Picture this: it’s Valentine’s Day and you’ve already made plans for a date night in with your significant other/friends/self – you get the idea. You have dinner prepared and lighting to set the mood… all that’s missing is the perfect film to watch. Well, if you happen to love music as much as you love a good romantic film, why not seek out something fun and unique that seamlessly blends these two elements together? The musical romance film has become something of a sub-genre unto itself, characterized by narratives that intertwine the love story at their epicenter with song. There’s a good chance that you may be familiar with some popular recently released films that fall into this category, such as A Star Is Born, La La Land, and The Greatest Showman. However, what you might not realize is that there are also quite a few great indie musical romance flicks out there too!
Though such films are prone to be overlooked by the general public due to their somewhat niche nature, they are no less deserving of attention. That’s why this month I thought it would be nice to shine a spotlight on some of these underrated hidden gems by writing about some of my personal favourites: Begin Again (2013), Hearts Beat Loud (2018), and Sing Street (2016). I’ve split my rundown of each film into four key categories to help give you a good sense of if it’s something you may enjoy: what it’s about, who the romance is between, one of the most memorable musical moments, and where you can currently watch it. Each of these films provide a welcome breath of fresh air within the often cliché catalog of filmic romance as they span a range of musical styles, relationships, and even time periods, so it’s likely that at least one will capture your interest. Something they all have in common though is an engaging romance with lots of heart… and an incredibly catchy soundtrack that’s sure to stay in your head long after the credits have rolled! (Also they might earn you relationship points for putting on something other than The Notebook!)
Begin Again
What’s it about?
Record label executive Dan (Mark Ruffalo) is at a crossroads in his life, down and out and unsure of what to do next. Then, as if by fate, he happens upon Gretta (Keira Knightley) performing at an open mic night – a singer-songwriter recently been left behind by her partner in both love and music, Dave (Adam Levine), who’s fallen victim to the trappings of newfound fame. Dan recognizes something special in Gretta, seeing her as exactly what he needs to revitalize his career in the music industry. Through a summer of collaboration, Dan and Gretta work on putting together Gretta’s first album, growing closer together at a time when it feels like they were meant to find one another.
Who’s the romance between?
While other relationships exist, the heart of the film is without question Gretta and Dan’s relationship; in particular, the bond they develop through creating music together. The chemistry between the two of them is fun and organic, and you can’t help but smile seeing the pure unbridled joy they bring into each other’s lives.
Memorable musical moment?
Gretta singing the film’s signature song, “Lost Stars”. It’s a gorgeous introspective ballad containing lyrics like “are we all lost stars, trying to light up the dark?” and Keira Knightley’s beautiful lilting voice paired with soaring instrumentals makes for pure musical magic.
Where can I watch it?
Begin Again is out on DVD, so you may be able to find it at your local video retailer! It’s also available through a variety of streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, and iTunes.
Hearts Beat Loud
What’s it about?
The most recent film on this list as it was released just last year, Hearts Beat Loud tells the story of record shop owner Frank Fisher (Nick Offerman) and his daughter Sam (Kiersey Clemons), who have a bit of a strained relationship but a shared passion for music. Seeking to maintain a connection with Sam before she heads off to college in the fall, and realizing that she has a talent for songwriting, Frank convinces his daughter to record a song together in one of their jam sessions. When the song they created together turns into an unexpected viral hit virtually overnight however, both Frank and Sam find themselves thinking about what they really want in life, learning to follow their dreams – and their hearts – along the way.
Who’s the romance between?
There’s a really sweet romance between Sam and her girlfriend Rose (Sasha Lane) that’s a key part of the story. Seeing a blossoming summer love between two young queer girls of colour depicted on screen that isn’t hypersexualized and gets treated with the same care and development as any other relationship is so refreshing. (It’s also worth noting that both Kiersey Clemons and Sasha Lane identify as queer themselves!)
Memorable musical moment?
When Sam and her dad are performing together at the record store and Sam sings a song she wrote called “Blink (One Million Miles)”. It’s an uptempo pop tune about her relationship with Rose, and the powerful vocals and raw emotion Kiersey Clemons puts into the song really sells it.
Where can I watch it?
This one has a bit of a limited streaming release, but Hearts Beat Loud is available on DVD as well as on Amazon Prime, iTunes, and Vudu.
Sing Street
What’s it about?
Set in Dublin during the 1980s and written and directed by John Carney (who also did Begin Again), the film’s story centers on Conor, aka “Cosmo” (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo), a rebellious teen fed up with the strictness of school who is captivated by model Raphina (Lucy Boynton). Wanting to impress her, he tells her that he’s in a band – which leads to having to actually form said band with his school friends in order to keep up the act. There’s an evident progression of both style and sound throughout Sing Street as Cosmo discovers different musical influences of the era, ranging from Duran Duran to The Smiths, and his feelings for Raphina continue to develop as well.
Who’s the romance between?
Cosmo’s initial attraction to Raphina is undoubtedly the driving force behind the whole film, as she’s the reason he was inspired to form Sing Street to begin with. What started out as a seemingly unrequited crush blossoms into an earnest and tender young love between the musician and the model, who share a fascination with one another.
Memorable musical moment?
The dream sequence where Sing Street sings the anthemic “Drive It Like You Stole It”. It’s a fun little number envisioned to take place at an Americana-inspired 50’s prom, and it imagines what the band could be once they find their sound and come into their own.
Where can I watch it?
Sing Street is on Netflix, as well as available on DVD, Amazon Prime, and iTunes!
By telling music-driven love stories through the mode of independent film, filmmakers have the freedom to experiment with different styles both sonically and aesthetically while crafting relationships that feel organic and authentic. That said, we’re able to see how music plays different roles within the key romantic relationships in Begin Again, Hearts Beat Loud, and Sing Street. For Sam, it’s a way to make sense of and express her feelings towards Rose, for Cosmo, it’s an excuse to pursue his infatuation with Raphina, and for Dan and Gretta, it’s a shared passion that draws together two lost people searching for purpose. Ultimately though, music functions as a tool to develop genuine human connection within each of these relationships, transcending the boundaries of what words alone can express through the powerful and emotive medium of song.
We’d love to know if you end up making any of these films part of your Valentine’s Day plans! If you do, or even if you decide to check them out some other time, make sure to leave a comment below to share your thoughts!
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