BY HANNAH WALLACE

“Paris is always a good idea”
— Audrey Hepburn as Sabrina Fairchild in Sabrina (1954)

“We’ll always have Paris” – Casablanca (1942)

“Yet with these April sunsets, that somehow recall /  My buried life, and Paris in the spring, I feel immeasurably at peace, and find the world / To be wonderful and youthful after all” – T.S. Elliot

The beauty, the joie de vivre, the history and the romance — with Valentine’s Day approaching, we are dreaming of all things Paris.

Transport yourself to the City of Lights — and Love — with the help of our Shop Talk guide; create your own meal inspired by French cuisine; or cozy up  with a whimsical classic film set in Paris, for as the French say, Paris has a certain je ne sais quoi — and it should not be ignored…

To help you make the perfect selection for V-Day viewing, we’ve put together a list of classic French films guaranteed to put you in the mood…

A perfect movie for dreamers, romantics and fashionistas alike? — Funny Face, starring Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire. The movie features Audrey’s iconic style (Givenchy numbers abound), her phenomenal dance skills, and of course who can resist Fred Astaire’s charm?

For an inimitable blend of old romance, mystery, and comedy look no further than Charade, starring Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. It’s a movie that exudes elegance, lighthearted laughter, and — of course — love.

A modern-day film — and a must for art historians and the literati — is Midnight in Paris, starring Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams. Capturing the glamour of 1920s Paris, the star-studded cast portrays the adventures of such cultural icons as Ernest Hemingway, Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald, and Pablo Picasso – to name a few.

Love musicals? Moulin Rouge is a pastiche-jukebox musical that tells the love story of a young duke who falls for a cabaret courtesan. Starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor, it’s a clever, extravagant film with an intoxicating soundtrack.

There you are! Happy viewing.