A Rainy-Day Movie Playlist From Model Anya Lyagoshina

Some people like action, others like comedy, but for model Anya Lyagoshina, the best films are marked by their sumptuous visuals and unique stories. A favorite of such photographers as Patrick Demarchelier and Willy Vanderperre, Lyagoshina is a frequent presence in editorials. Her lineup of favorite movies runs the gamut—from the quirky and romantic to the mind-bending—and she doesn’t discriminate when it comes to cinema. If the flick has a good plot and a great cast, she’s there. Check out her offbeat list of favorite films, and if it’s raining where you are today, queue them up now.

Léon: The Professional (1994), directed by Luc Besson

I’m not often a fan of movies focused on criminals, but there’s much more than that in this film. I love the atmosphere and individuality of Mathilda and Léon. They are both living difficult lives, and that’s what makes them so interesting and captivating. I also fell in love with Mathilda’s style and personality. How can this little girl be so smart and mature? In the end it’s a drama, but I still had such a nice, warm feeling after watching it.

Mr. Nobody (2009), directed by Jaco Van Dormael

This one made me think a lot. I believe that everybody has that difficult period when you need to make an important decision yet worry about the consequences. But in the end we all have only one life and we can’t regret things we’ve already done. So this movie teaches that sometimes you need to just take it easy. Also, I think Jared Leto is a great actor, and his work was incredible.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), directed by Blake Edwards

I love New York City! And this legendary film has amazing shots of it. Moreover, it brings you back in time, and it’s interesting to me to see how New Yorkers were dressing up and what lifestyle they had in that period. Audrey Hepburn is my favorite actress and I even drew a portrait of her at one point. She made the character of Holly Golightly so great and romantic. I loved the scene where she wakes up and her cat was rolling around. That was the same for me when I used to have a cat, and it was so hard to wake up for school…you know how it is!

Amélie (2001), directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet

I love everything about this film—the beautiful colors of Paris, and both the idea and mood. But the best is the heroine and her amazing and unique personality. While watching some parts, I realized that I think the exact same way as she does. Her ideas and behavior are not common…but who likes boring people?

Fight Club (1999), directed by David Fincher

So I read this award-winning novel before watching the movie, and my first reaction was “Whaaat?” For me, it’s a very intense story that keeps you curious. It’s about a man who is suffering from insomnia and [spoiler alert!] basically separates his character into two parts. Until the end, you don’t know what’s going to happen, and the finale, for me, was the best part.