act, or even sound. Natasha Lyonne’s character, Megan, is a typical 90s scripted blonde: soft-spoken with comedic monotonal delivery, and little common sense. Throughout the film, Babbit explores Megan’s coming-out story in this funny, deadpan coming-of-age film.
Frank and Cindy
Year: 2007
Director: G.J. Echternkamp
G.J. Echternkamp’s 2007 documentary Frank and Cindy brilliantly highlights the complicated romance between his narcissistic parents, Frank Garcia and Cindy Brown. It’s a gut-wrenching love story that has you on the edge of your seat from start to finish, and ends on the ultimate cliff-hanger. If you fancy a twisted love story, then this documentary is your best bet.
La Piscine
Year: 1969
Director: Jacques Deray
Jacques Deray’s French fantasy, La Piscine—translated to English as The Swimming Pool (which reads a lot less sexy)—isn’t your average rom-com. It’s an exhilarating crime thriller that also has you drooling over how many steamy pool shots can fit into a two-hour film.
In La Piscine, Deray treats viewers to a complex love affair. Tensions are high, and jealousy is rife. It’s the perfect Galentines banger.
Portrait of A Lady on Fire
Year: 2019
Director: Céline Sciamma
A project of intense passion and treacherous deceit, A Portrait of A Lady on Fire is an ominous period drama with an iconic wardrobe. By exploring love through and for the female gaze, this film encapsulates the dreaded feeling of yearning and its irresistible gravitational pull.
This one is definitely needed for a solo watch by candlelight.
Really Love
Year: 2020
Director: Angel Kristi Williams
There’s nothing like a bit of Black love to celebrate US Black History month!
In Angel Kristi Williams’s Really Love, protagonists Isiah Maxwell (Kofi Siriboe) and Mecca Gerima (Jade Eshete) deliver a gripping love story so powerful it leaves you weeping. It’s the type of movie you forget is just a script. Isiah and Mecca’s chemistry is simply magical, pulling you into every scene.
Rye Lane
Year: 2023
Director: Raine Allen-Miller
Raine Allen-Miller’s Ryan Lane is a delicate and emotionally captivating love story that follows two Black South Londoners, capturing a romance that feels oddly specific and far removed from stereotypes. While it’s likely the most mainstream movie on this list, BFI phenomenon Rye Lane is one of the few indie rom-com plots to receive such critical acclaim.
The Love Witch
Year: 2016
Director: Anna Biller
Sure, Valentine’s Day is about love, but The Love Witch adds a bit of spice to the holiday. Who doesn’t love a fatal drama in their rom-coms? Set in the mid-late ‘60s, this iconic, vaguely feminist triumph spins a riveting plot about a woman who conjures a potion to secure eternal love. It’s all ethical, I promise. With raunchy bed scenes, iconic one-liners, and stunning wide shots, The Love Witch is the kind of rom-com you put on when you need a good old-fashioned cackle!