It’s the strangest time of the year, when activity threatens to resume while the weather still says no. The winter lull stretching its legs all the way out from the end of December, it’s still hard to do anything productive other than tidy up and throw out January 1^st’s resolutions. What is there to do other than go to bed early and wake up late? Hide away in a duvet and pass up on Saturday night plans? Well, here are some films to accompany you through that January/February slump.

#1 Another Round (Druk)

Helping you feel like you’ve achieve something in your day, subtitled films always give me a sense of productivity. Another Round is the best kind of subtitled films, centring its plot around recognisable suburbia so you never get lost if you fall slightly behind on the dialogue. Taking an interesting look into our relationship with alcohol, another round is about a group of teacher friends than decide to test out a hypothesis of keeping their blood alcohol content at 0.5% to boost social skills and happiness. For a relatively calm and oddly cosy film, I had so much to say after watching this. For one, the relationships between the men made me want to cry, feeling like the first showing of male friendship that felt real and tangible, more akin to what I feel with my own friends than boring laddy banter. It was also lovely seeing totally normal older men, obviously Mads Mikkelsen is a heartthrob, but overall these men look like men you’d see in your day to day life, entirely centring the film in our society. And then the presentation of alcohol, managing to be as complex and intricate as it truly is, with the film managing to show the tragedies it can bring without demonising its place in joy and celebration.

Filmed in Copenhagen and all in Danish, the complex relationships are all set in a beautifully cosy scandi setting that makes it a perfect late winter watch for a night you’ve cancelled drinking plans.

#2 Man On The Moon

The iconic Jim Carrey playing the iconic Andy Kaufman. I finished watching this film and immediately did my favourite chaotic past time – rating films on Letterboxd purely on how much I enjoyed them. Man on The Moon got 5 stars.

Walking you through the silly complexities of Andy Kauffman’s subversive career, this is the perfect comedy film to watch when you don’t want to watch a comedy. It’s never cheesy and, if you don’t know much about Andy Kaufman like I didn’t, it remains totally unexpected and surprising from start to finish. At points I laughed out loud at the sheer absurdity of it all, but I never felt silly for letting myself sink into it and enjoy. All balanced out with a sad commentary on fame and purpose, the silliness goes hand in hand with the sombre in a perfect Sunday night in January way.

Jim Carrey is absolutely incredible and totally perfect for the role – but I’d skip the urge to follow the film up with his documentary about it, because it makes him seem dead annoying.

#3 Eighth Grade

What better subject to dive into during the cold months than old school trauma. If ‘written and directed by Bo Burnham’ isn’t enough to instantly hook you in, Eighth Grade is genuinely one of the sweetest films I’ve ever seen. Its so simple and tender, using a story of a girls struggles to make friends as a universally relatable tale of nervousness. Focused on Kayla, an eighth grader who makes motivational YouTube videos about confidence while simultaneously having none, its full of all the feels like encapsulate growing up and our school experience. I think Kayla, played by Elsie Fisher, might be one of my favourite character I’ve watched in a long time. While obviously being written in Bo Burnham’s classic dark yet silly comedy style, she feels so real as she walks through experiences we’ve all felt. Blowing up the relatively minor tragedies of teenage years into the end of the world emotional experiences we thought they were at the time, Eighth Grade is emotional and sentimental without ever becoming too heavy. 

If you want to really root for a character and have some time to reconnect with your past self, press play on this.

#4 Summer Of Soul

The total other end of the spectrum, this is one for people who want to get out of winter as quick as possible. Half way through watching this film, I genuinely remarked out loud how happy I felt, as this entire documentary is just so joyful and endearing. Using forgotten archive footage to tell the story of the Harlem Cultural Festival in 1969, there are performances from a lineup of legends including Nina Simone, Sly & The Family Stone, Stevie Wonder, Mahalia Jackson and more. Interviewing people who were there and looking into why this massive festival was forgotten and lost under the shadow of Woodstock, its simultaneously a massive celebration of the event while analysing the society that birthed it. Doing an amazing job of joining the dots between the 60s massive cultural moments that always feel so disconnected, Summer Of Soul immediately became one of my favourite documentaries I’ve ever watched. 

The perfect film for a Friday night when you just wish it would warm up – put the heating on, grab a drink and prepare to listen to the soundtrack for weeks to come.

#5 Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Never, ever in my life did I think I’d get emotional over Melissa McCarthy. I was so reluctant to watch this as Melissa is so associated with family friendly mind numbing comedies, but I’m so glad I got over my own snobbery. Telling the true story of Lee Israel, a biography who turned to forging letter between celebrities and literary legends when she could no longer get published, McCarthy’s performance as the figure is both painfully frustrating and totally devastating. A totally underrated gem of a film with incredible performances from McCarthy and Richard E. Grant, I was stunned when it finished, wondering how I could’ve let the film go unwatched for so long. With enough drama to keep you hooked and enough complexity to make you think, you’ll probably cry then instantly google Lee Israel after.

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While some people might have written novels or recorded albums, my proudest lockdown achievement is 100% my film list. As lockdown began, I started with a list of around 10 films I’d been meaning to watch for ages, determined to finally get around to it. It started with classics like Clockwork Orange, Valley Of The Dolls and Quadrophenia; all of which I talked about in my last films list, and has spiralled into a huge list of everything from cult classics to new releases I never got round to watching. Honestly any time I get the chance I’m showing people this list, it’s my pride and joy at this point.

As autumn rolls in and the appeal of drinking outside fades in the face of colder nights, I thought I’d share the films on my list that got a big rating from me and have the perfect vibes for colder seasons.

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#1 Captain Fantastic

Captain Fantastic was one that came out years ago but somehow managed to totally miss my radar, a shame as it’s very much my type of film. Telling the story of a family that lives in the forest, outside of capitalist society, and their re-entry to the world to attend their mother’s funeral, it’s a perfect film if you like quirky storylines infused with a big dose of emotion and a hearty splash of satirical humour. It perfectly balances silly and serious as these young kids spouting socialist rhetoric is hilarious but also opens up this whole big debate about how to raise children in this world. As an independent vibe film, Captain Fantastic has all the features of the best indies but doesn’t slip on the quality as the cinematics here are beautiful. This film made me feel so comforted and cosy I honestly could have wept, the combo of the family unit and the forest background makes you feel so safe throughout all the drama, making it a film I know I’ll be coming back to in the later months.

# 2 Anna Karenina

On my last day of sixth form, my favourite English teacher gave me a copy of Anna Karenina, so this was always high on my to-watch list.

As a classic Russian novel, the book is difficult and chunky with a million and one long Russian names to memories. But this film not only makes it easy to follow but also manages to capture and translate the glory of those monumental Russian texts. One all levels this film is extravagant; think Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette and add 10x more drama and jewels. The costumes and sets are incredible, proving that there was no slacking on the budget here, but also the adaptation is beautiful with the direction being artful and noticeable which I always love. As a kind of nod to the origins of Anna Karenina as a story, the film flows in and out of this amazing opera stage set that shows you exactly the level of drama you’re in for from curtain up.

The story itself is a tragic romance like no other; a true pillar of literature. It tells the story of Anna Karenina who is considered to be one of literature’s first feminist characters as she refuses to fit in with what Russian high society expects. For a classic text, the story feels super modern as it’s full of sex, scandal and gender politics. Always at her best in a period piece, Keira Knightley is incredible here, her performance actually made me cry which is very very rare. High drama, high fashion and high art, this is a big yes from me.

#3 Jojo Rabbit

I’ll admit it, I can be a bit prejudiced against new films. I don’t go to the cinemas as much as I should so new films regularly get away with me, and then I always find myself wanting to watch the classics rather than that new blockbuster. But so many friends recommended JoJo rabbit to me and I’m so glad I watched it cause this film had me howling.

This is a must-watch for any fans of dark humour, but if you’re easily offended or struggle to settle into some more sensitive jokes, maybe steer clear cause a film about a young Nazi whose imaginary friend is Hitler might not be for you. But if you’re down for some darkness, add this to your list immediately as every time the little boy said ‘oh hi Adolf’, I was crying. The mix of cute innocence with these young children leads that you feel sorry for vs the fact that they’re raging Nazis makes for a funny watch like nothing I’ve seen before.

And beyond the humour, as a big award-winner, the cast and cinematic in this are huge and honestly flawless. Set in a German village with a cosy colour palette of greens and yellows, add this to your autumn watch list.

#4 Before Sunrise

The Before Sunrise trilogy is the best thing I’ve watched in ages and I’ll be screaming it from the rooftop till everyone has seen it.

I’ve never seen a romance film like these before. Yes, they’re cute, but something about them manages to by-pass all cringe and cliché and capture exactly the feeling of two people getting to know each other. Despite being films in amazing locations after the couple meets on a train and get off in Vienna, with the 2^nd and 3^rd taking place in Paris and Greece, the locations never overtake the focus on the interactions. So much of the films are taken up by really simple dialogue as Jesse and Celine get to know each other, talking about the things all people talk about on a first date, making the series feel so familiar and so real. By the end of the trilogy, you really feel like you know these characters as you’ve been on a journey with them, getting three insights into their life that feel at once normal and wildly romantic. With Before Sunrise being filmed in 1995, the original has those perfect 90s aesthetics, but the characters don’t feel dated at all. Unlike all the other 90s classics, something about Before Sunrise and it’s protagonists has managed to be timeless, recreating all those conversations you have about art and life and death, rather than quickly-ageing pop culture.

The third one wasn’t my favourite as I think by 2013, they lost the aesthetics of the film and the Grecian setting didn’t quite match the cosiness of the others. But it’s still a beautiful film. All three feel super romantic while also capture the reality of relationships as they feature little to no drama but instead focus on the small moments.

#5 I’m Thinking Of Ending Things

If you want a real challenge of a film that’s going to make you feel like you’ve achieved something, watch this.

Following an unnamed woman, maybe called Lucy, on a trip to meet her boyfriend's parents, the film spins in and out of existentialism as it gets weirder and weirder. His parents age at every turn, ‘Lucy’ has multiple different jobs, her boyfriend’s personality changes like the wind and every now and then the plot is interrupted by snippets of a whole other character. The best thing to do is to sit back, relax and try not to read into it too much till it’s over. Once you’re done, google it and it’ll all become clear.

But even without understanding the plot, I’m Thinking Of Ending Things is a beautiful film as the landscapes are vast and intense. With a film that seems to include everything from moments of horror to musical numbers, it’s a real display of incredible writing and production, moving through so many different ideas and vibes that you’re never quite sure how to feel.

For the colder months, it’s perfect. The opening 30 minutes see ‘Lucy’ and her boyfriend Jake sat in a car in a snowstorm with a narrative that talks about the decline of a relationship and just that general sense of dread that comes with getting old. The whole thing perfectly captures how it feels to be trapped in your own head as your thoughts spiral and you find yourself feeling worse and worse. It’s bleak but it’s beautifully done, so if you’re after a darker head-scratcher of a film, settle in for this one.

#6 Wild At Heart

I’ve been on a David Lynch binge recently as I’d previously never seen any of his stuff. Currently working my way through Twin Peaks and having ticked Blue Velvet off my list, Wild At Heart remains my favourite.

My favourite genre of film is Bonnie and Clyde stories and this fits that perfectly. Somewhere between the sarcasm of Heathers and the over-dramatic love of True Romance, Wild At Heart is a dark-comedy infused romance as Sailor and Lula’s attempt at a Bonnie and Clyde/Thelma and Louise style getaway is filled with the classic Lynch weird characters and sinister imagery. The best part of it is 100% Laura Dern’s ridiculous southern belle protagonist who is such a bimbo but Dern’s line delivery is comedy gold. As with all other Lynch productions, the soundtrack is amazing and the cinematics are creepy but glorious, yet Wild At Heart isn’t quite as dark or heavy, making it a perfect way to dip your toes into Lynch’s back-catalogue or relax with at the end of the day. But having that darker edge makes it a perfect autumnal film, giving you all the passion without the side portion of that end of summer sadness.

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Leave me your recommendations!

 

Frank O'Hara is a favourite writer of mine, pioneering a form called ‘personism’. Personism is basically a term he coined for writing about yourself, creating a body of work that’s explicitly person. O’Hara’s work was written about and for his friends, regularly naming people, places and events of the time that shaped his social circle. He was also an openly gay man writing in a circle called The New York School which included writers, playwright, ballet dances and more, all taking classic forms and rejuvenating them for the liberal times. His life partner was a ballet dancer called Vincent Warren, a man who inspired some of the most unique and sincere love poems I’ve ever read.

Defining personism, Frank O’Hara said of his own work ‘I was realizing that if I wanted to I could use the telephone instead of writing the poem’, and that’s what his work feels like, like you’re eavesdropping on the day-to-day romanticism of a relationship. Vincent inspired many of his poems, but my favourite is Having A Coke With You; a piece that can be analysed as much or as little as you want. On one hand, the poem is full of subtle signalling, never explicitly mentioning his homosexuality but showing it through the context of his references and use of colour. But on the other hand, this is a small poem about a simple feeling of being in love with the little things about someone and trying to find a way to tell them. Though specifically and purposefully of it’s time and place, O’Hara’s work transcends its context, becoming universal in their relatability.

Written slightly later, Eileen Myles’ collection of short stories, Chelsea Girls, is a beautiful collection of personal tales, many of which touch on her sexuality as a lesbian. However, my favourite in the collection is the titular piece. Starting out as a tale about a messy relationship, the story falls into one of the most endearing pieces of literature I’ve ever read. In the late 70s, Myles worked as a carer for James Schuyler, a poet who ran in the same social circle as O’Hara and was also gay. Myles and Schuyler’s relationship is pure and almost parental, engaging in a care exchange as Myles looks after his health and Schuyler encourages her work and gives her the positive male role she lacked in her own life. Myles’ care for the poet is undeniably coded, their relationship is filled with a sense of kinship that feels natural and unspoken, mirroring the buddy system that would later be set up during the AIDs crisis. The difference between her exchanges with Schuyler versus her lover shows two different portraits of life as a young gay woman, creating a piece that’s both highly literary but also super humanistic and gentle.


Another piece centring around The Chelsea Hotel is Just Kids, which I’ve talked about to death. While Patti Smith went on to marry a man, and the origin of her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe was romantic, their story becomes one of allyship as Mapplethorpe went one to be one of the most influential queer artists of the era. Similar to Myles and Schuyler, Patti and Robert have a love that’s built on kinship and loyalty first, their love is a vow of care, promising to look after each other and be there always. As the story moves through Mapplethorpe’s early experiences with men to his later life with his partner Sam Wagstaff, Smith’s narrative proceeds without judgement but tenderness, piecing together the final image of the artist he would become. Their relationship is a beautiful portrait of allyship with love coming before everything and remaining unchanged. Patti and Robert were soulmates from start to finish with Patti still dedicating so much of her work to the artist. As well as this relationship, the book also draws a great picture of the whole scene and the inclusion of the LGBT+ community in the counter culture as she encounters just about everyone.


I’m putting this one here because the modern impression of the beat generation annoys me. In recent years, it feels like the beat circle of Ginsberg and Kerouac have been twisted into nothing but an alternative boys club, seeing them as the 1960s answer to the lads down the pub. Seemingly remembered as the best of friends, all just loving drugs and art and Bob Dylan, the homoerotic subtext of their work has been left out of the conversation. Allen Ginsberg was a gay man who had public relationships with the beat circle including Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady, something that was edited out of On The Road much to Ginsberg’s disappointment. Reading Howl or any of the other beats work without considering sexuality is missing a vital piece of the puzzle. Take Footnote To Howl for example:


You really think Ginsberg just loved his friends that much?

Too often read as notes of admiration for his writer friends, Ginsberg’s work is explicitly homoerotic, a major reason why Howl had to battle through a long censorship trial. Touching on many areas of politics, queerness is undeniably one, and reading it without consideration of that is erasure.


And a film. Scorpio Rising is a weird one but a must-watch for 1960s queer literature. Scorpio Rising sees underground queer director Kenneth Anger use all the tools of the mainstream against them, mixing doo-wop music, images of Jesus and the blossoming music video form in with clear homoerotic images of bikers and leather. Soundtracked by the biggest ‘straight’ mainstream songs of the time, the short film moves through a series of music videos that follow Scorpio and a biker gang. It doesn’t really have a plot, but Anger touches on the worship of rebels and the idolised images in the gay biker scene, as though this rejected community have been forced to find their own gods and create their own rituals. Super stylish, Scorpio Rising is a perfect gateway into the world of 1960s underground cinema, dipping your toes in with something inoffensive. If you want something more shocking, move onto Flaming Creatures by Jack Smith next.

Similar to Annie Hall and Pretty Woman, When Harry Met Sally is a hot bed of 80s fashion that no doubt you turned your nose up at the first time you watched it, but now you're reconsidering your judgement. I'm obsessed, but it's not just me, ManRepeller recently fangirled over the films dreamy fall fashion prompting me to rewatch the heartwarming classic pronto.

Sally, played by Meg Ryan, has got the masculine/feminine tailored look down to a T. When we're first introduced to her she's serving a look of bermuda shorts and matching navy cardigan and knee high socks; it shouldn't work but somehow it's making me want to copy? As the film passes through time Sally goes through all the trends; shoulder-pad power suits, high neck jumpers, tailored trousers, off the shoulder dressed and mom jeans. Everything she wears I could find in my wardrobe, proving that style never dies and trends are nothing but cyclical.

But it's not just the ladies. Harry styles knitted jumpers, jeans and fresh trainers just like 90% of my uni population. Throughout the film, his style managing to become less dad and more 90s, leaving behind the cord and becoming more inspo worthy as he sorts his damn priorities out.



I also wanna give a shoutout to the extra seen in the background of the baseball scene, wearing black joggers, black sweatshirt but fresh white trainers. I've been wearing this look nope stop, swapping the sportswear for cigarette trousers but keeping the same monochrome.

Maybe the characters outfits may take it a smidge too far, but you can't deny the influence haunting us still into 2018, and I for one am inspired to purchase a girlboss, 80s power blazer.

The 1990 movie Pretty Woman is everlasting and iconic as both a beautifully unconventional love story, and a time capsule displaying the hand-over between 80s and 90s fashion.

Pretty Woman has remained one of my favourite films since I was young. Julia Robert's performance as Vivian is infatuating, her classic smile on a character that is so optimistic and charming despite her situation makes the character endlessly likeable. She has little to no flaws, and I want her to be my best friend.

Dealing with the topic of sex work, the movie tackles the idea of 'cheap', 'tacky' fashion. If anyone ever attempts to insult your outfit by likening you to a 'hooker', please point them in the direction of Pretty Woman and say thank you, because Vivian smashes all the stereotypes by dressing impeccably from start to finish.

We first see Vivian in a cut out dress, baker boy hat, thigh high boots and an oversized red silk suit jacket. Incredible. Iconic. Beautiful. 10/10 would wear. Her style of edgy and overtly tryna-be sexy dress is the dream cross-decade attire, displaying several trends and pieces that we're all lusting after at the moment. Then her change into tryna-be classy attire towards the end of the film shows us exactly how to wear masculine shapes as she wears jewel-toned co-ords and tailored shapes. Perfect from start to finish, Vivian turns 'hooker' into a well-crafted aesthetic (and a successful career that bags her a man.)

At the start of the year I decided my vibe was Pretty Woman; ironically sexy while also totally not sexy and practical. Like a hooker that wants to stay warm and also has uni at 10am. So I've been wearing fishnet tights with short skirts paired with baggy jumpers and berets. I've been dreaming of an all-red get up, pairing a red vinyl skirt with a red knit jumper. Anything PVC, vinyl or leather is ideal.

Think jewel tones, fishnets, pieces that look borrowed from a boy, tailoring, masc/fem and the kind of sexy you'd see in 80s music videos. Think wearing all that in a fancy hotel. That's what Vivian would want for us.

The Past Us is a poem about the realisation that your love has changed. It’s a poem about looking back at a relationship and realising it’s become so misshapen over time, it hardly looks like love at all anymore, it doesn’t really even look like companionship.

This poem was written in late October and it feels just like late October, to me at least. It feels like hazey evenings when it becomes annoying how dark it gets so early. It feels like the intense bout of disassociation and confusion I felt during my first months at uni, and the questions about how my new location would alter my relationships and feelings. It’s always been a deeply personal piece to me with very specific settings and conversations in my head, but maybe that’s why it’s ended up being the piece I always go back to, and a piece that my peers regularly reference and compliment (thanks guys).

We all know the tug of a dying love hanging on like a limb that’s gone numb after you sat on it for too long. The period just before the conversation when both parties are aware of the small changes in movement; turning your back, pulling away hands, seizing at opportunities to leave their company even if just briefly to get a drink, when before you always wanted them there, holding your hand and hugging in the kitchen. This poem is a brainstorm for that conversation, a mind-map drawing lines between the people you were and are.

The ideas of making a film was brought to the table in Easter, at a time when I was having this conversation again. I’ve always wanted to make a film, I love films so so much but over time I’ve accepted that I know nothing about how the hell you make a film. So a table full of people who know exactly how to make a short film, and know fancy terms for lenses and shots, and appreciated my work enough to want to visualise it, it was dreamy.

And the end product is The Past Us, it’s exactly what the poem is and all it represents (including some very specific details from it’s context). It’s grey, it’s late October, it’s the lingering thought of a love you had to accept had left long ago, packed up and moved out of everywhere but your head. But mostly it’s just beautiful and far more eloquent that my words could ever hope to be.

I can’t say thank you enough to ever quite touch on how much of a privilege this is, and how cool it makes me feel that a group of people wanted to merge their art with mine. So thank you again to Penny Eastbury, Samara Sajid and S. J Zhu. Thank you thank you thank you.

I feel v cool to have my very own and very first poetry film, am I an artistic and edgy creative yet??? Can I be famous now???

This is The Past Us, part 1 of a Chrysalism film series. This is winter.

Sofia Coppola's The Virgin Suicides is completely captivating. Not only is the plot suspenseful and gripping, the cinematics and visuals are classic Coppola and as beautiful and enthralling as ever. The baby pinks and greens fading to darker greys and blue with the mood, the blonde main characters, the ethereal babe that is young kristen dunst, the clothes, the music, all add up to a 2000s daydream.

I think the beautiful of the fashion in The Virgin Suicides lies in it's subtlety. It's almost accidentally sexy as the girls show flashes of skin, a rebellion when living in such strict household. This context gives a whole new life to tight, strappy tops, revealed shoulders and school-girl skirts. It's almost lolita-esque but oblivious.

I love the floral dresses in the prom scene, the pattern and range of cuts is really reminiscent of some of the new in Topshop floaty dresses. As well as Lux's tight vest / flares combo, that's definitely a silhouette on the climb back into the mainstream market. But the look on a whole is so childish and dreamy that, when placed in the dark, eerie plot, only adds to how intriguing and mysterious the characters are. That kind of early noughties, sickly-sweet girly look is so disconnected, and that's what give it a life in the film.

To recreate this, I'd been going for blue jeans with a tight t-shirt combo, or for more day dreamy nostalgia I'd go for a pastel coloured, prairie style floaty dress or skirt. Something like you would've worn when you were little and wore nothing but your sister's hand-me-downs. Something your mum would've dressed you in, or worn herself in the 70s. That's the look. Dye your hair California blonde, wear no make-up except blush and forever look distance; and you're a Lisbon sister.

If you haven't seen The Virgin Suicides, go now and do so.

Several months ago my friend, and favourite creative, Lucas Jones got me to follow an instagram account, set up to see how fast a fake 'relationship goals' page could take off. It was an experiment, a set up, the start of a larger project by Think Eden Media, a multi-platform creative think tank, set up by Lucas, Sorcha Garavan, Shean Williams, Chris Gray, Sidney Turner.

Lucas finally revealed to me a couple weeks back that the instagram page belonged to the fictional characters in the debut web series on Think Eden, titled 'goals'. I was blessed enough to be able to see the first episode and oh my god. I'm so excited and captivated by these characters. The episode was full of suspense and question marks about who these people are and what's underlying in their love, while also keeping the glamour and idealism of the recognisable #instacouple.

After the release of the trailer, I chatted to Lucas about Goals, love, social media and media in general...

Tell me a bit about how the series came out? Where did the idea come from?

‘GOALS’ came about purely on the back of a conversation with one of my creative partners/dearest friend Sorcha Garavan. We were having coffee, talking about how mad it is that a lot of people of our generation are essentially living double lives; The virtual, online avatar version of you, showcasing the highlights vs. the real, normal human being version of you, who has challenges and problems and insecurities. Not excluding ourselves from that realisation, we felt drawn to create something that explored that dichotomy. How even though many of us are hyper-aware of the fact that social media exacerbates those insecurities, we still open and close Instagram a hundred million times a day. After we’d drafted a couple of episodes, we took it to our other creative partner/spiritual guide/third Think Eden family member, Shean Williams, and started putting plans into action to make it a reality.

Do you think social media and the romanticising of ‘#relationshipgoals’, or really just peoples general lives, is a lot more dangerous than it seems on the surface? Or is it villainised a bit?

I think the distorted perception of other people’s lives and the constant, instantaneous access to seeing the carefully edited bits of someone’s day-to-day life can definitely have a negative effect on people. Especially if you’re at an age where you’re still trying to figure out who you are. I think we all subconsciously compare ourselves to other people on some level. It’s kind of human nature, it’s how you have a point of reference for what is considered ‘normal’. And if you constantly see photos of people who look a certain way, appearing to be ‘living the dream’ with thousands of likes, you’re bound to start feeling a little inadequate within yourself or your relationship, when in reality you’re absolutely perfectly fine. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the amount young people suffering with depression and anxiety has risen dramatically alongside the rise in social media popularity. Having said that, I don’t think the people who post said ‘perfect’ photos are doing any wrong necessarily. Everybody wants to be liked and to feel good about their appearance. I just think there is a balance to be maintained with how seriously social media should be taken.

How do you feel about TV as a medium in comparison to film?

With the success of Netflix and online streaming, it’s quite literally the golden age of Television. The Netflix original ‘The Crown’ had a budget of £100 million for ten episodes. - £100 million!! - And it makes sense. A TV series gives the audience more time to fall in love with the characters and flesh out each and every little subplot. There’s so much room for nuance in TV these days; Look at Breaking Bad for example. Personally I prefer film. The cinema is my favourite place in the world. It feels like visiting another universe for a while. But I definitely understand why a lot of people will binge watch an entire series. Years worth of episodes right there in your pocket, it’s incredible.

Even from just watching the trailer and first episode, I’m so invested in these characters. Was it difficult to write captivating yet relatable characters, or did that just kind of happen?

Firstly, thank you for the kind words. And to be honest, I don’t think it’s ever been too difficult for us to write for any of the characters because we understand them so deeply. I mean, they’re not too far removed from ourselves and our friends (If not a little more extreme). Our main focus has always just been honesty. Just to present Art and Tess (the lead characters) as truthfully as we can and hope that, given the current zeitgeist, people will understand.

How do you feel about the presentation of love on social media?

There’s been some major, MAJOR, benefits of social media in terms of the presentation of what ‘love’ means. The platform and connectivity that social media has provided for the LGBT community being possibly the most beautiful of all things. But then there is a side to social media that seems to glorify the superficial aspects of a relationship, such as showcasing Valentines Day gifts or posting photos of your partner being the means to validate your love. That kind of thing. It’s a tough one. I think it goes back to maintaining balance in the understanding of what really matters and what doesn’t.

What made you decide to start Think Eden Media?

Think Eden Media was born very simply from conversations starting with ‘I had this idea for a thing..’ - After a while, having realised that we’ve been blessed to be surrounded by some of the most talented people I’ve ever met, we collectively came to the conclusion of ‘Let’s just make that thing? And make it the way we want to make it.’ And so we have and will continue to do so.

Quick shout out; Our team is made up of Sorcha Garavan, Shean Williams, Chris Gray, Sidney Turner and myself.

What would you see as relationship ‘goals’? What is your idea of the ideal love?

For me, I think the ideal love is very simply a relationship built on honesty, trust and respect for one another.  If you have that down, there’s only really room for growth between the two of you.. That’s goals. And I suppose also to super fancy the other person.

What do you think is the most romantic story in the world? And what story do you think is over romanticised?

In film, I think the relationship between David and Sofia in Vanilla Sky is the most romantic story ever. They only properly meet once for a few hours, they never sleep together and they only kiss once, yet they both know that they’ll never know a love so real ever again. Ohhhhh, it’s beautiful and tragic.

Most over romanticised is that couple from 50 Shades of Gray; Like, in the film (which I unfortunately saw) she’s literally the victim of an emotionally and physically abusive relationship. He’s a stalker, he manipulates her into all sorts of awful things. I felt a bit sick watching that; I don’t understand it at all.

What do you think is the future of TV and films? Do you think youtube/social media/the internet is really changing the face of art? And is that necessarily a negative thing?

I’m excited about it. Film/TV and visual storytelling will live forever. It’s the most human thing. We need it. I just hope that cinemas don’t ever become extinct in place of streaming. I don’t think they will, it’s still a pretty special place for most people. And the internet has definitely changed the face of art but only in how it’s consumed; it’s instant, it’s easier, anyone with a Smartphone can create something artistic if they want - Instagram is kind of an art platform in a lot of ways - but art itself will never change. Art is art. It just evolves.

What is it about films/moving pictures that you love?

It’s the fact that you can live so many lives within your own life through watching films. We all put ourselves in the shoes of the character experiencing the story. When you watch a Marvel film, you’re a superhero for two and a half hours. When you watch a beautiful love story, you’re in love and then heartbroken over people who have never even existed. It’s that powerful. (I say ‘you’, you guys do that too right? It’s not just me, right? RIGHT?!’

Why this story? Why these characters? Why do you think this issue is important now?

Because social media has revolutionised the way we connect with each other on a day to day basis and created a platform for every voice to be heard, and every image to be shared. But the underlying issues that come with the ability to mould ourselves into any image we like and present our lives as a source of entertainment for the rest of the world, for some, go hand in hand with the development of self-disassociation. A quick scroll through Instagram or Tumblr gives a clear indication into the mind set of how a lot of us fee Tumblr especially; Romanticised photos of self-harm, macabre images glamorising suicide, celebrity obsessed hysteria, and the 4th most popular trend on Tumblr- ‘Love’. There is an undeniable sense of longing and loneliness surrounding certain corners of the internet, and in a world where being a ‘YouTuber’ or being ‘Instagram famous’ is a viable career option, we have to ask ourselves, why does it all seem so attractive? What are we trying to find? What are trying to escape from?

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Bringing back my Fashion & Film series because A) I love making mood-boards, B) I need motivation to keep watching new films while I'm away at uni. So I'm kicking it back off with one of my all time fave films, God Help The Girl; a musical written by Stuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian, and staring Emily Browning, Olly Alexander and Hannah Murray. It's 10x dreamier than you could ever imagine, every scene is perfectly crafted, the soundtrack is incredible and the outfits oh boy the outfits.

Never in all my film watching life have I seen a film use fashion so much. The choice of clothing matches the situation and vibe so so well that you can really track Eve's (Browning's character) mood and strength throughout the film by looking at her outfit. In fact in one scene she starts off in a super slobby cosy cardigan when she's feeling down, and by the end is in a glorious red dress with her hair all tied back as she performs. GENIUS.

Throughout the film there's nods to all sorts of inspirations, all reflected in the fashion choices. There's series Wes Anderson vibes as the film is littered with symmetry and mirroring and collared dresses that are so Moonrise Kingdom. But also, there's a huge influence of French New Wave Cinema and eccentricity not only in the plot and music, but definitely in the little details of outfits. Hats, textures, sunglasses, makeup and heart print tights. Almost every outfit has some little quirk, whether it be a beret, a headscarf or a bag, there's always something to add a 60s nostalgia kind of vibe. Everything is colourful, everything is cute and everything has personality.

I think essentials to capture this vibe include- Coats (suede, fur, denim), head scarfs, hats (bowler, beret, straw), tea-dresses, collars, colours, short things (no jeans here).

Some of my fave looks are Eve's striped playsuit which is from American Apparel (rip), the leopard print coat/striped dress combo, and then Cassie's (yes Hannah Murray played another character called Cassie) angelic, prairie vibe white dress with a battered suede jacket and straw hat. I wish for them all to be placed in my wardrobe pronto please, thanks.

I think my favourite thing about the styling in God Help The Girl is how out of place they all look. For a film set in modern Glasgow, they all look so overtly vintage. You know exactly who to pay attention to as they stand separate from their surroundings, they seem to almost glow from the film. I think the character of Eve especially is one of the most human, developed figures I've ever encountered in a film, so I love how much her wardrobe matches that. She wears such an array of styles so dependant on her mood and situation, but you still keep your eyes on her. The contradiction of these super relatable, human characters vs their completely eccentric looks is my favourite, it really adds to the visuals, but is also so recognisable to Belle and Sebastian films as the movie carries that sort of marmite response. You'll either absolutely love it and get it, or find it over the top.

Can't recommend this film enough, and can't stop obsessively re-watching it.

I finally got round to watching Leon The Professional and oh boy I have a new fave film! The plotline keeps you totally hooked and baby Natalie Portman as Mathilda dances the line between totally badass and vulnerable. I love everything about this film, especially Mathilda's grungey style!

Her signature look is her sun choker and a crop top, normally with patterned shorts and her green bomber jacket. Bomber jackets are everywhere but I think the best bet for recreating this look is to get yourself one from the mens section as Mathilda's is always oversized (HERE). Also, american apparel have crop tops that are pretty much identical to the ones Mathilda wears (HERE).

Mathilda's style is so interesting as she looks bold but her outfits still seem to have a young, childish thrown-together vibe. Its so effortless and the fact that she has absolutely no make-up on and her hair is always messy really helps that.Yet none of her pieces are simple, everything she wears either has a pattern or interesting shape. For example, I love the black lace-up crop top she wears and her slouchy crochet cardigan. There's nothing plain in her wardrobe!

Her outfits link to her character so so well! Though she looks and dresses older than her age, there's still a clear childish innocence there and that's exactly like the characters who has got herself into a dangerous situation but is still a child. 10/10 for the costume department! Everything works so well with the plot but still look so damn cool.

I think Mathilda is my new ultimate fictional style crush and as the weather warms I'll definitely be investing in some more crop tops and stomping round in my heeled chelsea boots.

I can't recommend enough that you watch Leon The Professional, it's such an amazing film! It incorporates action scenes, an intense plot and a heck of a lot of emotion like seriously tear-fest at the end, it's so tragically beautiful. I love love loved it so let me know what you think!

Girl Interrupted is a cult classic film, and with both Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie starring in lead roles, you know it's going to be amazing. It manages to be both gritty and dark, and comedic. I looove this films so I was super happy when someone requested I focus on it in a fashion & film post.

Obviously Ryder and Jolie are fashion queens in their own right, but in Girl Interrupted they are the epitome of laid-back, casual fashion. It's all about basic pieces- white button-up shirts, Breton t-shirts, classic blue jeans, and jumpers. I really love, Jolie's character, Lisa's look that's totally based around simple t-shirts and trousers. It's so basic but works with her character so well, and a beat-up vintage t-shirt with jeans is always a good outfit. Also her long fur-trimmed coat is so on trend right now as it has a total 70s vibe, very Janis Joplin.

But it's, Winona's character, Susanna's look that always catch my eye when I was this film. In spite of the film being set in the late 60s, she seems to capture that 90s laid-back, grungey look with slouchy shirts and rough pixie cut. I love her look with the striped tee and black trousers, it's a classic.

With the Girl Interrupted look comfort is key and less is certainly more. Their looks are never too extravagant or too put together and I think that's what I love about it. The styling matches the film perfectly, it's raw and doesn't take itself too seriously. I honestly feel like the best shops for this look are charity or vintage shops, old pieces will match the vibe waaaay better as you don't want anything too crisp or clean cut.

Ahhh I just love this film, and honestly when I really can't be bothered with my outfit I channel Susanna and immediately feel slightly better about my laziness. It's so perfectly casual!