Shubhabrata Dutta
Are you alone? Is loneliness bothering you? Are you looking for a way to pass the time all on your own? Well, we got just the thing: movies. From exciting to joyful to feel-good to something you can relate to, movies help us vent our loneliness in numerous ways. In this article, we bring you the best movies to watch on HBO Max when lonely.
12. La Notte (1961)
This one is for those struggling to come out of the loneliness that has resulted from a deteriorating relationship and the feeling of being in a relationship and yet alienated. Directed by Michelangelo Antonini, this exemplary film follows a wealthy novelist and his wife (played by Marcello Mastroianni and Jeanne Moreau, respectively) who have fallen out of love. It takes place over a single day as the couple moves from one social circle to another, an adventure underscored by the basal boredom of the so-called affluent folk. Moving forward by thought rather than plot, ‘La Notte’ is something you can connect to and be a part of something historical. Why? Because this is the first Italian film to win the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. It was also one of Stanley Kubrick’s top 10 films. You can stream it here.
11. Problemista (2023)
This is a mind-bending, surreal, and deeply personal story about Alejandro, an immigrant who has recently entered adulthood and is struggling to make it big as a toy maker at Hasbro. The catch is that he will be deported to El Salvador in 30 days unless he gets his visa sponsored. This is when fate brings art critic Elizabeth into his life, who wants to exhibit his artist husband’s work and hires Alejandro. If he can help her with it, she shall sponsor his visa. What makes ‘Problemista’ personal and apt for a lonely viewing is Alejandro’s lonely struggle, which seems never-ending. He is doing what he wants to do, hoping it will make him what he wants to be, but the obstacles are overwhelming. One thing at a time is easier said than done, and Elizabeth is way out of his league.
To add to the narrative, we have the concept of Cryogenesis, a process of freezing the human body, symbolizing the absence of emotions and feelings. However, the ending is what makes up for all the chaos, thereby serving as a reminder that, in the end, everything does fall into place. If not, it’s not the end, especially with. Cryogenesis at disposal. Starring Julio Torres as Alejandro and Tilda Swinton as Elizabeth, ‘Problemista’ is directed by Julio Torres. You can watch it here.
10. Only Yesterday (1991)
Pick up any Studio Ghibli movie, and your feeling of loneliness will be taken care of in a most moving manner. This one is also a Studio Ghibli venture, directed by Isao Takahata and based on the manga of the same name, created by Hotaru Okamoto and Yuko Tone in 1982. We follow twenty-seven-year-old Taeko Okajima, who arrives in the countryside at her elder sister’s in-laws’ place to escape city life’s hustle and bustle. Her journey and stay there remind her of her childhood and make her cherish the memories, all of which take the shape of a fruitful realization. A movie that is philosophical in a very visually appealing and heartwarming manner, ‘Only Yesterday’ is bound to take you back to your childhood and remind you of your loved ones. Who knows, you might even call them up and catch up very soon! Wouldn’t that be nice? You can watch ‘Only Yesterday’ here.
9. Flow (2024)
Gints Zilbalodis’ animated fantasy film ‘Flow’ centers on a solitary cat and is set in a post-apocalyptic world where the oceans are apparently shifting positions at regular intervals, causing floods. In such a setting, the cat must survive on a boat with other animals, including a capybara, a ring-tailed lemur, and a dog. With the theme of impermanence constantly showing up, ‘Flow’ paints a beautiful picture that is completely devoid of dialogues and yet manages to convey every emotion crystal-clearly. Deserved to be seen in solitude/complete silence due to the various sounds of nature playing parts in the film and to be better understand the inherent solitary nature of the protagonist, ‘Flow’ is a must-watch. You can experience it here.
8. Eat Pray Love (2010)
Directed by Ryan Murphy, ‘Eat Pray Love’ follows a woman named Elizabeth Gilbert who, burdened with loneliness in the aftermath of a divorce, sets off on a solitary journey across the world to find some much-needed nourishment, physical and mental. She travels across India, Italy, and Bali, exploring various cultures and meeting many people, filling the void in her heart in the process. Based on the memoir ‘Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India, and Indonesia’ by Elizabeth Gilbert, ‘Eat Pray Love’ is all about loving yourself. You can watch the film here.
7. Chungking Express (1994)
Directed by Wong Kar-wai, this Hong Kong drama follows two cops (Tony Leung and Takeshi Kaneshiro) dealing with breakups and their different experiences during their respective breakup periods. While one tries to relive his relationship memories by buying particular pineapple tins, another tries to keep his head in his profession to avoid the pain. Undoubtedly a story of loneliness from a breakup or even the possibility of a breakup, ‘Chungking Express’ is a sad movie that addresses the abovementioned feeling while also reminding us that there are ways to smile even though we may not feel so. Told in the story sequence, ‘Chungking Express’ is considered one of the best rom-coms ever made. You can stream it here.
6. Persona (1966)
Considered one of the greatest films of the 20th century, ‘Persona’ is written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. Starring Liv Ullmann and Bibi Andersson, the film follows two women, one who is a famed stage actress gone mute and another who is her nurse. Reviewed by the critics of the time as a “terrible knowledge of our loneliness,” the film follows the two women and their emotionally converging experience. Its take on loneliness, anxiety, and existential crisis without using a word also points to the failure of language as a means to communicate. This becomes a way for the viewers to put their insecurities in the characters in the characters, especially if they cannot speak about their issues, and watch how things unfold. A perplexing film with different outcomes for each viewer based on their perception, ‘Persona’ is a work of art in the truest sense. It can be streamed here.
5. Spirited Away (2001)
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, ‘Spirited Away’ is a Studio Ghibli film about a ten-year-old girl named Chihiro who inadvertently ends up in the spirit world of kami (spirits found in Shinto folklore). Her parents have been turned into pigs by a witch named Yubaba, and she has to find a way to return her parents to their human state and get them out of the world before the change becomes permanent or all of them get stuck there forever. Despite being alone in an alien world, Chihiro makes herself accustomed to its workings while grappling with her loneliness, which often manifests itself as a character called No-Face. Winner of over 25 awards across the globe, ‘Spirited Away’ is considered one of the greatest animated films ever. You can watch it here.
4. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
Sometimes, all we need to come out of the boredom of loneliness is a lighthearted, feel-good rom-com, and ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ is one of the best out there. Directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, it is set in the 1920s and shows the shift from silent movies to talkies using romance. Starring Gene Kelly, Jean Hagen, and Debbie Reynolds, this film and its iconic songs make it one of the greatest musical movies ever. You can stream it here.
3. The Martian (2015)
Ridley Scott’s ‘The Martian’ is an emotionally moving and visually stunning sci-fi survival drama that depicts the power of the human will in an “other-worldly” manner. It centers on astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon), who is left stranded on Mars during a mission. As he tries to survive all alone on a planet that doesn’t support life, NASA experts apply one idea after another to establish contact with him and bring him back home. The question is: How long will it take, and can Watney survive that long with limited resources? Based on the novel by Andy Weir, ‘The Martian’ is an effective watch, especially when you are lonely and need positivity to pump yourself up. Damon contributes a lot to that with his performance, balancing an overwhelming sense of being lost with humor. You can watch the film here.
2. Dune (2021)
Since you feel lonely, let’s take you on an interstellar journey to a different planet. Put on your headphones and immerse yourself in Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic that will give you some much-needed respite. ‘Dune’ is set in an alternate universe and follows the Atreides family, which rules planet Caladan. After the Emperor makes King Leto Atreides the fiefholder of Arrakis, a desert planet prosperous with a substance called spice that heightens awareness, the Atreides family arrives on Arrakis. Leto replaces Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, who is later told by the Emperor to destroy the Atreides, fearing its rise in power. Meanwhile, Leto decides to shake hands with Arrakis natives, the Fremen, while his son Paul envisions a holy war and a mysterious woman. The connections between all these plot points and the significance of Paul’s visions are revealed in this one-of-a-kind film. The cast includes Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Zendaya and Javier Bardem. The film is based on the 1965 eponymous novel by Frank Herbert. You can watch ‘Dune’ here.
1. Joker (2019)
A formidable film showcasing urban isolation, ‘Joker’ shows the origin of the highly popular DC Comics villain Joker/Arthur Fleck, Batman’s arch-enemy. Fleck is a party clown living an impoverished life underscored by a society that has shunned him and treated him as a freak all the time. The way he is abused, mentally and physically, ultimately makes him embrace a life of chaos wherein he takes up the name Joker, one that stands as an embodiment of the tragedy of life that is no less than a comedy.
While we do not suggest you take the path that Arthur Fleck (played by Joaquin Phoenix, who won the Best Actor Oscar for the role) took, it is important to see the toll that mistreatment and isolation can take and even cost a person their sanity. So, if you feel this way, reach out to your near and dear ones for help. Asking for help doesn’t mean you are weak. It lets you know who really cares for you and strengthens your relationship with them by allowing them to come closer. You can stream ‘Joker’ here.
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