If there’s one thing notable about this week, it is a celebration of love. Valentine’s Day means you’re searching for date ideas or chocolates to buy your special person. But among the flowers, there is a key question: How do you confess your love?
I think the easiest way to find the answer is through other confessions. If art imitates life, then why can’t we imitate art?
Here’s a look at some great (not best, I would never claim to list them all) love confessions in film.
How could I not start with Jane Austen? The novel, originally published in 1813, has been adapted at least 16 times — and for good reason. The love confession from Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen) in 2005 is beautiful. When he delivers the line, “You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love … I love … I love you,” it’s so honest and vulnerable that we’re not sure what to do with ourselves as the audience. And the lack of a kiss in this scene solidifies it even more as such a wonderful confession. It held its own space that didn’t need to be filled by anything physical. His words were enough.
Yes, I know I could have chosen to list Anthony Bridgerton’s confession that took hold of audiences in Season 2 of Bridgerton, but I’ve chosen to go with Queen Charlotte and King George. Netflix’s decision to produce a show just for this couple was exactly what the series needed. The love between Charlotte and George does not match the other couples’. It’s George’s idea that Charlotte cannot love him because of what mentally troubles him. The other Bridgerton couples deal with gossip and drama, but Charlotte and George are tackling the political turmoil of their time. In this scene, they are confessing their love and what they will do for each other. When Charlotte says, “I will stand with you between the heavens and the Earth. I will tell you where you are,” we know she will stay with him through anything. Maybe a love confession isn’t just about revealing what you’ve felt through this time of knowing each other, but also confessing how far you will go for each other.
10 Things I Hate About You will remain one of my favorite rom-coms ever. The majority of the time, a sentimental speech isn’t very moving. It’s expected for a romantic movie and feels predictable. But when Kat Stratford confesses how much she loves Patrick Verona, it’s heartbreaking. For the whole movie, she has been stubborn and hard to get through to but we finally see her vulnerability. And later it was revealed that Kat’s — or Julia Stiles’ — tears were unscripted, which shows us how emotional the scene was for Julia. The poem’s heart-stabber was her leading with everything she hated about Patrick just to reveal she never hated him at all. Patrick and Kat’s on-screen chemistry was so palpable, this love confession/poem scene was not embarrassing to watch in any way. I wish we got to see Heath Ledger in more rom-coms, may he rest in peace.
There are two parts to this one. These are technically spoilers, but the show has been out for six years, so I don’t think it matters. The two main characters — Otis Milburn and Maeve Wiley — have consistently followed the “right person, wrong time” trope. It’s frustrating, it’s beautiful and it ends Season 2 terribly. Otis leaves a voice message confessing his love to Maeve but she never hears it. Those words he utters, “It’s you, it’s always been you. I love you, Maeve,” don’t reach her until the end of Season 3. This two-part confession from Otis is so vulnerable because at first, he believes she doesn’t reciprocate his feelings, yet her lack of response is only because she never hears the voicemail. And second, because he must wear his heart on his sleeve once more in person, in the second confession. When Maeve asks, “Did you mean it?” She reminds us what it means to receive a confession. The worry that maybe it’s not real. But hearing Otis respond, “Of course I meant it,” all worries rush away. Otis and Maeve remain one of the most beautiful recent TV show relationships.
I consider The Half of It a very underrated movie that more people should check out. It’s a twist on the trope of the girl falling in love with the boy she’s helping. In this case, Ellie Chu has been writing love letters on behalf of Paul Munsky, for a girl that they’re both in love with. When Ellie confesses her love for Aster Flores, it really is like unveiling the truth. This boy that Aster thought she was receiving letters from was actually Ellie the entire time. Her love was hidden under another name. When Ellie says, “Love is being willing to ruin your good painting for the chance at a great one,” she’s risking everything. Admitting her love in the middle of the crowded town church to the girl she’s been writing letters to surely isn’t easy. The Half of It is such a great recent love story. Ellie’s confession of love is only one part of what makes it so.
All of these confessions hold one similarity — vulnerability. The confessors almost don’t expect anything from the other person. It’s about revealing a truth that, if hidden, would only fester. If you’re looking to confess your love this Valentine’s Day, then remember a confession is pulling back the curtain. It’s not simple or easy. If it was, we would be doing it more often. But no, it asks for your effort and respect. It’s about your individual experience with this person you love. This Friday, eat chocolate, get some roses or tulips and confess your love. I can only wish you good luck.
Sophia Romanov Imber is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at sromanovimber@cornellsun.com.
