Biopics
A notoriously difficult genre to do well, biopics nevertheless hold an enduring appeal. In addition to capturing a period of years, sometimes decades, in a scant few hours, they also extend the promise of real insight, and the possibility of knowing someone we otherwise would not. This week we offer some of our favorites.
Little Girl
(Petite fille)
A documentary portrait of eight year-old Sasha, currently questioning her gender identity and dealing with (oftentimes negative) societal reactions.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Denmark • 2020
- Director Sébastien Lifshitz
- Cast
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Tubi TV, VUDU Free, Kanopy, Hoopla, Plex, Plex Channel
The Favourite
Two cousins compete viciously for the favor of their Queen.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Ireland, United Kingdom, United States • 2019
- Director Yorgos Lanthimos
- Cast Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz, Nicholas Hoult, Joe Alwyn, Mark Gatiss
- Genre Drama, History, Comedy
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube
La Vie en Rose
(La Môme)
The extraordinary story of Edith Piaf, a singer and icon
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, United Kingdom, Czech Republic • 2007
- Director Olivier Dahan
- Cast Marion Cotillard, Sylvie Testud, Pascal Greggory, Emmanuelle Seigner, Jean-Paul Rouve, Gérard Depardieu
- Genre Drama, Music
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube
Persepolis
The downfall of the Iranian Shah is just the start of Marjane Satrapi's struggle for freedom and belonging.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, United States • 2007
- Director Marjane Satrapi
- Cast Chiara Mastroianni, Danielle Darrieux, Catherine Deneuve, Simon Abkarian, Gabrielle Lopes Benites, François Jerosme
- Genre Animation, Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
(Le scaphandre et le papillon)
The true story of a man who suffered a stroke that paralyzed his entire body except for his left eye.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, United States • 2007
- Director Julian Schnabel
- Cast Mathieu Amalric, Emmanuelle Seigner, Marie-Josée Croze, Anne Consigny, Patrick Chesnais, Niels Arestrup
- Genre Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Hoopla
The Motorcycle Diaries
(Diarios de motocicleta)
Before he changed the world, the world changed him.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Argentina, United States, Chile • 2004
- Director Walter Salles
- Cast Gael García Bernal, Rodrigo de la Serna, Mercedes Morán, Mía Maestro, Jean Pierre Noher
- Genre Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Microsoft Store, YouTube
Jacquot de Nantes
The origins of artist Jacques Demy as shown through the lens of the inimitable Agnès Varda.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France • 1991
- Director Agnès Varda
- Cast Philippe Maron, Edouard Joubeaud, Laurent Monnier, Brigitte De Villepoix, Daniel Dublet, Clément Delaroche
- Genre Drama
- Available on Criterion Channel
My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown
The true story of an Irishman born with cerebral palsy who learns to use his left foot to paint and write.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Ireland, United Kingdom • 1989
- Director Jim Sheridan
- Cast Daniel Day-Lewis, Brenda Fricker, Alison Whelan, Declan Croghan, Eanna MacLiam
- Genre Drama
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, MGM Plus, fuboTV, Epix Amazon Channel, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube
The Last Emperor
The last Emperor of China is subjugated after Japanese invasion.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- United Kingdom, Italy, China • 1987
- Director Bernardo Bertolucci
- Cast John Lone, Peter O'Toole, Joan Chen, Vivian Wu, Dennis Dun, Ruocheng Ying
- Genre Drama, History
- Available on Criterion Channel, Max Amazon Channel, Max, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video
Gandhi
His triumph changed the world forever.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- United Kingdom, India, United States • 1982
- Director Richard Attenborough
- Cast Ben Kingsley, Candice Bergen, Edward Fox, John Gielgud, Trevor Howard, Rohini Hattangadi
- Genre Drama, History
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube
Lawrence of Arabia
A Mighty Motion Picture Of Action And Adventure!
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- United Kingdom • 1962
- Director David Lean
- Cast Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Jack Hawkins, Omar Sharif, José Ferrer
- Genre Adventure, Drama, History, War
- Available on Max Amazon Channel, Max, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube
Napoleon
(Napoléon)
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France • 1927
- Director Abel Gance
- Cast Albert Dieudonné, Vladimir Roudenko, Edmond van Daële, Alexandre Koubitzky, Antonin Artaud, Abel Gance
- Genre Drama, History, War
- Available on No streaming locations found.