Movies Worth Watching #7
Happy Monday! I meant to get this article out last week, but a bunch of stuff happened—as it does—and got distracted. Hoping to get back on track this week with a few different articles, and so far, it appears to be shaping out that way.
I hope you enjoyed the Oscars weekend and were happy with all the nominees and winners. As easy as it is to pick apart the Oscars and laugh at it for whatever reason, I do love watching it. It’s a celebration of movies! What more could you want?
1. Great Freedom (2021)
Genre - Drama
Director - Sebastian Meise
Writers - Thomas Reider, Sebastian Meise
Starring - Franz Rogowski, Georg Friedrich, Anton von Lucke
About - In post-war Germany, liberation by the Allies does not mean freedom for everyone. Hans is repeatedly imprisoned under Paragraph 175, which criminalizes homosexuality. Over the decades, he develops an unlikely bond with his cellmate Viktor.
Why You Should Watch
Where to begin with Great Freedom. I can’t remember how I came across this film, but if you’re interested in a story set shortly after World War II that isn’t the typical story in that timeline, you must watch Great Freedom. With a tone and pace similar to a Claire Denis film and a storyline reminiscent of The Shawshank Redemption—one that spans a couple of decades in a prison—Great Freedom went above and beyond my expectations.
The film is so tender and heartbreaking in so many ways that it’ll leave you in an emotional state no matter how much you try not to. Franz Rogowski is incredible as Hans, and I plan to watch anything else he stars in because he’s absolutely brilliant in this film. Truly a treat to experience this.
2. Eyes Without a Face (1960)
Genre - Drama/Horror
Director - Georges Franju
Writers - Jean Redon, Pierre Boileau, Thomas Narcejac
Starring - Pierre Brasseur, Alida Valli, Juliette Mayniel
About - A surgeon causes an accident which leaves his daughter disfigured and goes to extreme lengths to give her a new face.
Why You Should Watch
I first heard of Eyes Without a Face because so many people online love to boast how underrated it is. Claiming it to be vastly ahead of its time in the horror genre, Eyes Without a Face impressed me in many ways, particularly with how eerie and unsettling the surgery scenes are.
Upon reading about it, the graphic depictions of surgery were groundbreaking for its time, and have influenced many subsequent horror films. If interested, the film is a bit slower than you’d expect, but it follows the typical story trope of a mad murdering scientist who keeps attempting to surgically repair his daughter’s disfigured face.
3. But I’m a Cheerleader (1999)
Genre - Comedy/Romance
Director - Jamie Babbit
Writers - Brian Peterson, Jamie Babbit
Starring - Natasha Lyonne, Clea DuVall, Michelle Williams
About - A naive teenager is sent to rehab camp when her straitlaced parents and friends suspect her of being a lesbian.
Why You Should Watch
But I’m a Cheerleader is a strange film rating-wise because it currently rests at 42% on Rotten Tomatoes, while simultaneously having a 4 out of 5 on Letterboxd. If you know anything about Letterboxd, you know an average of 4 is relatively high, and any film with that rating is usually worth watching. I wonder if the “critics” will ever catch up to how audiences feel about this movie. Who knows.
Regardless, the film is a hilarious satire that doesn’t overstay its welcome, being 84 minutes long, and in my opinion, is the perfect movie to watch at night. Nowadays, many look back at the film for its representation of LGBTQ+ characters, critique of conversion therapy, subversion of gender roles, and impact on LGBTQ+ filmmakers.
4. Chan Is Missing (1982)
Genre - Drama/Comedy
Director - Wayne Wang
Writers - Isaac Cronin, Wayne Wang
Starring - Wood Moy, Marc Hayashi, Laureen Chew
About - Two cab drivers search San Francisco's Chinatown for the mysterious Chan, who disappeared with their $4000.
Why You Should Watch
Microbudget films are so inspiring to me, especially ones that are made well. As obvious as that statement is, pretty much anyone who gets a film made without many resources makes me want to start creating. With that being said, one of the best microbudget films is 1982’s Chan Is Missing.
Utilizing a budget of $22,000 with non-professional actors and an innovative narrative structure, the film tells the story of two cab drivers searching for a man who owes them money. It’s a very funny film with a great B&W look that has a lot to say about ambiguity and the lack of definite character. If you’re a fan of understated slice-of-life comedies, don’t miss out on Chan Is Missing.