deliberate backdrop

Movies with deliberate vibe

161. Pelé

Pelé
Documentary Biographical Documentary
7.0
20211h 48minUnited Kingdom, United States
Director: David Tryhorn

Overview

Against the backdrop of a turbulent era in Brazil, this documentary captures Pelé's extraordinary path from breakthrough talent to national hero. Mixing rare archival footage and exclusive interviews, this documentary celebrates the legendary Brazilian footballer who personified football as art.

Themes

Memory through archives, Political interference in sports, Talent versus era constraints, Sport as national identity, Public interviews shaping narrative, Biography as public record

Available on

Netflix
Netflix Standard with Ads
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

162. The Mauritanian

The Mauritanian
Drama Thriller Legal Drama Kidnapping & Captivity Thriller
7.5
20212h 9minUnited Kingdom, United States
Director: Kevin Macdonald

Overview

The true story of the Mauritanian Mohamedou Ould Slahi, who was held at the U.S military's Guantanamo Bay detention center without charges for over a decade and sought help from a defense attorney for his release.

Themes

Interrogation coercion and torture, Legal advocacy under pressure, Prolonged detention and appeals, False confession under duress, Accountability after abuse, Family impact of detention

Available on

Netflix
Amazon Video
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

163. Minari

Minari
Drama Family Drama
7.4
20211h 55minUnited States
Director: Lee Isaac Chung

Overview

A Korean American family moves to an Arkansas farm in search of its own American dream. Amidst the challenges of this new life in the strange and rugged Ozarks, they discover the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home.

Themes

Grandmother grandson relationship, American dream under pressure, Farmland as livelihood, Mobile home isolation, Intergenerational caregiving challenge, Hatchery labor tension

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

164. To All the Boys: Always and Forever

To All the Boys: Always and Forever
Romance Comedy Drama Romantic Comedy Coming-of-Age Drama
6.3
20211h 55minUnited States
Director: Michael Fimognari

Overview

Senior year of high school takes center stage as Lara Jean returns from a family trip to Korea and considers her college plans — with and without Peter.

Themes

Long distance romance, College choice pressure, Family wedding expectations, Cultural identity negotiation, Parental absence and presence, Sibling support dynamics

Available on

Netflix
Netflix Standard with Ads
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

165. Nomadland

Nomadland
Drama Tragic Drama
7.3
20211h 48minUnited States
Director: Chloé Zhao

Overview

A woman in her sixties embarks on a journey through the western United States after losing everything in the Great Recession, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad.

Themes

Economic precarity, Late stage capitalism, Nomad community bonds, Seasonal work insecurity, Van life resilience, Self-sufficiency on the road

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

166. Palmer

Palmer
Drama Family Drama
7.3
20211h 50minUnited States, Luxembourg
Director: Fisher Stevens

Overview

After 12 years in prison, former high school football star Eddie Palmer returns home to put his life back together—and forms an unlikely bond with Sam, an outcast boy from a troubled home. But Eddie's past threatens to ruin his new life and family.

Themes

Mentorship under strain, Guardianship tension, Small town judgment, Trauma and care, Substance abuse fallout, Parole constraints

Available on

Apple TV
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

167. The Little Things

The Little Things
Drama Crime Thriller Serial Killer Crime Investigation Suspense
6.3
20212h 8minUnited States
Director: John Lee Hancock

Overview

Deputy Sheriff Joe "Deke" Deacon joins forces with Sgt. Jim Baxter to search for a serial killer who's terrorizing Los Angeles. As they track the culprit, Baxter is unaware that the investigation is dredging up echoes of Deke's past, uncovering disturbing secrets that could threaten more than his case.

Themes

Trust under pressure, Deception and coverups, Obsession with past cases, Moral ambiguity in pursuit, Guilt from past actions, Professional duty vs personal risk

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

168. Penguin Bloom

Penguin Bloom
Drama Family Drama
6.8
20211h 35minAustralia, United States
Director: Glendyn Ivin

Overview

When an unlikely ally enters the Bloom family's world in the form of an injured baby magpie they name Penguin, the bird’s arrival makes a profound difference in the struggling family’s life.

Themes

Guilt and accountability, Family caregiving strain, Bond with animal catalyst, Injury drives adaptation, Transition to independence, Recovery through small steps

Available on

Netflix
Netflix Standard with Ads
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

169. The Dry

The Dry
Crime Thriller Mystery Detective Mystery Crime Investigation Mystery
6.8
20211h 57minAustralia, United Kingdom
Director: Robert Connolly

Overview

Aaron Falk returns to his drought-stricken hometown to attend a tragic funeral. But his return opens a decades-old wound - the unsolved death of a teenage girl.

Themes

Small-town suspicion, Past trauma and memory, Financial crime and cover-up, Family tragedy and loss, Drought and hardship, Harassment and stigma

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Hulu
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

170. Pieces of a Woman

Pieces of a Woman
Drama Tragic Drama
7.0
20202h 7minCanada, Hungary
Director: Kornél Mundruczó

Overview

When a young mother's home birth ends in unfathomable tragedy, she begins a year-long odyssey of mourning that fractures relationships with loved ones in this deeply personal story of a woman learning to live alongside her loss.

Themes

Grief and mourning, Economic strain and care choices, Home birth versus medical risk, Family obligation under stress, Legal accountability and blame, Reconciliation after loss

Available on

Netflix
Netflix Standard with Ads
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.