deliberate backdrop

Movies with deliberate vibe

The Chorus

1001. The Chorus

Drama History Comedy Historical Drama Parody
7.8

20041h 37min

France, Switzerland

Director: Christophe Barratier

In 1940s France, a new teacher at a school for disruptive boys gives hope and inspiration.

Themes

Mentorship under pressure, Discipline through humor, Music as discipline, Resilience through choir, Authority and care, War trauma on youth

Available on

BFI Player Amazon Channel
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Coffee and Cigarettes

1002. Coffee and Cigarettes

Comedy Drama Ensemble Comedy
7.0

20041h 37min

United States, Italy

Director: Jim Jarmusch

An anthology of eleven vignettes featuring star-studded casts of extremely unique individuals who all share the common activities of conversing while drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes.

Themes

Casual conversations under caffeine, Addiction and restraint, Coffee culture rituals, Fame and performativity, Music as social glue, Unfamiliar encounters

Available on

HBO Max
HBO Max Amazon Channel
Criterion Channel
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Don't Move

1003. Don't Move

Drama Romance Relationship Drama Passionate Romance
7.0

20042h 5min

Italy, Spain

Director: Sergio Castellitto

While waiting for the brain surgery of his daughter Angela, victim of a motorcycle accident, the surgeon Timoteo recalls his torrid affair with and passion for Italia, a simple woman from slums in the periphery of the big city where he lives. The ghost of the beloved and sexual object of desire Italia chases him in his memories.

Themes

Power dynamics in relationships, Economic disparity, Marital strain, Memory and longing, Consequences of infidelity, Pregnancy and choice

Available on

Movistar Plus+ Ficción Total
FlixOlé
Telia Play
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Reckoning

1004. The Reckoning

Crime Drama Mystery Historical Drama Whodunit
6.4

20041h 52min

Spain, United Kingdom

Director: Paul McGuigan

In 14th Century England, this tale of murder and mystery follows a fugitive priest who falls in with a troupe of actors. As they arrive in a small town, the actors encounter a woman being sentenced to death for practicing witchcraft and murder. Discarding the expected bible stories, the actors now stage a performance based on the crime. Through the performance of the play, they discover a mystery.

Themes

Class inequality, Public spectacle, Unreliable testimony, Mob justice, Art as inquiry, Power and revolt

Available on

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

The Passion of the Christ

1005. The Passion of the Christ

Drama Historical Drama
7.3

20042h 7min

United States

Director: Mel Gibson

A graphic portrayal of the last twelve hours of Jesus of Nazareth's life.

Themes

Brutality in punishment, Faith tested under pressure, Public crucifixion as spectacle, Aramaic language and ritualized punishment, Suffering under persecution, Betrayal and loyalty under trial

Available on

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

Machuca

1006. Machuca

Drama Historical Drama
7.7

20041h 56min

Chile, France

Director: Andrés Wood

Santiago, capital of Chile during the Marxist government of elected, highly controversial president Salvador Allende. Father McEnroe supports his leftist views by introducing a program at the prestigious "collegio" (Catholic prep school) St. Patrick to allow free admission of some proletarian kids. One of them is Pedro Machuca, slum-raised son of the cleaning lady in Gonzalo Infante's liberal-bourgeois home. Yet the new classmates become buddies, paradoxically protesting together as Gonzalo gets adopted by Pedro's slum family and gang. But the adults spoil that too, not in the least when general Pinochet's coup ousts Allende, and supporters such as McEnroe.

Themes

Class inequality, Loyalty under pressure, Educational integration, Political upheaval, Economic redistribution, Cross class friendship

Available on

Kanopy
Fandor
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War

1007. Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War

Action Adventure Drama History War
8.0

20042h 28min

South Korea, United States

Director: Kang Je-kyu

When two brothers are forced to fight in the Korean War, the elder decides to take the riskiest missions if it will help shield the younger from battle.

Themes

Brotherhood under pressure, Duty vs survival, Division of a nation, Memory and aftermath, Loyalty and brutality, Family sacrifice and rebuilding


Latter Days

1008. Latter Days

Drama Comedy Romance Romantic Comedy Relationship Drama
7.0

20041h 48min

United States

Director: C. Jay Cox

Christian, a hunky, 20-something, West Hollywood party boy gets more than he bargains for when he tries to seduce Aaron, a sexually confused Mormon missionary who moves into his apartment complex.

Themes

Belonging vs rejection, Religion vs sexuality, Coming out pressures, Excommunication consequences, Romance across faith boundaries, Identity vs community

Available on

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

If Only

1009. If Only

Drama Romance Fantasy Bittersweet Romance Tragic Drama
7.0

20041h 32min

United Kingdom, United States

Director: Gil Junger

After his impetuous musician girlfriend, Samantha, dies in an accident shortly after they had a fight (and nearly broke up), Ian Wyndham, a grief-stricken British businessman living in London gets a chance to relive the day all over again, in the hope of changing the events that led up to her getting killed.

Themes

Memory shaping identity, Grief and coping, Devotion under pressure, Time loop and agency, Love vs ambition, Creative pursuit vs relationship

Available on

Amazon Video
fuboTV
The Roku Channel
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Vizontele Tuuba

1010. Vizontele Tuuba

Comedy Drama Political Drama Awkward Comedy
6.5

20041h 51min

Türkiye

Director: Yılmaz Erdoğan

Guner Sernikli is a government official who, with his wife and their wheelchair bound daughter, has been assigned as the head librarian to this isolated province, virtually an exile since there is no library in the village. The family is warmly welcome, but these are the years of political anarchy and leftist/rightist clashes in big cities and the youth of the village inevitably follow the tides. They arrive in Vizontele, just as the situation is becoming really absurd. Guner brings wisdom; his daughter Tuba brings beauty, innocence and love. Some like the Mayor, Nazmi Dogan and crazy Emin appreciate these things but they are in the minority and confusion continues to reign. The story is based on the memories of writer-director Yılmaz Erdoğan of the last summer of his childhood in Hakkâri, Turkey in 1980.

Themes

Family resilience, Rural isolation, Political violence, Community tensions, Cultural clashes, Library as beacon

Available on

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