“Love is like oxygen. Love is a many splendored thing. Love lifts us up where we belong. All you need is love!” The romance genre is never knowingly over-stated, is it? Yes, it’s Valentine’s week, and what better way to celebrate than with some classic romances? Due to the pandemic, date night options are severely limited. That’s why we decided to look back at some iconic movie moments when people made romantic connections without actually being together. Here for your viewing pleasure are some of the most memorable moments (or movies as a whole) in which phone calls brought people together.
Her
Perhaps one of the most iconic films involving an over-the-phone romance, Her is the story of a man and his Operating System. Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) is struggling after the end of a long-term relationship. Samantha (Scarlett Johansson) is the voice of his computer. Communicating through wireless headphones, experiencing the world together through a camera, this is a stunningly cinematic take on the nature of modern relationships.
Pillow Talk
The landline might be becoming ever more outdated, but back in 1959 it was a part of the furniture. In this iconic rom-com Doris Day and Rock Hudson play neighbours who share a telephone line. Wires cross, hijinks ensue, and romantic entanglements are the result in this Oscar-winning movie. Sharing a party-line might seem like something of a nightmare, but if it throws true love your way…
The Other End Of The Line
Phone calls to lend themselves pretty well to the rom-com genre, it seems. In this 2008 film, Shriya Saran plays a woman working in a call centre in India who starts to fall for an American man she speaks with over the phone. Their connection is clear right from the start, and when he suggests they meet up in San Francisco, the opportunity for real romance proves too much of a temptation to turn down…
Down With Love
Okay, so the phone calls in this film don’t exactly bring people together (only by the way of facilitating the organisation of a date), but they’re certainly iconic. Take a look at this scene, in which Ewan McGregor’s character calls up his love interest (played by Renée Zellweger) to arrange they meet for a home-cooked meal. Throw in a bit of fancy editing and what you have is a straightforward conversation turned into, well, something else entirely. See it for yourself…
Swingers
In this remarkable scene from Swingers, Mike (Jon Favreau) tries to call a woman he met earlier in the evening. It’s an endearingly sweet gesture – at least, before the answering machine cuts off as he leaves his number. And then does the same thing when he tries again. A third call sees him reciting his number before he says anything else, hopeful they can spend time together again soon. But is leaving three messages too much? A fourth call explains his nerves at the situation. It’s both awkward and touching. It’s also a remarkably real portrayal of the vulnerability that comes with putting your interest on the line (or the phoneline).
Valentine’s Day date options might be restricted by nationwide regulations this year, but there have never been more ways to communicate and feel connected – and we’ve got plenty of offers to help you save money doing exactly that. For our full range of deals, visit our February Offers page.
