The film industry is smitten with rom-coms, a genre that has been in regular rotation in cinema since the silent era. Many of these films emphasise the importance of falling in love and finding “the one,” and while these films can provide consolation and genuine yearning, it’s occasionally pleasant to zig rather than zag. A “happy ending” does not always imply being in a relationship, which is why it’s nice to see films and female protagonists embrace singleness and everything it has to offer.
Readers who are single know that it is entirely possible to be happy and fulfilled while living independently. The silver screen has steadily moved away from antiquated ideas about marriage and children being the only paths to wholeness, and has gradually delved into images of real, content, and satisfied persons who happen to be riding solo. Let’s take a look at some of the best films about single people.
1. Amelie
“Amélie” is a whimsical comedy about a young woman who subtly orchestrates the lives of others around her, creating an entirely fictional world. Jean-Pierre Jeunet (“Delicatessen”; “The City of Lost Children”) uses his inimitable imaginative approach to convey the exquisite appeal and mystery of modern-day Paris through the eyes of a gorgeous ingenue, shot in over 80 Parisian locations. This humorous, endearing French film follows the exploits of a single woman in Paris who strives to find love and help others while overcoming her own shyness.
2. Eat Pray Love
The 2010 biographical romantic drama Eat Pray Love, arguably the most renowned film about being single follows a married lady who learns how unfulfilling her marriage is and decides her life needs to move in a completely different way. She leaves her difficulties behind after a tough divorce and sets out to travel the globe on her own. Julia Roberts plays Elizabeth “Liz” Gilbert, a lady on a quest for self-discovery who immerses herself in other cultures in order to find the meaning of life. Eat Pray Love is an inspirational and captivating film that ultimately conveys the significance of self-love and inner tranquillity.
3. Booksmart
In Olivia Wilde’s crowd-pleasing high school comedy, two pals question if their youth has passed them by. Molly and Amy are played by Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever, two cautious bookworms eager to make the most of their final night before graduation. They attend an elaborate murder mystery dinner, party on a yacht, watch porn in the back of a Lyft, have disastrous run-ins with their crushes, and watch porn in the back of a Lyft. As the two prepare to part ways, it’s a fast-paced romp laced with genuine emotion.
4. Frances Ha
Frances Ha, shot in bright black and white and replete with French New Wave references, has all the trappings of a sweeping romance—but it’s an homage to female friendship in the hands of filmmaker Noah Baumbach. When her best friend (Mickey Sumner) moves out of their apartment, Greta Gerwig plays a dancer who undergoes a quarter-life crisis. She tries to fill the emptiness with family visits and an ill-fated solo vacation to Paris, but their reunion is more powerful than any teary statement of love.
5. Piku
Piku is a powerful lady who lives life on her own terms and bows down to no one. She teaches us key life lessons such as independence, making the right decisions, and how family can be everything at times. A wonderful film that will make you seek the perfect “life” rather than the perfect “love.”
6. Dear Zindagi
Dear Zindagi was a sophisticated film that entwined relationship, family, identity, and mental health with a single thread – just like life. Kaira (Alia Bhatt), a young cinematographer, appears to hit a rough patch when her love life falls apart, dragging her career and home with it. She relocates to Goa to live with her parents, with whom she has a strained relationship. She discovers some underlying abandonment issues during sessions with a therapist, which she subsequently works to resolve.
The true realisation comes after a series of men and heartbreaks, but Kaira tries to find solace in her single status in the interim. Aside from romantic life, there is a zest to life, which she discovers and begins.
7. Moana
Moana, a Disney animated film, is a must-see for everyone who likes a strong female lead who follows her heart. Moana (Auli’i Cravalho), undeterred by the physical and mental challenges she faces on her trip, sets out on her own for Maui (Dwayne Johnson) to restore Te Fiti’s equilibrium and preserve her home. Moana is a classic Disney film with all the ingredients of a strong and courageous female protagonist who chases adventure with abandon (both out of a desire to do good and to break free). So, what better movie to watch on Valentine’s Day than one featuring a strong, independent female protagonist?
8. Queen
When Rani Mehra (Kangana Ranaut), a simple, easygoing woman, is dumped at the last minute by her fiance, she is upset, as anyone would be. But she quickly overcomes her loss by taking a solo honeymoon to Paris and Amsterdam, using the tickets she had purchased with her former to-be-husband. From there, a story of self-discovery and freedom begins. Rani discovers the truth that she doesn’t need a guy to be happy by cohabiting with male pals and walking around cities. She is a unique individual whose life is complete in its own right.
Queen, directed by Vikas Bahl, was essential in establishing Ranaut as a celebrity and is regarded as a watershed film in Bollywood in terms of relevant films about solitary women.
9. Legally Blonde
When Elle Woods’ Ivy League lover dumps her, she sets out to win him back by receiving a degree from Harvard Law School, and along the road, she realises that she is much more than her looks and blonde hair. Legally Blonde, a popular 2001 comedy that urges viewers to live their most true single life, reminding them that they don’t need a guy to be complete, is frequently regarded as the embodiment of girl power in the movies. Elle, played by Reese Witherspoon, is an unstoppable force who defies innumerable clichés as she discovers her voice and self-confidence. CNN summed up the film’s premise wonderfully, calling it a “sassy satire with a message: believe in yourself and follow your dreams.”
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