With Welcome Week coming to a halt as we begin to set our early alarms, sleep through them, frantically run to our lectures and trundle into stuffy halls, the importance of quality bonding time with your flatmates among the chaos has never felt so important – and what better way to bond than enjoying a good film together! Here are my recommendations of some of the best films to enjoy curled up together on the uncomfortably rigid sofas of student accommodation under the glaring kitchen lights with your new flatmates!
1. Starter For 10
A charming British comedy adapted for the screen by David Nicholls (One Day) from his eponymous novel, Starter For 10 follows fresh undergraduate Brian Jackson as he navigates the struggles of university life. From romantic mishaps to following geeky passions (yes, the title is indeed a nod to the famous University Challenge catchphrase) and accompanied by typically wistful songs from The Cure and The Smiths to boot, the film is underlined with that enduring sense of hope synonymous with us young adults.
2. The Graduate
In a similar vein, another classic coming-of-age tale perfect for kicking off your new year is Mike Nichols’ The Graduate. Exploring the despondency that Benjamin Braddock feels as he cannot decide what to do with his life, deciding finally to have an affair with “the most attractive of all his parents’ friends”, the older Mrs. Robinson, the film perfectly captures the haunting uncertainty that comes with change. Hilarious, beautifully shot, and elevated by a terrific soundtrack by Simon & Garfunkel, it is an excellent choice for a post-clubbing movie screening in the kitchen!
3. Pitch Perfect
In a seemingly jarring segue (and yet not as irreconcilable as you might imagine) is the 2012 film Pitch Perfect. Trust me: you’ll be surprised by how much of the riff off you can still recollect and will be reaching for cups to practice with for days! And what better way to bond with your flatmates than by watching a film that champions the idea that there really are weirdos out there for each and every one of us, whether your niche be singing acappella or dabbling in incredibly average DJing (sorry, Beca).
Grab your snacks, a laptop, speaker, and friends! Happy movie-watching!
“Popcorn” by cyclonebill is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.