We are all at that point of the year where it’s too cold, too dull, and we miss our summer tans (or at least the holiday bar’s happy hour). But, do not fear, as the DVD Library is equipped for such times, boasting a wealth of holidays, exotic retreats, city breaks, and simple escapism – all without the effort of packing a suitcase.
Before Sunrise (1995)
(Vienna)
Prepare for extreme romance envy with this 90s classic. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy just happen to meet on a train, have a nice chat, and spend the night in Vienna together. A very romantic night at that. But, refreshingly, it is not all about clichés. Instead, it’s about friendship, talking (groundbreakingly more than kissing), enjoying the sights, and having a free-spirit. I mean, okay, it’s no Thailand, but these characters manage to find both themselves and each other in the space of one night – and that is no easy feat. ****
Amélie (or, Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain) (2001)
(Paris)
Ah Paris! (Please read in French accent). Quirky, warm, funny, and oh so green, this is Amélie. Wonderfully magical and fantastically innocent, there’s a reason this film is loved by so many. Amélie is both shy and determined, glamorous and kooky, kind and yet sly, and – most importantly – will stop at nothing to get her man. It’s just a shame he doesn’t know she exists… Taking us through the prettiest sights of Paris, this film is practically a walking tour guide without the effort of moving. ***
My Own Private Idaho (1991)
(Portland/Rome)
Warning: this is a rather biased review. An art-house spectacle from Gus Van Sant, featuring lots of roads, a house falling from the sky, and lots of artsy things. The late-and-great River Phoenix and Keanu ‘The Matrix’ Reeves perform their ‘bromance’ with style and talent. An amalgamation of a Henry IV adaptation and two unfinished screenplays, this film takes us across America to Rome and back, incorporating Shakespearean dialect, hustlers, street kids, and narcolepsy. Gaining rather legendary status due to Phoenix’s untimely death, this film has cemented itself as an independent classic, despite it’s avoidance of both clarity and normalcy. This is one for all those who dream of hitchhiking and a holiday that never ends. *****
Roman Holiday (1953)
(Rome)
Rome back in the fifties is truly spectacular to see. A little old-fashioned, this love story sticks strictly to its film regulations – a very prim and proper romance. Nevertheless, it’s charming, idyllic, with a good bit of poignancy too. Audrey Hepburn stars as the beautiful Princess Ann, and Gregory Peck serves as her handsome peasant. Their romance is as fleeting as it is exciting, a holiday from their responsibilities as well as their homes, a holiday that most would like to have themselves. ***
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
(Somewhere in Europe)
I admit, this one is a made up place, but that doesn’t mean we should stop aspiring to go there… Beautiful, fantastical, symmetrical, funny, and very pink, this film is a must see. Cleverly balancing melodrama, deadpan, and sinister undertones, it’s easy to see why this film did so well in awards season. From its story within a story within a story to its designer costumes, its inclusion of a bakery and a prison, and with a cameo from the one and only Bill Murray, this film is unashamedly Wes Anderson. And yes, perhaps we cannot go there, but on the bright side, there is a Wes Anderson themed café in its place… ****