In partnership with Splitsville and NEON.
Love is messy, exhilarating, and sometimes heartbreakingly funny, and there is no better way to experience it than on the big screen. In partnership with Splitsville, this selection explores romantic entanglements and relationship themes in the same playful, complicated spirit. This month, we invite you to curl up and press play on a selection of favorite romantic films. From sweeping passions to complicated love triangles, these handpicked classics explore the many shades of desire, longing, and human connection. Welcome to the katest edition of Cinemaude, where romance takes center stage.
The Seduction of Mimi, 1972
Directed by: Lina Wertmüller
Starring: Giancarlo Giannini, Mariangela Melato
Set in Sicily, The Seduction of Mimi follows the charming but hapless laborer Mimi as he navigates the tumultuous waters of love and marriage. Through comedic misadventures and societal commentary, Mimi's journey highlights the tension between desire and duty in relationships.
Where to watch: Criterion Channel
Loulou, 1980
Directed by: Maurice Pialat
Starring: Isabelle Huppert, Gérard Depardieu
Louise (Huppert) leaves her stable but emotionally barren life to be with Loulou (Depardieu), a carefree drifter. Their passionate, volatile romance pushes both characters to confront their expectations and fears of intimacy, offering a raw, unfiltered look at love in its most vulnerable form.
Where to watch: Kanopy
César & Rosalie, 1972
Directed by: Claude Sautet
Starring: Yves Montand, Romy Schneider, Sami Frey
In a triangle of love and longing, Rosalie (Schneider) leaves César (Montand) for David (Frey), only to return repeatedly to her former lover. The film masterfully balances romantic tension with friendship and loyalty, revealing the complexity and sometimes absurdity of the human heart.
Where to watch: Criterion Channel
Get Out Your Handkerchiefs, 1978
Directed by: Bertrand Blier
Starring: Gérard Depardieu, Carole Laure, Michel Serrault
This French romantic comedy pushes the boundaries of love and desire. A husband (Serrault) enlists his friend (Depardieu) to help his depressed wife (Laure) rediscover joy in life. Outlandish, heartfelt, and unconventional, it’s a story that challenges traditional notions of romance.
Where to watch: Mubi
The Heartbreak Kid, 1972
Directed by: Elaine May
Starring: Charles Grodin, Cybill Shepherd
Newlyweds Lenny (Grodin) and Lila (Shepherd) embark on their honeymoon, but Lenny quickly becomes infatuated with another woman. A darkly comedic exploration of lust, regret, and moral ambiguity, The Heartbreak Kid captures the bittersweet complications of modern love.
Where to watch: Criterion Channel
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