Love is in the air this month, and what better way to indulge than with a clever series devoted to it? This month’s recommended viewing, Modern Love, is a (sometimes) heartwarming showcase of different versions of love – be it romantic, platonic, paternal or otherwise. Produced by John Carney (Sing Street, Once) in collaboration with Amazon Studios, this two-season series explores love in all its forms.
Modern Love (Amazon Prime) is an anthology series inspired by The New York Times weekly column of the same name. Each episode is based on a publicly submitted essay describing real-life romances. Some are wholesome, some messy; most are complicated. From romantic to familial, or the deep emotional bonds of friendship, the series portrays modern love in a time of busy work weeks, online connections, complicated dating rules, and even confronts the challenge of a romantic spark during a global pandemic.
Season one of Modern Love starts with the charmingly simple “When The Doorman is Your Main Man,” a platonic love letter between a single New Yorker and her doorman. From there, the eight-part series explores the complexities of dating when divorced (He Looked Like a Dad. It Was Just Dinner, Right?), mental health (Take Me As I Am, Whoever I Am), and everything in between. Each 30-minute episode features a new cast, starring big names like Anne Hathaway, Dev Patel, Tina Fey, and a particularly on-the-nose performance in Season 2 starring Kit Harington.
Get your tissues ready for Season 2, Episode 1: “On a Serpentine Road, With the Top Down.” Minnie Driver stars as a doctor on her second marriage, processing the loss of her late husband while struggling to keep his beloved clunker of a car on the road. A farewell drive in the car offers a sentimental conversation between Driver and her deceased husband, providing closure and challenging viewers not to cry. Not every episode is a slam dunk, but the diverse subject matter is bound to strike an emotional chord with its audience and share different relationship perspectives. While some episodes offer the romantic version of love, others showcase how heartbreaking and complicated it can be. Modern Love is the perfect series to casually work your way through, viewing each author’s unique perspective of modern-day relationships.
As a die-hard romantic I would be remiss to not share a list of my all-time favourite romantic films. Even if you’re not a romance fan, the below list of four beautiful films includes several Oscar-nominated performances and incredible cinematography.
1. Moulin Rouge, 2001, Disney+
2. 500 Days of Summer, 2009, Hulu
3. Cloud Atlas, 2012, Amazon Prime
4. Before Sunrise, 1995, Crave
