Imposter Syndrome
In these films, characters assume identities other than their own, gaining them access to lives they wouldn't have otherwise. Whether the motivation for impersonation is survival, exploration, or ambition, can there be shades of truth within the lies?
Parasite
(기생충)
A poor family lies and schemes their way into the employ of a wealthy household — successfully, but with great consequences.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Korea • 2019
- Director Bong Joon-ho
- Cast Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-shik, Park So-dam, Chang Hyae-jin
- Genre Comedy, Drama, Thriller
- Available on Max, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand, AMC on Demand
Don't Call Me Son
(Mãe Só Há Uma)
Ever since his father’s death, Pierre's mother has looked after him and his younger sister Jacqueline, spoiling them both, but when he discovers that she stole him from a hospital when he was a new born baby, Pierre’s life changes dramatically.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Brazil • 2016
- Director Anna Muylaert
- Cast Naomi Nero, Daniel Botelho, Dani Nefussi, Matheus Nachtergaele, Lais Dias
- Genre Drama
- Available on Kanopy
Off the Rails
A man’s love of public transit has landed him in jail 32 times, impersonating NYC subway drivers and conductors.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Canada, United States • 2016
- Director Adam Irving
- Cast
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Lifetime Movie Club Amazon Channel, Lifetime Movie Club Apple TV Channel, Amazon Video
The Handmaiden
(아가씨)
Her heart may not be the only thing stolen.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Korea • 2016
- Director Park Chan-wook
- Cast Kim Min-hee, Kim Tae-ri, Ha Jung-woo, Cho Jin-woong, Kim Hae-sook, Moon So-ri
- Genre Drama, Romance, Thriller
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, FilmBox+, Fandango At Home
Dheepan
To escape the Sri Lankan civil war, a former soldier, a woman, and a little girl pose as a family.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France • 2015
- Director Jacques Audiard
- Cast Jesuthasan Antonythasan, Kalieaswari Srinivasan, Claudine Vinasithamby, Vincent Rottiers, Marc Zinga, Faouzi Bensaïdi
- Genre Crime, Drama
- Available on Criterion Channel, AMC+, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC Plus Apple TV Channel , IFC Films Unlimited Apple TV Channel, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Kanopy
Phoenix
A noirish study of treachery, identity, and survival.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Germany, Poland • 2014
- Director Christian Petzold
- Cast Nina Hoss, Ronald Zehrfeld, Nina Kunzendorf, Trystan Pütter, Michael Maertens, Imogen Kogge
- Genre Drama
- Available on MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, IFC Films Unlimited Apple TV Channel, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube, Kanopy
Tomboy
When a young girl moves to a new neighborhood with her family, she assumes a new identity as a boy.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France • 2011
- Director Céline Sciamma
- Cast Zoé Héran, Malonn Lévana, Jeanne Disson, Sophie Cattani, Mathieu Demy, Rayan Boubekri
- Genre Drama
- Available on Criterion Channel, Microsoft Store
Osama
In Afghanistan, a teenaged girl dresses as a boy so she can work to support her mother and grandmother.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Afghanistan, Ireland, Japan • 2003
- Director Siddiq Barmak
- Cast Marina Golbahari, Arif Herati, Zubaida Sahar, Mohammad Nadir Khwaja, Khwaja Nader
- Genre Drama
- Available on Amazon Prime Video, MGM Plus, fuboTV, Epix Amazon Channel, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV
Waking Ned Devine
(Waking Ned)
Greedy townsfolk scramble to claim the fortune of Ned Devine, who died of shock after winning the lottery.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- United Kingdom, Ireland, France • 1998
- Director Kirk Jones
- Cast Ian Bannen, David Kelly, Fionnula Flanagan, Susan Lynch, Brendan Dempsey, James Nesbitt
- Genre Comedy
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, AMC on Demand
Close-Up
(کلوزآپ ، نمای نزدیک)
A young man is arrested for impersonating a famous filmmaker.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Iran • 1990
- Director Abbas Kiarostami
- Cast Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Monoochehr Ahankhah, Mahrokh Ahankhah, Nayer Mohseni Zonoozi
- Genre Crime, Documentary, Drama
- Available on Criterion Channel, Apple TV, Amazon Video
The Passenger
(Professione: reporter)
He used to be somebody else…but he traded himself in.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Italy, Spain, France • 1975
- Director Michelangelo Antonioni
- Cast Jack Nicholson, Maria Schneider, Jenny Runacre, Ian Hendry, Steven Berkoff, Ambroise Mbia
- Genre Thriller, Drama
- Available on Fandango At Home, Tubi TV
Purple Noon
(Plein soleil)
Passion at ten. Envy at eleven. Murder at noon.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Italy • 1960
- Director René Clément
- Cast Alain Delon, Maurice Ronet, Marie Laforêt, Erno Crisa, Frank Latimore, Ave Ninchi
- Genre Crime, Drama, Thriller
- Available on Criterion Channel, Apple TV, Amazon Video, Kanopy