I’m a nostalgic person, so jumping into films that I know and love is the most indulgent thing I can think of - ideal for a rainy, moody, melancholy Sunday evening. Below is a selection of scenes from the past 25 years that I return to again and again - scenes that have stuck with me since the day I first saw them. If this were Spotify Wrapped for films, these would be my top results.
Amélie (2001) - above clip from 1h 35mins in (Copyright: Miramax/Paramount)
It’s crazy to think that this film will be 25 years old in 2026. It’s probably my all-time favourite film. I live for the quirks, the red, green and blue colour palette, the people-pleasing traits of Amélie herself, and of course the soundtrack (which is still not on vinyl, as Yann Tiersen supposedly hates it).
This scene in particular is a stand-out moment. The film is nearing the end, and it reaches a point where it’s frustrating to see Amélie lack the confidence to make a move on a crush. The slow build-up of the track Le banquet by Yann Tiersen creeps in with plenty of reverb, and it’s almost as if there’s a fanfare happening somewhere in central Paris and you’re getting nearer and nearer to it. It’s exciting. Then you see Amélie skimming stones on the Canal Saint-Martin as a train hustles past in the background, and the lights reflect on the surface of the canal at night. It makes me love living in the city, and it’s a reflective moment that I adore.
There are so many scenes in this film that I love, and I’ve watched it well over 50 times. If you haven’t seen it, vous devez absolument le regarder maintenant!
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) - above clip from 46mins in (Copyright: Fox Searchlight Pictures)
By far my favourite Wes Anderson film. The design of all the film collateral alone is just divine. The attention to detail is second to none, and there’s always something new to see each time you watch it.
This scene in particular is my favourite from the film. The book’s inscription that jumps ever so slightly at the bottom of the screen has beautiful flourishes and is written with such charm and realism. Then in the final part of this scene with Agatha (played by the incredible Saoirse Ronan), the hazy soundtrack and glowing circular motion of the lights is so dreamlike - it gives the whole moment such a gorgeous aura. Plus, the way the light hits Agatha’s face is so considered and delicate. Just splendid.
Lost in Translation (2003) - above clip from 30mins in (Copyright: Focus Features)
A fantastic movie that most of us have seen. The above is a scene I reflect on regularly. Looking over Tokyo in the warmth of a bath while listening to a podcast, book or music is a melancholic state that I forever dream about being in.
Mommy (2014) - above clip from 1hr 15mins in (Copyright: Les Films Séville)
If you haven’t seen this film, then please don’t watch the above clip! It’s a moment worth savouring, so I would hate to spoil it. Oasis’s Wonderwall fits perfectly in the scene. The change that happens halfway through completely alters the way you feel in such a simple way. It’s just perfect - you feel as if a weight has lifted off your shoulders… but only for a brief couple of minutes. Do go and watch the whole film.
Weekend (2011) - above clip from 20mins in (Copyright: Peccadillo Pictures)
One of my favourite queer films of all time. It’s nostalgic, youthful, and captures the spark of meeting someone for the first time. It’s filmed in Nottingham and is classic British Social Realism (see also Fish Tank). The last part of this clip - where he’s cycling hands-free down a street as the sun sets on a summer’s day - is something I think about a lot when I’m cycling. That ease of gliding through the mild wind while life goes on around you is just beautiful.
I could go on, but I’ll stop here for now... These films contain scenes I’ll keep returning to - familiar, comforting, and always a joy to fall back into.