Film
Charmer
A twelve-minute New Zealand short about a woman and man on a date, weighing the gap between what we want and what we'll settle for. It's a sharp, tender comedy-drama that sits in the uncomfortable space between hope and resignation. Perfect for anyone who's ever chosen comfort over connection, or wondered if they should have.
If you liked this
Before Sunrise1995
Two strangers meet on a train and spend one night talking through Vienna. It's all conversation and chemistry—a masterclass in how much can happen when two people genuinely listen to each other.
But Nearly two hours of dialogue with no plot to speak of. If you need something to *happen*, this will feel like watching paint dry.
Fleabag2016
A woman navigates love, family, and the gap between who she is and who she pretends to be. Sharp, funny, and devastatingly honest about desire and disappointment.
But The first season is uneven, and it's very London-specific British humour. Takes a few episodes to find its feet.
The Lobster2015
A surreal dark comedy about loneliness and the pressure to pair off. Strange, original, and quietly brutal about the compromises we make for connection.
But Deliberately weird and deadpan. If you need warmth or conventional storytelling, this will feel cold and frustrating.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Charmer
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
The Good Companions1933
Both treat romance not as a plot engine but as a practical question: what do two incompatible people owe each other? What's the difference between love and convenience? This 1933 film was asking the same thing.
A 1933 British comedy about actors in a traveling theatre troupe, including a romance between two people who shouldn't work but somehow do. It's witty, warm, and genuinely moves between romance and something harder—the question of whether you stay for love or ambition.
But Nearly a century old. You'll need to adjust to the pacing and the theatrical acting style. It's also in black-and-white and the print isn't pristine.
More like this (7)
Lost in Translation2003
Two lonely people find solace in each other's company in Tokyo. It's about companionship as much as romance, and utterly hypnotic about what we need from each other.
But Slow and atmospheric to the point of static. Nothing happens. If you're after plot momentum, you'll hate this.
Tiny Furniture2010
Lena Dunham's debut about a twenty-something adrift in her parents' home, navigating romance and self-worth with awkward honesty. Raw and painfully funny about young adult desperation.
But Made on a shoestring budget—it looks rough and the performances are unpolished. It's also very slow and deliberately unlikeable.
Chungking Express1994
Wong Kar-wai's fragmented love story about two cops and two women in Hong Kong. Visually stunning and achingly romantic about missed connections and timing.
But Deliberately fractured narrative with a dreamlike logic. If you need clarity and forward momentum, the structure will feel annoying.
80 for Brady2023
Four older women take a road trip to the Super Bowl. It's pure joy about friendship, autonomy, and not settling for less than you deserve in your later years.
But Aggressively feel-good and formulaic. If you're allergic to inspirational sports narratives and celebrity cameos, skip it.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind2004
A man tries to erase memories of his ex, only to realise what he's losing. It's about the mess of love, regret, and whether we'd choose differently if we could.
But Deliberately confusing narrative structure. You'll have to piece it together yourself, and some will find that exhausting rather than rewarding.
Punch-Drunk Love2002
Adam Sandler gives a raw, vulnerable performance as a lonely man who finds connection with Emily Watson. It's awkward, painful, and genuinely moving about how hard it is to be loved.
But Aggressively strange. Paul Thomas Anderson drowns the film in noise and colour. For some, it's too much; for others, not enough clarity.
The Retreat2021
Both are short-form narratives about people in proximity who must decide if nearness is enough. Both refuse sentimentality about human connection and ask harder questions about whether we ever really bridge the gap to each other.
An Irish miniseries about six damaged people on a wellness retreat. It's blackly funny about isolation, self-deception, and the stories we tell ourselves about connection and healing.
But Dark, bitter, and unresolved. Nobody gets fixed. If you need catharsis or character growth, this will feel like a waste of your time.
People
Cast
Robyn MalcolmWoman
Gerald BryanTaxi Driver