In the midst of an eventful awards season highlighting many incredible films, some great movies have been swept under the rug.
The Oscars, Golden Globes, and British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) are a few of many esteemed film awards, all playing a vital role in highlighting the feats of filmmakers across the world. Often, however, these associations nominate the same short list of movies. For example, this year, titles like and Sinners dominated the season. Although they’re incredible works of cinema, the repetition of these pieces reduces visibility of movies with similarly amazing quality, some of which are listed below.
Cillian Murphy plays Steve, headmaster of a struggling high school for troubled individuals on the brink of being shut down. The film follows Steve’s life for a single day, hectic and manic, but through it all, his love for his students is painfully clear. While dealing with the students’ troubles, Steve battles his own mental health difficulties and episodes of substance misuse. Steve incredibly depicts the struggles of navigating a broken education system and the exploitation of the vulnerable children who live through it.
A beautiful movie about love that grows in hatred, Steve allows a viewer to create deep bonds with the students of Stanton Wood and to understand the sacrifices and hardships of educators who possess the unique ability to change lives for the better.
Inspired by The Ax (1997) by Donald Westlake, No Other Choice is a dark comedy thriller that follows Man-su, a South Korean paper company employee who is laid off, forcing his family to sacrifice all they have, including their home. In a desperate attempt to join the paper industry and save his family, Man-su is willing to do anything—even murder.
No Other Choice excellently highlights the hardships of the South Korean workforce, where dedication and loyalty can be easily ignored in the face of technological development. Suddenly unemployed, Man-su becomes a representation of the dangers of feeling trapped on a single path, and the almost impossible circumstances that unemployed individuals may face in this modern world.
This heartwarming movie surrounds Herb McGwyer, famous singer and songwriter who is invited to Wallis Island to play a concert organized by superfan Charles Heath. McGwyer reconnects with old partners, creates new friendships, and learns to accept life’s changes rather than fight them. The Ballad of Wallis Island is a simplistic film that displays the difficulties of relationships and life as an artist while maintaining a comedic, light-hearted atmosphere.
In a time where thrillers and eventful plots seem to be the requirement for a “successful” movie, this film simply shows the importance of friendship, music, and an appreciation of life, as the perfect escape in such a hectic world.
The harrowing story of Souleymane, a Guinean immigrant who struggles to receive citizenship while working as a delivery worker in France. This film effectively depicts the hardships and impossible situations associated with trying to make a living in a new country.
The stronghold of this film is Souleymane’s relatability: the parallels of the immigrant experience, regardless of the country one is in or where they came from, highlight the flaws of the world’s immigration systems and the mistreatment of newcomers in these broken administrations. Despite the known bleak realities of these systems, Souleymane’s story visualizes reality in a way that forces the world to listen, and this quality is what makes this film so special.
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When the same few movies are continuously praised, they often become a representation of all the films released in that year. Hopefully, the above list shows a small sample of the diversity within film and showcases film’s ability to have profound messages and leave lasting impacts on a viewer without needing any awards to prove it.
Tags
Awards, BAFTAs, cinema, Film, golden globes, Movies, Oscars
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