By Jessica Herndon
Love stories. They’re part of the Sundance Film Festival’s DNA. Across four decades, we’ve premiered films rooted in romance. From tropes spanning second chance romances to fake relationships that turn real, enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, and more, these works don’t just tell stories about finding “the one,” but that explore who we become when we let our guards down and open ourselves up to someone else.
The Sundance Film Festival 101, curated by our programmers, is a journey through independent cinema that spotlights the films that helped define the Festival’s history. Among them are love stories that linger as they capture new romances, chance encounters, enduring partnerships, and the deep ways relationships shape us.
Spanning the 1980s through the 2020s, we invite you to get lost in tales that delve into desire, heartbreak, self-discovery, devotion, and second chances through distinctly original perspectives. From the infectious charm of Hairspray to the fierce ambition and chemistry of Love & Basketball, the bittersweet yearning of Past Lives, and the unforgettable relationships in between, these stories showcase the diverse ways independent filmmakers tell love stories on screen.
Desert Hearts (1986; winner of the Special Jury Prize Dramatic)
Director: Donna Deitch
Capturing an unexpected connection, Desert Hearts finds Vivian (Helen Shaver), an English professor who travels to Reno to finalize her divorce, connecting with Cay (Patricia Charbonneau), an eccentric younger woman who upends everything Vivian thought she knew about herself. Tender, sensual, and deeply romantic, Desert Hearts is about falling in love and embracing a new future. Check here for viewing options.
Hairspray (1988)
Director: John Waters
Packed with charm, humor, and the kind of wild energy only John Waters can bring, Hairspray follows Tracy Turnblad (Ricki Lake), a Baltimore teenager who dreams of dancing on her favorite TV show despite being fat-shamed by her peers. As she plots to get on the show, she falls for heartthrob Link Larkin (Michael St. Gerard). Her romance unfolds alongside her journey of self-confidence, acceptance, and her ability to be unapologetically herself. Check here for viewing options.
sex, lies, and videotape (1989)
Director: Steven Soderbergh
The arrival of Graham (James Spader), who has a habit of recording women as they candidly discuss their sex lives, shakes up the carefully constructed life of Ann (Andie MacDowell), a woman trapped in an unhappy marriage to John (Peter Gallagher). As Ann and Graham develop an unexpected bond, sex, lies, and videotape explores the ways honesty and intimacy emerge when people reveal their true selves. Check here for viewing options.
Metropolitan (1990)
Director: Whit Stillman
Centering on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Tom Townsend (Edward Clements), a middle-class student, winds up partying with a group of wealthy young socialites after a debutante ball. As Tom becomes increasingly captivated by Audrey Rouget (Carolyn Farina), who appears to be out of his league, their romantic connection develops through lingering glances and chats about identity. Check here for viewing options.
Gas Food Lodging (1992)
Director: Allison Anders
Set in a small New Mexico town, Gas Food Lodging sees sisters Shade (Fairuza Balk) and Trudi (Ione Skye) dream of lives beyond their limited circumstances. As Trudi falls in love for the first time, she looks to romance as an escape and a possibility. Check here for viewing options.
Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
Director: Mike Newell
What happens when you keep meeting the right person at the wrong time? In Four Weddings and a Funeral, Charles (Hugh Grant), a bachelor who refuses to commit, becomes enamored with Carrie (Andie MacDowell) after they meet at a wedding. As their paths continue to cross, Charles begins to question if he really wants to be single. Check here for viewing options.
Go Fish (1994)
Director: Rose Troche
What starts as a blind date between Max (Guinevere Turner), a lesbian who reluctantly agrees to be set up with Ely (V.S. Brodie) by her friends, blossoms into a romance filled with sweet flirting and unexpected excitement. Witty and raw, Go Fish is an inspiring story about taking a chance on love. Check here for viewing options.
Reality Bites (1994)
Director: Ben Stiller
Few romances capture the uncertainty of your twenties like Reality Bites. Lelaina (Winona Ryder), an aspiring filmmaker, is caught between two different men: Troy (Ethan Hawke), her cynical best friend with whom she shares undeniable chemistry, and Michael (Ben Stiller), a successful television executive. As Lelaina navigates work, friendship, and adulthood, she also needs to figure out what she wants from love. Check here for viewing options.
The Doom Generation (1995)
Director: Gregg Araki
Not every love story is sweet. In fact, a lot of the great ones are twisted. The Doom Generation is one of them. It finds the relationship between teenage couple Amy Blue (Rose McGowan) and Jordan White (James Duval) disrupted after they meet the mysterious Xavier Red (Johnathon Schaech). As the trio embarks on a wild road trip filled with violence and desire, unexpected feelings surface. Check here for viewing options.
Bound (1996)
Directors: Lana and Lilly Wachowski
The stakes are high in Bound, a stylish, dark love story starring Gina Gershon as Corky, an ex-con who falls for Violet (Jennifer Tilly), the girlfriend of a mobster. A passionate affair between Corky and Violet soon evolves into a partnership dedicated to stealing millions of dollars from the Mafia. Check here for viewing options.
High Art (1998; winner of the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award)
Director: Lisa Cholodenko
Desire and ambition are at the center of High Art as Syd (Radha Mitchell), an assistant editor at a photography magazine, becomes drawn to Lucy (Ally Sheedy), a photographer living upstairs. As Syd is pulled into Lucy’s world, their connection grows into something intimate and complicated. Check here for viewing options.
Girlfight (2000; winner of the Director Award: Dramatic and Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic)
Director: Karyn Kusama
Before The Fast and the Furious franchise took the box office by storm and Michelle Rodriguez became known for her role as Letty in the films, she portrayed the tough Brooklyn teenager Diana. As Diana channels her frustration into boxing, she develops feelings for fellow boxer Adrian (Santiago Douglas) and the two embark in a sweet romance amongst the grit of the ring. Check here for viewing options.
Love & Basketball (2000)
Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood
For basketball players Monica Wright (Sanaa Lathan) and Quincy McCall (Omar Epps), their connection begins in childhood and evolves as they chase their dreams of becoming pro ballers. As their ambitions take them in different directions, they navigate love, competition, and personal sacrifice in this deeply romantic film. Check here for viewing options.
Donnie Darko (2001)
Director: Richard Kelly
Donnie Darko stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Donnie, a troubled teenager grappling with increasingly surreal visions, and Jena Malone as Gretchen, a new student who quickly becomes one of the few people with whom he feels a genuine connection. As Donnie struggles to make sense of the strange events unfolding around him, their relationship offers warmth and hope amid the chaos. Check here for viewing options.
Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
Director: Jared Hess
Romance shows up through several unlikely pairings in this film. As the socially awkward Napoleon (Jon Heder) navigates high school life in rural Idaho, he develops a crush on classmate Deb (Tina Majorino), while his internet-obsessed brother Kip (Aaron Ruell) strikes up a long-distance relationship with LaFawnduh (Shondrella Avery). Quirky, darling, and quotable, Napoleon Dynamite reminds us that meaningful connections can arrive when we least expect them. Check here for viewing options.
Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005; winner of the Special Jury Prize for Originality of Vision Dramatic)
Director: Miranda July
Searching for connection is at the heart of Me and You and Everyone We Know. The film stars Miranda July as Christine, a lonely artist and cab driver who develops feelings for Richard (John Hawkes), a recently separated shoe salesman. Sure, the story is unconventional at times, but Me and You and Everyone We Know toasts to the connections we can make when we let ourselves be vulnerable. Check here for viewing options.
Once (2007; winner of the Audience Award: World Cinema Dramatic)
Director: John Carney
For those of us that have seen Once — or paid attention to the winners of the 2008 Academy Awards — the film’s infectious hit “Falling Slowly” likely lives rent free in our heads. The track won the Oscar for Best Original Song, after all. And the film, about a chance encounter that sparks a creative and emotional bond between a Dublin street musician (Glen Hansard) and a Czech immigrant (Markéta Irglová), is deeply moving. Check here for viewing options.
An Oversimplification of Her Beauty (2012)
Director: Terence Nance
Sometimes the most unforgettable love stories exist largely in our imaginations. An Oversimplification of Her Beauty follows Terence (Terence Nance) as he reflects on his complicated feelings for a close friend, Lovelyn (Namik Minter). Blending animation, documentary, and experimental storytelling, the film looks at fantasy, reality, and the heartbreak that can accompany unrequited love in an inventive way. Check here for viewing options.
Middle of Nowhere (2012; winner of the Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic)
Director: Ava DuVernay
How far would you go for the person you love? Middle of Nowhere features Emayatzy Corinealdi as Ruby, a woman who puts her life on hold while supporting her incarcerated husband, Derek (Omari Hardwick). As she navigates the uncertainty of their future, Ruby questions the sacrifices she’s made and what she truly wants in this meditation on the complicated realities of love and commitment. Check here for viewing options.
Call Me by Your Name (2017)
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Call Me by Your Name captures the intensity of first love beautifully. Set during the summer in northern Italy, we watch teenage Elio (Timothée Chalamet) develop a deep connection with Oliver (Armie Hammer), a graduate student staying with his family. What begins as curiosity blossoms into a sweeping romance that is tender and unforgettable. Check here for viewing options.
CODA (2021; winner of the Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic, Directing Award: U.S. Dramatic, Grand Jury Prize: U.S. Dramatic, Special Jury Prize for Ensemble Cast)
Director: Siân Heder
An uplifting first love story, CODA sees Ruby Rossi (Emilia Jones), the only hearing member of her Deaf family, develop a crush on her classmate and duet partner Miles (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo). With encouragement from Miles, Ruby pursues her passion for singing in this Academy Awards Best Picture winner. Check here for viewing options.
Flee (2021; winner of the Grand Jury Prize: World Cinema Documentary)
Director: Jonas Poher Rasmussen
The animated Flee tells the true story of Amin Nawabi, an Afghan refugee who, after years of keeping his past hidden, opens up about his journey to the man he hopes to build a future with. As Amin reflects on displacement, identity, and the sacrifices he has made to survive, a love story grounded in trust and acceptance is revealed. Check here for viewing options.
Past Lives (2023)
Director: Celine Song
Nora (Greta Lee), a writer living in New York, reconnects with her childhood friend Hae Sung (Teo Yoo) decades after they were separated when her family emigrated from South Korea in Past Lives. As the two reminisce, old feelings resurface in this bittersweet tale about timing, fate, and enduring love. Check here for viewing options.
