realistic backdrop

Movies with realistic vibe

Sarah's Key

1891. Sarah's Key

Drama War Historical Drama World War II
7.5

20101h 51min

France

Director: Gilles Paquet-Brenner

On the night of 16 July 1942, ten year old Sarah and her parents are being arrested and transported to the Velodrome d'Hiver in Paris where thousands of other jews are being sent to get deported. Sarah however managed to lock her little brother in a closet just before the police entered their apartment. Sixty years later, Julia Jarmond, an American journalist in Paris, gets the assignment to write an article about this raid, a black page in the history of France. She starts digging archives and through Sarah's file discovers a well kept secret about her own in-laws.

Themes

Family secrets, Moral responsibility, Intergenerational memory, Survivor's guilt, Archive ethics, Historical memory

Available on

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

Devil

1892. Devil

Horror Mystery Thriller Supernatural Horror Locked-Room Mystery
6.3

20101h 20min

United States

Director: John Erick Dowdle

A group of people are trapped in an elevator high above Philadelphia, and one of them is the devil.

Themes

Deception under pressure, Supernatural interference, Mistrust and accusation, Suspicion among strangers, Confinement under threat, Paranoia in confinement

Available on

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

The Town

1893. The Town

Crime Drama Thriller Heist Relationship Drama
7.5

20102h 5min

United Kingdom, United States

Director: Ben Affleck

Doug MacRay is a longtime thief, who, smarter than the rest of his crew, is looking for his chance to exit the game. When a bank job leads to the group kidnapping an attractive branch manager, he takes on the role of monitoring her – but their burgeoning relationship threatens to unveil the identities of Doug and his crew to the FBI Agent who is on their case.

Themes

Deception and betrayal, Loyalty under pressure, Desire to exit crime, Family influence and addiction, Surveillance and suspicion, Violence and consequences

Available on

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

The Way

1894. The Way

Adventure Comedy Drama Globetrotting Adventure Family Drama
7.3

20102h 8min

Spain, United States

Director: Emilio Estevez

When his son dies while hiking the famed Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route in the Pyrenees, Tom flies to France to claim the remains. Looking for insights into his estranged child’s life, he decides to complete the 500-mile mountain trek to Spain. Tom soon joins up with other travelers and realizes they’re all searching for something.

Themes

Death of son memory, Pilgrimage pressure, Communal journey and companionship, Physical hardship and endurance, Group dynamics and guidance, Memory through ashes

Available on

Apple TV
Peacock Premium
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Trust

1895. Trust

Crime Drama Thriller Con Artist Crime Psychological Drama
6.9

20101h 44min

United States

Director: David Schwimmer

A suburban family is torn apart when fourteen-year-old Annie meets her first boyfriend online. After months of communicating via online chat and phone, Annie discovers her friend is not who he originally claimed to be. Shocked into disbelief, her parents are shattered by their daughter's actions and struggle to support her as she comes to terms with what has happened to her once innocent life.

Themes

Online dating risk, Online predation and deception, Parental vigilance under strain, Digital harassment and doxxing, Teen trauma and recovery

Available on

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

Of Gods and Men

1896. Of Gods and Men

Drama History Historical Drama Historical Event
7.2

20102h

France

Director: Xavier Beauvois

A group of Trappist monks reside in the monastery of Tibhirine in Algeria, where they live in harmony with the largely muslim population. When a bloody conflict between Algeria's army and Muslim Jihadi insurgents disrupts the peace, they are forced to consider fleeing the monastery and deserting the villagers they have ministered to. In the face of deadly violence the monks wrestle with their faith and their convictions, eventually deciding to stay and help their neighbours keep the army and the insurgents at bay.

Themes

Loyalty under duress, Faith under pressure, Duty to neighbors, Peaceful coexistence under threat, Restraint in violence, Communal resilience

Available on

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

Machete

1897. Machete

Action Comedy Thriller One-Person Army Parody
6.6

20101h 45min

United States, Germany

Director: Robert Rodriguez

After being set-up and betrayed by the man who hired him to assassinate a Texas Senator, an ex-Federale launches a brutal rampage of revenge against his former boss.

Themes

Political corruption, Immigration policy pressure, Betrayal and revenge, Border vigilante conflict, Deception and false flag, Immigrant network resilience

Available on

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

In a Better World

1898. In a Better World

Drama Family Drama
7.6

20101h 58min

Denmark, Sweden

Director: Susanne Bier

The lives of two Danish families cross each other, and an extraordinary but risky friendship comes into bud. But loneliness, frailty and sorrow lie in wait.

Themes

Trauma and resilience, Intergenerational conflict, Deception and loyalty, Duty versus family, Moral compromise under pressure, Bullying and protection

Available on

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

Colorful

1899. Colorful

Animation Drama Family Family Animation Tragic Drama
7.3

20102h 7min

Japan

Director: Keiichi Hara

Upon reaching the train station to death, a dejected soul is informed that he is lucky and will have another chance at life. He is placed in the body of a 14-year-old boy named Kobayashi Makoto, who has just committed suicide. Watched over by a neutral spirit named Purapura, the soul must figure out what his greatest sin and mistake in his former life was, before his time limit in Makoto's body runs out. He also has a number of other lesser duties he must complete, such as understanding what led Makoto to commit suicide in the first place and learning how to enjoy his second chance at life.

Themes

Outsider acceptance, Belonging and isolation, Parental infidelity impact, Family strain and overwork, Second chances and responsibility, Social pressure and school life

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Secretariat

1900. Secretariat

Drama Historical Drama
7.2

20102h 3min

United States

Director: Randall Wallace

Housewife and mother Penny Chenery agrees to take over her ailing father's Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge. Against all odds, Chenery - with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin - manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years.

Themes

Trust vs control, Gendered industry barriers, Family leadership under pressure, Estate tax pressure, Syndication for control, Risk management through opportunity

Available on

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