Love is in the air. Valentine's Day celebrates the power of momentary passion, the complexity of loving another person and the wonder of lasting love. It's hearts and flowers, candlelight and a negligee —— and being snuggled up on the couch, watching a favorite film together.
One of my favorites is Cinema Paradiso in which a projectionist who shows films in a small Italian village is required by the local priest to cut out all the sexy parts of the movies he shows. Time passes and, in his will, he bequeaths a special gift to a boy who grew up under his elbow in the editing room while he cut scene after scene in which the actors kissed. If you don't know the end of this film, I won't spoil it. If you don't have time to watch the whole movie, rent it and watch the last few minutes for a Valentine treat. Snuggling will just naturally move to hugging and kissing…and that's amore!
Romance is one great love story. It contains multitudes, inspiring love stories that go deep, far beyond the theme of star-crossed lovers, reminding us that love rooted in passion enlivens, enriches and enlightens.
Look within. Can you find yourself in one of the great films listed below, living a classic theme of love?
Here's a Happy Valentine poem just for you. Call me old-fashioned.
Love, A Century in the Making
By Dr. Jane
Two Against the World —— Casablanca
Love conquers all —— Days of Heaven
Risky, but worth going overboard —— The Piano
Splendid fun, finding love for who you are —— Harold and Maude
Outside the constraints of tradition —— Last Tango in Paris
Feeling the power to transform —— Saturday Night Fever
Trusting instincts, not intellect to lead the way —— Notorious
When caught off guard in the damndest places —— Bus Stop
In the eyes of the beholder —Beauty and the Beast (Cocteau, please)
Love strikes at any age, in any relationship —— Three Seasons
Even when you're a kid —— A Little Romance
Especially when you're old —— On Golden Pond
Take the stars; don't ask for the moon —— Now Voyager
Passion flourishes on desert islands —— Swept Away
Rises when endangered —— Bonnie and Clyde
Reaches for true perfection —— Rebecca
Challenges convention; changes values —— Woman of the Year
When you walk a mile in the other's shoes —— Tootsie
Love is definitely larger than life —— Reds
And sweeter for diversity —— Wild Reeds
As well as complexity —— Annie Hall
Surprisingly healing —— Desert Hearts
Always enriching, enlivening and enlightening —— The Way We Were
That's Amore!
P.S. If you have a favorite not on my list, spin a little poetry of your own on Valentine's Day.
Poem - Casablanca, Bogart & Bacall, 1942; Days of Heaven, Gere, Adams & Shepard, 1978; Harold and Maude, Gordon & Cort, 1971; The Piano, Hunter, Keitel & Neill, 1993; Last Tango in Paris, Brando & Schneider, 1973; Saturday Night Fever, Travolta & Gorney, 1977; Notorious, Grant & Bergman, 1946; Bus Stop, Monroe & Murray, 1956; Beauty and The Beast, 1946 (Cocteau), Three Seasons, Keitel, 1999; A Little Romance, Olivier & Lane, 1979; On Golden Pond, Hepburn & Fonda(Henry & Jane), 1981; Now Voyager, Davis & Rains, 1942; Swept Away, Giannini & Melato, 1975; Bonnie and Clyde, Beatty & Dunaway, 1967; Rebecca, Fontaine & Olivier, 1940; Woman of the Year, Tracy & Hepburn, 1942; Tootsie, Hoffman & Lange, 1982; Reds, Beatty, Keaton & Nicholson, 1981; Wild Reeds, 1994; Annie Hall, Allen & Keaton, 1977; Desert Hearts, Shaver & Lindley, 1986; The Way We Were, Streisand & Redford, 1973.
Other - Romeo & Juliet, Zefferelli, 1936; Cinema Paridiso, Tomatore, 1988
