Historical Drama movies

Vibe

Tense Intimate Claustrophobic Restrained Deliberate

Overview

In 1857, at the height of his fame and fortune, novelist and social critic Charles Dickens meets and falls in love with teenage stage actress Nelly Ternan. As she becomes the focus of his heart and mind, as well as his muse, painful secrecy is the price both must pay.

Themes

Power dynamics, Reputation risk, Secrecy and longing, Age disparity, Clandestine relationship, Public and private life

Available on

Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Vibe

Realistic Bleak Deliberate Relentless Measured

Overview

A victim from World War II's "Death Railway" sets out to find those responsible for his torture. A true story.

Themes

Trauma and endurance, Revenge vs restraint, Psychological scars of war, Survival after torture, Brainwashing and memory

Available on

Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Vibe

Immersive Bright Realistic Steady Intimate

Overview

Author P.L. Travers looks back on her childhood while reluctantly meeting with Walt Disney, who seeks to adapt her Mary Poppins books for the big screen.

Themes

Parental influence on art, Memory shaping creative work, Artistic control vs studio demands, Pen-name and identity, Adaptation ethics and openness, Outsider perspective in familiar stories

Available on

Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Vibe

Realistic Tense Steady Bleak Restrained

Overview

A chronicle of Nelson Mandela's life journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa.

Themes

Education as empowerment, Confinement to leadership, Racial injustice, Long term resilience, Reform in divided society, Public service commitment

Available on

Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Vibe

Realistic Tense Claustrophobic Bleak Dry

Overview

While Arturo tries to gain the love of Flora, he witnesses the history of Sicily from 1969 to 1992, miraculously dodging the crimes of the Mafia and supporting as a journalist the heroic struggle of the judges and policemen who fought this infamous organization.

Themes

Legal guardians under threat, Justice system sacrifice, Civic duty under pressure, Legacy of legality, Public memory and history

Available on

Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Vibe

Tense Claustrophobic Atmospheric Bleak Stylish

Overview

1921 New York. An immigrant woman is tricked into a life of burlesque and vaudeville until a dazzling magician tries to save her and reunite her with her sister who is being held in the confines of Ellis Island.

Themes

Deception and betrayal, Family obligation, Immigrant vulnerability, Economic exploitation, Confinement and quarantine, Power dynamics in aid networks

Available on

Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Vibe

Realistic Tense Intimate Claustrophobic Bleak

Overview

While subjected to the horrors of WWII Germany, young Liesel finds solace by stealing books and sharing them with others. Under the stairs in her home, a Jewish refugee is being sheltered by her adoptive parents.

Themes

War-time resilience, Books as refuge, Protective sheltering, Youth indoctrination vs doubt, Trauma through shared reading, Power of words

Available on

Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Vibe

Realistic Tense Steady Clinical Minimalist

Overview

Loosely based on the true-life tale of Ron Woodroof, a drug-taking, women-loving, homophobic man who in 1986 was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and given thirty days to live.

Themes

Stigma and discrimination, Underground distribution networks, Regulatory risk and exploitation, Access to life-saving drugs, Activism through legal action, Cross-border drug access

Available on

Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Vibe

Realistic Intimate Dry Restrained Minimalist

Overview

In 1960s Poland, young novitiate Anna is on the verge of taking her vows when she discovers a family secret dating back to the years of the German occupation.

Themes

Duty vs desire, Family secrets, Identity and naming, Postwar memory, Faith vs worldly life, Buried past

Available on

Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Vibe

Immersive Claustrophobic Restrained Deliberate Relentless

Overview

In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty as well as unexpected kindnesses Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon’s chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist will forever alter his life.

Themes

Deception and betrayal, Abuse of power, Freedom vs confinement, Slavery and exploitation, Abolitionist influence and memory, Labor coercion and debt

Available on

Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.