Valentines Day (beyond obvious capitalistic motivations) is supposed to be a day to celebrate the people and things you love. Cinema has always been my one true love and in terms of films about the subject itself, the films that make me swell with emotion, the films that pull at my heartstrings, the films that makes me swoon, are mostly films about love never realized - forbidden love if you will.

I am never as affected as I am when two people who love each other and who it appears are meant to be together, are forbidden from doing so by friends, family, society, timing, morals etc..

I’m not sure what this says about me but I’ll take a romance with a sad ending over a happy one any day. So in honor of the upcoming big day of love I give you A Valentines Day Top 10 Films About Love Unfulfilled.

(and I suppose in some ways this entire list is a spoiler of sorts as you know things must end somewhat badly - but don’t let that stop you from looking - the journey, not the ending is what makes these films great)

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10) Brokeback Mountain - the music still gets me every time.

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9) Code 46 - love forbidden by science and society - double the heartbreak

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Romeo and Juliet- classic and hip - both with amazing soundtracks to accompany their ill fated journeys

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7) Head On - the forces of timing and control at play (also, trailer not in english)

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6) Waking the Dead - ambition and purpose vs. true love

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5) The Red Shoes - to dance the dance of passion - of love or of work

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4) When Tomorrow Comes - responsibility breaks the hearts of Charles Boyer And Irene Dunn - the final scene is beyond words

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3) The Age of Innocence- “she never asked”

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2) In the Mood for Love - movement, music and the restraints of society

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1) Brief Encounter - “This can’t last. This misery can’t last. I must remember that and try to control myself. Nothing lasts really. Neither happiness nor despair. Not even life lasts very long. They’ll come a time in the future when I shan’t mind about this anymore. But I can look back and say quite peacefully and cheerfully how silly I was. No, no I don’t want that time to come hither. I want to remember every minute, always, always to the end of my days.”

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Also, takepart to learn how you can make your Valentines Day more sustainable.