Some of the best movies I have ever watched are also ones that were limited releases, had tiny budgets, had little press — in other words, ones that hardly anyone knows about. But because these movies were all beautifully shot, deeply moving, or fascinating stories, I think they should be as famous as Marvel movies and as acclaimed as Scorsese films. They involve stories of love and loss, joy and sorrow, war and laughter. They are gorgeous, important movies, movies that should be seen by anyone and everyone, and I hope that this list will speak for itself and prompt more people to seek out and be changed by these films.
- Cake (2014)
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This film came and went with little impact on the world of cinema. It made a small dent in Hollywood with its Golden Globe nomination for lead actress Jennifer Aniston. But it is simply stunning, a slow and subtle film about grief and recovery. The score is stirring and the cinematography is beautiful, but the best part of the film is undoubtedly the acting — Jennifer Aniston and Adriana Barraza elevate this movie to new heights and create a quiet but powerful story of loss and healing.
- Atlantics (2019)
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This film was internationally produced and was lauded at Cannes Film Festival, but perhaps because it is spoken entirely in French and Wolof (a Senegalese language) it never became widely known in the States. And that’s truly a terrible thing, because this movie is incredibly imaginative and haunting, revolving around young, lost love. At no time will the audience know what’s going to happen next, or even what genre this movie fits into, which creates a fascinating viewing experience of this story of migration, yearning, and ghosts that deserves to be enjoyed by far more people.
- The Beguiled (2017)
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The original version of this movie came out in the 1970s, but the new version from 2017, directed by Sofia Coppola, turns the story on its head, creating an incisive tale of girlhood and misogyny that has complex women at its core. Set during the Civil War, this movie revolves around an all-girls school that gets an unexpected guest, leading the girls to a tangled web of deceit, lust, and suspicion. The score and cinematography are just exquisite and the story is thrilling and dreamy — this movie is a must-see.
- We Need To Talk About Kevin (2011)
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We Need To Talk About Kevin is a breathtaking film — one drenched in dread and despair. At times a character study, at times a horror film, it is truly difficult to watch, but I believe its story is so timely and intellectually stimulating that it deserves a place on this list. The acting is ethereal and all-encompassing and finishing this movie will leave the watcher in shock for a while, unable to get the haunting tale out of their head. It is absolutely not for the faint of heart, but it is a movie so well-made and thought-provoking that I highly recommend it.
- The Florida Project (2017)
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This movie is one of the lighter ones on this list, a dream-like story shown through a young girl named Moonee’s eyes as she gallivants through her little world. Set in Orlando, it is a fascinating juxtaposition of Disney, the most magical place on Earth, with Moonee’s home, a tacky, dilapidated hotel that she and her young mother stay in full-time. It isn’t all light, as it showcases poverty in a heartbreaking way, but it is overall a shimmery, funny movie about the irrepressible nature of childhood and imagination, no matter the circumstances.
- God’s Own Country (2017)
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This movie is set in the gloomy highlands of northern England, a rural and ancient landscape of rolling green hills and perpetual mist. It is in these isolated highlands that a young British farmer and a Romanian migrant worker, two young men struggling with loneliness and desire, meet and slowly fall in love. It is a very touching and simple story, but one that is beautifully shot and even more stunning to watch.
- Beasts of No Nation (2015)
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This movie is set in an unnamed country in West Africa during a civil war, focusing on a young boy named Agu who loses his family and becomes a child soldier. The movie shows the indoctrination process that happens to young boys like Agu in war-torn countries all over the world. Agu is slowly ripped more and more from his innocence and true self to become a ruthless soldier. It is more than just a war movie, though — it is also a powerful and stirring story of redemption, hope, and healing.
- The Place Beyond The Pines (2012)
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The Place Beyond The Pines is an emotional tale of fatherhood and legacies, split into three different time frames with a wide array of characters, all of which connect in a heartrending and masterful fashion. It is also a story about the effects of crime and poverty and especially about how choices made for the best of reasons can have the worst of consequences. It is thrilling and delicate — a movie that will leave you feeling both hollow and fulfilled, sad and uplifted.
These films are all insanely unknown and underrated, in my opinion, and I truly hope that after reading this you feel prompted to check some of them out — you won’t regret it!
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