In the world of cinematic storytelling, there’s a standard format that we see most narratives take the shape of. It often presents itself as the audience being introduced to a story, taken along as it progresses, and then seeing it end in the most general sense.
However, among these films is a different genre that forgoes the typical narrative plot in favour of a different approach; it instead lets elements like aesthetics, atmosphere and experience take centre stage.
These “plotless” films often make you sit and wonder, what was that even about?
These types of films have become a hidden gem for me, and I’ve compiled a list that lends a spotlight on human experience, exhibiting a rawness separate from films with a standard narrative structure.
- BLUE IN THE FACE
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Blue in The Face is a comedy film structured around a neighbourhood cigar shop in Brooklyn, New York. It acts as a series of portraits of the lives of the locals who visit each day.
Featuring a long list of noteworthy stars, including Michael J. Fox and Madonna, the film consists of long conversations on smoking, addictions, solicitors, and patents for eyeglasses, all in a conversational tone as if the audience is there talking with the characters.
The film has no standard plot structure, or any solid narrative at all, but nonetheless shows audiences a glimpse into one pocket of the world by letting realism take the forefront of this film.
- PATERSON
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Paterson is a film that centres around the art hidden in the details of everyday life. It follows Paterson, a New Jersey bus driver, as he goes about his daily life and uses his work to fuel his passion for poetry.
Over the course of one week, we follow Paterson through his routine of waking up, going to work, overhearing passengers’ conversations, writing poetry, and going home to his wife. Although the film’s story doesn’t contain much other than the hum of daily life, it illuminates the small details of our lives that typically go overlooked.
- NAPOLEON DYNAMITE
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Set in a small town in Middle America, Napoleon Dynamite follows the namesake character as he struggles his way through high school as a listless teenager.
Throughout the film, we meet his best friend Pedro, his hot-blooded Uncle Rico, his online dating-obsessed brother Kip, and the family llama Tina, who refuses to eat the spoiled casserole left in the fridge for too long. Although Napoleon Dynamite is a film with little to no plot, budget or notable stars, it remains a cult favourite for its charm and eccentric appeal.