Good films to keep you company as you navigate this change in your life.

Related: 8 Rom-Coms With Less Than 50% On Rotten Tomatoes That You Should Definitely Watch

Breakups are tough. But surround yourself with good friends and open yourself up to a good time with this mix of movies, and hopefully you’ll get through it safe and sound.

SOMEONE GREAT (2019)

The raw pain of a fresh breakup and the power of female friendships take center stage in this reverse rom-com starring Gina Rodriguez as Jenny, Brittany Snow as Blair, and DeWanda Wise as Erin. Jenny, fresh from a breakup with longtime boyfriend Nate (Lakeith Stanfield), embarks on one last hurrah with her girlfriends before she leaves for a job across the country while navigating a life without whom she thought was the love of her life. The film is honest and hilarious, and cathartic to watch.

BEGIN AGAIN (2013)

Gretta (Keira Knightley) is a singer-songwriter who recently broke up with longtime partner, successful musician Dave (Adam Levine), after he admitted to cheating on her with an assistant. As she performs at a bar, recently-fired music producer Dan (Mark Ruffalo) sees potential in a partnership, and they begin production on her solo album as they work through problems in their own personal lives. With charming performances and a beautiful soundtrack, Begin Again will hopefully inspire you to do exactly what its title suggests.

LOVE AND MONSTERS (2020)

This is not your typical watch after a breakup, but Love and Monsters is a fantastical monster adventure with themes of companionship, family, and of course, love. Dylan O’Brien stars as Joel, a survivor of the monster apocalypse, who embarks on a journey to reconnect with Aimee (Jessica Henwick), his girlfriend he was separated from seven years ago. Fun, thrilling, and original, Love and Monsters will keep you entertained but emotional enough to process your feelings after your breakup.

HOW TO BE SINGLE (2016)

“The thing about being single is…you should cherish it.” Preach it, Dakota Johnson. In this comedy, Alice (Johnson) tries to relish her newly-single life, guided by the wild Robin (Rebel Wilson). Other relationship hijinks ensue between Lucy (Alison Brie) and Paul (Colin Jost), who break up because Paul was seeing other people thinking it was what they were doing, and a pregnant Meg (Leslie Mann) and seemingly uncommitted Ken (Jake Lacy). It’s awkward and funny and just a lighthearted watch perfect for a girls’ night.

LA LA LAND (2016)

By now we all pretty much know how La La Land ends. The musical film is an ode to classic Hollywood and a commentary on the perpetual question of love vs. dreams. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are incredible as Mia and Sebastian, and the film progresses with so much heart. Its whimsical, romantic premise gives way to the realities of life and the sacrifices we have to make to achieve our dreams. Whether you relate or not, La La Land will get you right in the feels.

DO REVENGE (2022)

Revenge never felt so good. Kind of. Do Revenge sees Drea (Camilla Mendes) and Eleanor (Maya Hawke) strike a deal to “do revenge” on each other’s enemies. Drea is the victim of a video leak allegedly done by her ex-boyfriend Max (Austin Abrams), and Eleanor is the subject of a false rumor spread about her years ago. Light, funny, and playful, this movie will hopefully lift your spirits.

TICK, TICK…BOOM! (2021)

Tick, Tick…Boom! is a movie adaptation of the musical by the same name. It follows the story of real-life musician and composer Jonathan Larson (played by Andrew Garfield) as he navigates life as a struggling artist trying to make it in the theater industry. In his obsession with a successful career, he struggles with his relationships—with his partner Susan (Alexandra Shipp), and his friends, particularly Michael (Robin de Jesus). Despite technically not a breakup movie, Tick, Tick…Boom! is a poignant and moving tribute that will make your heart soar. The musical is also currently being staged in the Philippines by 9 Works Theatrical.

THAT THING CALLED TADHANA (2014)

A journey driven by heartbreak and an unusual situation that brings two people together marks the premise of classic Filipino movie That Thing Called Tadhana. Angelica Panganiban stars as Mace, a heartbroken, traveling woman, who finds a friend and maybe something more in kind, empathetic Anthony (JM de Guzman). Filled with endless hugot, charming chemistry, and beautiful settings, this movie is an ode to moving on, new beginnings, and hope. If you’d like, embark on a similar trip that they took in the movie from Manila to Baguio to Sagada in an effort to find out where broken hearts go.

BIRDS OF PREY (2020)

A wild superhero romp starring Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn fresh from a breakup with the Joker makes for a night of action, powerful women, and colorful, crazy antics. Birds of Prey sees a team-up between an ensemble cast of vigilantes and a detective trying to stop the plans of an evil crime lord. This engaging, thrilling, female-led film filled with fun performances is the perfect distraction from wallowing.

LEGALLY BLONDE (2001)

The entire premise of Legally Blonde literally centers on a strong, independent woman who needs no man to succeed. Despite no one believing in her, Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) gets into Harvard and excels at law school with her signature pink everything and out-of-the-box thinking. A forever classic, Legally Blonde has taught us to celebrate independence and the capabilities of women.

STARTING OVER AGAIN (2014)

The adorable, hilarious, and very real Starting Over Again asks painful questions and rehashes hopes of a love lost. Starring Piolo Pascual and Toni Gonzaga as Marco and Ginny, respectively, the movie sees the two former lovers meet again long after a rough, abrupt end to their relationship. Stellar performances make for emotional and heartwrenching scenes that will get you laughing and crying all the while.

THE LAST FIVE YEARS (2014)

Told through song and a nonlinear narrative, The Last Five Years chronicles the ill-fated relationship of Cathy (Anna Kendrick) and Jamie (Jeremy Jordan) and everything they went through in the five years they were together. The Last Five Years is based on a musical, and the Philippines will actually be staging it this September and October, starring Gab Pangilinan as Cathy and Myke Salomon as Jamie. Reliving pleasures and pains is cathartic in its own right, and we hope the wonderful songs and dynamic story in this film carries you through it all.

Continue Reading: 13 Female-Directed Filipino Movies to Watch

Expand your horizons and expose yourself to the diverse stories of women loving women in different forms of media.

Related: Love Wins (and Hurts) in These Award-Winning Filipino Queer Films

In the world’s ever-growing repertoire of queer media, stories about sapphics/women-loving-women still take up much less space than their male-dominated counterparts. There’s much discussion to be had about “proper” queer representation in media in general, but for now it’s good to diversify our own libraries, per se, by checking out these movies, series, and books all available to watch, stream, and read—and all about the sapphics.

MOVIES

The Half of It (2020)

This movie is a consistent placer on lists of great WLW media. And for good reason! The Half of It is a retelling of the 1897 play Cyrano de Bergerac, in that it features our protagonist Ellie (Leah Lewis) pretending to be someone else while communicating with someone they like. The Half of It is a subversive and refreshing take on sapphic media, touching on issues of freedom and friendship as it puts young, sweet relationships in the limelight.

Baka Bukas (2016)

Fresh from the successful theatrical run of her new film Rookie, Samantha Lee has proven to deliver quality queer content. As Lee’s first project as director, Baka Bukas achieved success and set the foundations for her career of crafting beloved sapphic stories. In the film, Alex (Jasmine Curtis-Smith) helplessly falls for her best friend Jess (Louise delos Reyes) and they must navigate a world of changes to their relationship. Baka Bukas will be available to stream on Netflix starting August 25.

Shiva Baby (2020)

Danielle (Rachel Sennott) is a hot queer mess. What else would you be when you attend a shiva (a week-long period of mourning practiced in Judaism) with your entire family, your ex-girlfriend, and your sugar daddy and his wife and child? Shiva Baby is praised for being hilarious and awkward, with Danielle being “cringe-worthy in the best way,” and is a movie to be watched through horrified looks and snorts of laughter.

Billie and Emma (2018)

Set in the 90s, Billie and Emma lays out the conflicts of being gay and being a young woman in a small town. Billie (played by openly queer Zar Donato) is sent to a strict all-girls Catholic school where she meets smart, popular Emma (Gabby Padilla), and faces a slew of resistance to their relationship—one of which is Emma’s sudden pregnancy. Samantha Lee’s second film is genuine, fun, and is unafraid to be honest in representing tough issues. It champions queer love both in the story and its production.

Crush (2022)

This high school rom-com is light fun with a sweet ending. Crush was accompanied by a calling-out controversy involving star Auliʻi Cravalho, targeted at co-star Rowan Blanchard. Regardless, the two exuded adorable chemistry and sincerity in the coming-of-age film about artist Paige (Blanchard) navigating her long-harbored feelings for crush Gabriella (Isabella Ferreira) and newfound feelings for Gabriella’s sister AJ (Cravalho).

Rookie (2023)

The way Samantha Lee consistently delivers lovely, genuine sapphic stories is awe-inspiring. Her most recent work is a love story set in the world of high school volleyball. Rookie stars Pat Tingjuy as Ace, a reluctant basketball player-turned-volleyball player, and Aya Fernandez as Jana, the driven captain of the volleyball team. Rookie won three awards at the Cinemalaya 2023 awarding ceremony: Best Editing, Audience Choice, and Best Actress for Tingjuy.

SERIES

Warrior Nun (2020)

If you were on X (formerly Twitter) last year, you’d have seen the outrage that poured in at Netflix’s cancellation of fantasy series Warrior Nun. Thankfully, just last August 16, it was announced that the story will continue as a trilogy, much to the delight of its dedicated fanbase. The story of demon fighters, “warrior nuns,” Ava (Alba Baptista) and Beatrice (Kristina Tonteri-Young) hopefully gets to continue in all its glory.

Sleep with Me (2022)

Samantha Lee’s first streaming series is a warm, intimate look at a budding romance between Harry (Janine Gutierrez), a late-night radio DJ and wheelchair-user, and Luna (Lovi Poe), a textbook writer with a disorder that only lets her sleep during the day. Sleep with Me is a comforting rom-com with adorable performances, discussion on intersectionality, and a clear focus on love between two women.

BetCin (2021)

This miniseries looks into the world of online dating coupled with the pressures of being an online couple. This close to breaking up, Beth (Kylie Padilla) and Cindy (Andrea Torres), receive news that they were selected to join a #RelationshipGoals contest where they have to prove to everyone that they’re the perfect couple so they could win a whopping 10 million pesos. Now the question is: how far can they go before something snaps?

Pearl Next Door

Webseries Pearl Next Door is another local offering that stars beloved BL Gameboys character Pearl (Adrianna So) and chronicles her journey to find love. Whether that’s with Karleen (Iana Bernardez), her best friend, or Alex (Rachel Coates), her former childhood best friend, you’ll have to watch to find out. Presented in a screenlife format with characters talking through screens, Pearl Next Door captures a modern, easy charm largely due to the distinct personalities of its characters.

Dickinson (2019-2021)

Hailee Steinfeld plays prolific poet Emily Dickinson in this comedy-drama series about her life, romance with her best friend and future sister-in-law Susan Gilbert (Ella Hunt), and the limitations and pressures placed on a woman artist at the time. In a deliberate decision, Dickinson uses modern language and anachronism to deliver a fun, steamy, relatable story about love, womanhood, and freedom.

BOOKS

One Last Stop (2021)

Casey McQuiston’s debut novel Red, White, and Royal Blue found peak success both as a novel and now as a hit Amazon Prime movie adaptation. Their second novel One Last Stop is another prime example of WLW literature done well, with eccentric but authentic characters, a very subtle magical/sci-fi premise, and soaring, electric writing. August Landry meets punk, leather-clad rebel Jane Su on a train and falls in love. Only one problem: Jane is lost in time. She’s from the 1970s, she’s stuck on the train, and August will do anything to help her.

Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating (2021)

Everybody loves a good fake dating trope. Popular, bisexual student Hani comes out to her friends, but they’re invalidating and disbelieving! She lies that she’s actually in a relationship with a girl—Ishu. Ishu is smart and driven, and she agrees to fake date Hani if it means it gets her elected head girl. The YA novel is a breath of fresh air as it puts Bengali girls in the spotlight and uniquely intersperses their stories with a tried-and-true trope.

She Gets the Girl (2022)

Alex is brave, flirtatious, and fresh from a breakup she hopes isn’t for good. Molly is awkward and incapable of talking to her crush. They hatch a plan to work together to get their respective interests to love them, but can you take a guess as to who falls in love instead? Slow burn with a lot of banter, She Gets the Girl is a lighthearted classic YA read written by real-life wives.

Juliet Takes a Breath (2016)

Juliet is a lesbian Latina interning in Portland, Oregon for her favorite white feminist author Harlow Brisbane. She spends her summer figuring out everything about not just being gay, but being a gay, female, person of color in this vast, crazy world. Juliet Takes a Breath is a funny, moving, intersectional exploration of identity and the complexity of people.

The Falling in Love Montage (2020)

A light, fun read, The Falling in Love Montage sees cynical Saoirse embark on a summer fling with the vivacious Ruby. They agree to go on cheesy, romantic dates that’ll end the moment summer does—but of course, when has that ever worked out? This book offers a cute premise, a love built between two very different girls, family, and strong personalities.

It is stellar to see so much diversity in contemporary media, and we hope it only gets better from here. Love female and sapphic love by breathing in these stories and letting them lead us towards a more open world.

Continue Reading: The Inside Story of How The Lovers, An Animated WLW Short Set In the Philippines, Came To Be

iWhite Korea, one of the first Korean skincare brands in the Philippines, has our hearts skipping a beat every single time

There’s nothing quite like falling in love for the first time. The butterflies in our stomach, the goosebumps on our skin, and the incandescent feeling of getting swept off our feet–it’s something we all want to experience and relive over and over again. A similar situation happens when we finally discover a skincare brand that gives us the same heartwarming feeling because of its effective products. iWhite Korea, rooted in its concept of Cheot-sarang or the feeling of experiencing our first love, makes us believe that even love can come in the form of good quality skincare.

Tugging on our heartstrings

As a skincare brand that prides itself on being our first love, iWhite Korea backs that up by being dependable through its products that can help us get through our good and bad days, which is a quality that a significant other should also possess. With three skincare lines, iWhite Korea puts our hearts on our sleeves without making us afraid to show it.

Flash your green eyes at me

Jealousy is a powerful feeling, but there’s no point in becoming the green-eyed monster with iWhite Korea by our side. The Acne+ Skincare Line, with the help of the Acne+ Facial Wash, Acne+ Toner Essence, and Acne+ Aqua Moisturizer, calms not only our minds, but our skin as well. It strengthens the skin by fighting impurities like acne and blackheads, as well as detoxifying our pores while controlling oil and sebum build-up.

Under pink skies, hearts are starting to show

It’s inevitable that our cheeks turn that rosy shade of pink when we have that tingling feeling of happiness because of a special someone. While our skin won’t turn pink because of it, the Power Brightening Skincare Line from iWhite Korea does make it look plumper and more refreshed for that glow from within to shine. Ideal for dull skin, the Glow-Up Whip Wash, Glow-Up Toner Essence, and Aqua Moisturizer Glow leave it brighter and more vibrant than ever.

Don’t want no other shade of blue but you

We may not be huge fans of cold hearts, but the iWhite Korea Daily Skincare Line does give our skin a cool, oil-free, and hydrated feeling after each use. Featuring the Facial Wash Whitening Vita, Extra Pure Toner Essence Whitening Vita, and Aqua Moisturizer Whitening Vita, this line lightens, rejuvenates, and improves our skin’s condition to reveal its innermost radiance. It also has a very lightweight and non-greasy formula that refreshes and recharges the skin every single time.

Experience your first love over and over again with iWhite Korea that’s available on Lazada. Follow them on Facebook for more information.

Creative Direction GARI SY

Photography KIERAN PUNAY

Beauty Direction PEACHES GARCIA and GARI SY

Makeup ANGELINE DELA CRUZ

Hair JA FELICIANO

Model CASSANDRA LAFORTEZA

Shoot Coordination ERICA LUNA, MAE TALAID, and MJ ALMERO