Movies about Movies (about Movies)
In this week’s Spotlight, directors turn the camera on their own craft, investigating what goes into making great cinema. The result is a series of stories about actors, writers, directors, and producers -- as well as massive budgets and microbudgets, meticulous planning and random chance, political pressure and personal passion.
Amateurs
(Amatörer)
Will these two highschoolers beat the commerical filmmaker?
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Sweden • 2018
- Director Gabriela Pichler
- Cast Zahraa Aldoujaili, Yara Aliadotter, Fredrik Dahl, Janine Splettstößer, Shada Ismaeel
- Genre Comedy
- Available on Apple TV, Amazon Video
Claire's Camera
(클레어의 카메라)
Sometimes you need to see the photo to see the truth.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Korea, France • 2018
- Director Hong Sang-soo
- Cast Isabelle Huppert, Kim Min-hee, Chang Mi-hee, Jung Jin-young, Shahira Fahmy, Yoon Heesun
- Genre Drama
- Available on Metrograph, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, YouTube, Kanopy
Their Finest
During the Blitz of World War II, a female screenwriter works on a film celebrating England's resilience as a way to buoy a weary populace's spirits.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- United Kingdom, Sweden • 2017
- Director Lone Scherfig
- Cast Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin, Bill Nighy, Richard E. Grant, Jack Huston, Helen McCrory
- Genre Romance, War, Comedy, Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube
Clouds of Sils Maria
A veteran actress faces some uncomfortable truths when she agrees to take part in a revival of the play that launched her career.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Germany, Switzerland • 2014
- Director Olivier Assayas
- Cast Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart, Chloë Grace Moretz, Lars Eidinger, Johnny Flynn, Brady Corbet
- Genre Drama
- Available on MUBI, MUBI Amazon Channel, fuboTV, Criterion Channel, AMC+, AMC+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ with Showtime, IFC Films Unlimited Apple TV Channel, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Kanopy, Plex, Plex Channel
The Artist
An homage to Hollywood silent filmmaking about a romance between a fading silent film star and a rising actress at the dawn of film's sound era.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, United States, Belgium • 2011
- Director Michel Hazanavicius
- Cast Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman, James Cromwell, Penelope Ann Miller, Malcolm McDowell
- Genre Comedy, Drama, Romance
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand, Tubi TV, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Hoopla, Plex, Plex Channel
This Is Not a Film
(این فیلم نیست)
If we could tell a film, then why make a film?
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Iran • 2011
- Director Jafar Panahi
- Cast Jafar Panahi, Igi, Mrs. Gheirat, Mojtaba Mirtahmasb, Rakhsan, Sima
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Kanopy
Broken Embraces
(Los abrazos rotos)
Facing the past to survive the present.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Spain • 2009
- Director Pedro Almodóvar
- Cast Penélope Cruz, Lluís Homar, Blanca Portillo, José Luis Gómez, Rubén Ochandiano, Tamar Novas
- Genre Drama, Romance, Thriller
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube
The Beaches of Agnès
(Les Plages d'Agnès)
Filmmaking icon Agnès Varda turns the camera on herself.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France • 2008
- Director Agnès Varda
- Cast Agnès Varda, André Lubrano, Blaise Fournier, Vincent Fournier, Rosalie Varda, Mathieu Demy
- Genre Documentary
- Available on Criterion Channel, DocAlliance Films, Kanopy
Cinema Paradiso
(Nuovo Cinema Paradiso)
A celebration of youth, friendship, and the everlasting magic of the movies.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Italy, France • 1988
- Director Giuseppe Tornatore
- Cast Philippe Noiret, Jacques Perrin, Marco Leonardi, Salvatore Cascio, Agnese Nano, Antonella Attili
- Genre Drama, Romance
- 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, YouTube
8½
A film director suffers creative block as he prepares his next movie and navigates the relationships of his life.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Italy, France • 1963
- Director Federico Fellini
- Cast Marcello Mastroianni, Claudia Cardinale, Anouk Aimée, Sandra Milo, Rossella Falk, Barbara Steele
- Genre Drama
- Available on Criterion Channel, Max Amazon Channel, Max, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Kanopy
Contempt
(Le Mépris)
A vivid display of conflict between passion and art.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- France, Italy • 1963
- Director Jean-Luc Godard
- Cast Brigitte Bardot, Michel Piccoli, Jack Palance, Giorgia Moll, Fritz Lang, Raoul Coutard
- Genre Drama
- Available on No streaming locations found.
Bellissima
How far will one mother go?
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Italy • 1951
- Director Luchino Visconti
- Cast Anna Magnani, Walter Chiari, Tina Apicella, Gastone Renzelli, Tecla Scarano
- Genre Comedy, Drama
- Available on Amazon Video, Plex, Plex Channel