If you’re anything like me, a long, ever-expanding list exists somewhere full of all the things you want to (and feel like you should) watch. For me, that list hides in a little corner of my notes app that I only ever revisit when I swear to my friends that I’ll watch their recommendation. Cambridge terms can feel a little like drowning in an infinite ocean, and remembering to take time out of your day for yourself is something I’m still learning. This week I’ve challenged myself to tackle five classic films from my list. Although I’ve picked a couple cult classics, the second half of my challenge was to fully immerse myself in the joy of watching films again, so forgive me if I fail to do your favourite justice.

Thursday

With Halloween just around the corner, I thought what better way to start off the week with a darker pick. David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive (2001) follows amnesiac Rita and aspiring-actress Betty as they struggle to uncover themselves, Rita’s past and Betty’s place in Hollywood. The film’s opening sequence leaves us with a series of questions: why are drag races happening on Mulholland Drive? Who wants Rita dead? What was she doing in that car? I loved throwing myself into these questions and the uncertainty that this film leaves you with. Having watched Lynch’s Twin Peaks (1990), I was thrilled to find the same ominous beat, mysterious characters, and unresolved questions.

“Although I’ve picked a couple cult classics, the second half of my challenge was to fully immerse myself in the joy of watching films again”

Friday

For Friday’s pick, I decided to be more adventurous, travelling into the world of musicals. Kelly and Donen’s 1952 classic, Singin’ in the Rain, was playing from my laptop as I got ready for a night out at Mash. The experience felt quite cosmic, as the weather decided to match the mood and I ended up dancin’ in the rain that evening. Whilst I remain a musical hater, the colours and humour brightened up a gloomy day.

Monday

Made up of a killer cast, Monday’s film Kill Bill: Vol 1 (2003) was the perfect way to begin the (uni)work week. Tarantino’s femme fatale classic is technicolour and dynamic all the way through. The black and white sequence languishes in the power of the camera and editing, while the writing manages to balance the catchy and current with the iconic and timeless. Maybe the shaggy-haired film bros were onto something after all. (And the film gets extra points because Uma Thurman looks so good in yellow).

Thursday

Like on Friday, I wanted to pick up a film outside of my comfort zone. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) has been endlessly recommended to me by everyone in my life, but after disliking Inception (2010), Sliding Doors (1998) and Requiem for a Dream (2000), I decide that dreamscape and reality-warping films were not for me. Whilst it is advertised as a romance, I struggled to see these characters as relatable or empathetic, making this a difficult watch. But I am open to criticism. Coming into the film with a biassed mind against films with time-travelling and memory-changing plots, perhaps I did not give Gondry the chance he deserved.

Wednesday

I will hold up my hands and admit to cheating for the last film of this week. Paris, Texas (1984) is one of my favourite films, and in the spirit of learning to take time outside of a busy Cambridge schedule to enjoy yourself, it was time for a rewatch. This film provides endless goodies, encompassing so much of the human experience in beautifully composed shots. Panoramas of the Texan desert were exactly what I needed to remind myself that the world is so much larger than the present moment and to allow yourself to get lost in Odyssean daydreaming.

“Panoramas of the Texan desert were exactly what I needed to remind myself that the world is so much larger than the present moment”

“So, what did I learn from this week’s watchlist? I learnt that taking risks can be rewarding (Singin’ in the Rain), and sometimes not (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), that sometimes fast-paced and reactionary media can be enriching (Kill Bill: Vol 1), but that your mind also rewards moments of exploration and contemplation (Paris, Texas). I have had so much fun resetting my watching taste-palate, and I now feel more prepared to tackle my academic to-do list.