Why do we neglect the best friend? Cinema is happy to tell countless love stories and often skips past the most important side characters.

Your twenties are for figuring out what kind of person you are. I think we place too much obsession on our partners determining this for us when, in reality, it is our friends. 

Think about all the romcoms you’ve ever seen, the best friend is always loving, fighting, caring for their protagonist bestie the whole time.

When the love interest messes up, who is there to dry tears? The role of friendship is so undermined, but really, it’s the highlight.

That being said, there are so many examples of true friendship and appreciation of the other type of ‘eternal bond’. A particularly favourite film of mine that is pure proof of the power of friendship, Thelma and Louise. A wonderful tribute to the strength of female solidarity, showing just how far we go to protect each other.

The chaos and sense of adventure are unrivalled, a parallel to this idea women need to be saved by a man. They are no damsels, they are both the knights in shining armour.

The freedom exhibited in friendship forward films depicts how there is a lack of judgement amongst friends. I fear sometimes people feel the need to change themselves for their lovers in a way you do not feel inclined to do with your friends.

I mean how many times has the ‘nerdy girl’ needed to ‘glow up’ in order to be with the guy, whilst her friends never asked that of her?

Good friends meet you where you are, they love you for all of your quirkiness.

Speaking of the bonding of quirkiness, in The Perks of Being a Wallflower, the outsiders find safety with each other. There is building of community, an ability to be yourself around multiple new people, which goes beyond just finding one person to fall on, which can be a risky game.

It depicts the way in which being understood can help you find yourself. Good friends set you up for good relationships as they show you how you should be treated. If anyone is going to want the best for you it will always be your best friend.

The idea of opposites attracting is so prevalent in mainstream media but this doesn’t exclusively exist in romantic relationships.

A prime example of this is age old classic The Breakfast Club, in which a bunch of unlikely friends are formed through their forced proximity. Within the film, friendship is portrayed as stronger than the differences are. It shows that in reality, most people have common ground. Unlikely unification does not just have to be amongst lovers; enemies turned friends happen too.

As for the development of boyhood, the comedy Superbad shows the way in which we stand with our friends through all our chaos. They are a constant in our ever-changing lives.

When everything in our lives appears to change, the real sturdy thing in our lives is our friends. In the end, we will sacrifice short-term lovers for the people we know really love the true us.

Love exists in all forms, despite what the romcoms might convince us of. What defines you in life is the people you surround yourself with and that means so much more than just partners.

If you are lucky enough, your friends become family and family is forever. So go and call your best friend so you can rewatch your favourite show or movie together.

Image credits: Violette Douglas