Slow Cinema
In this Spotlight, we’re exploring Slow Cinema, a globe-spanning canon of art house films from a diverse group of filmmakers whose works prioritize long takes, naturalistic sound design, minimal dialogue, and an invitation to introspection.
An Elephant Sitting Still
(大象席地而坐)
In the northern Chinese city of Manzhouli, they say there is an elephant that simply sits and ignores the world.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- China • 2018
- Director Hu Bo
- Cast Zhang Yu, Peng Yuchang, Wang Yu Wen, Congxi Li, Xiang Rong Dong
- Genre Drama
- Available on Fandor, Fandor Amazon Channel, OVID, AsianCrush, Apple TV, Amazon Video, Kanopy
Court
A sewage worker's suicide prompts the arrest of a folk singer/activist accused of encouraging the suicide with his lyrics.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- India • 2015
- Director Chaitanya Tamhane
- Cast Usha Bane, Vivek Gomber, Pradeep Joshi, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Shirish Pawar
- Genre Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Kanopy
Leviathan
(Левиафан)
A universal parable about the individual versus the might of a corrupt state.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Russia • 2014
- Director Andrey Zvyagintsev
- Cast Aleksey Serebryakov, Elena Lyadova, Vladimir Vdovichenkov, Roman Madyanov, Anna Ukolova, Aleksey Rozin
- Genre Drama
- Available on Klassiki, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand
Stray Dogs
(郊遊)
A father and his children wander the margins of modern day Taipei, and spend their nights sleeping in abandoned buildings.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Taiwan, France • 2014
- Director Tsai Ming-liang
- Cast Lee Kang-Sheng, Lu Yi-Ching, Chen Shiang-Chyi, Chao-rong Chen, Yang Kuei-Mei
- Genre Drama
- Available on Metrograph, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, YouTube, Kanopy
Norte, the End of History
(Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan)
In the Philippines, a man is put in jail for a murder he didn't commit.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Philippines • 2013
- Director Lav Diaz
- Cast Sid Lucero, Angeli Bayani, Archie Alemania, Mailes Kanapi, Soliman Cruz, Mae Paner
- Genre Crime, Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Kanopy
Neighboring Sounds
(O Som ao Redor)
Life in a neighbourhood in Recife, Brazil takes an unexpected turn after the arrival of an independent private security firm.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Brazil • 2012
- Director Kleber Mendonça Filho
- Cast Maeve Jinkings, Irandhir Santos, Gustavo Jahn, W.J. Solha, Irma Brown, Sebastião Formiga
- Genre Drama, Thriller
- Available on Metrograph, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, YouTube, Kanopy
Once Upon a Time in Anatolia
(Bir zamanlar Anadolu'da)
In the rural area around the Anatolian town of Keskin, officials lead a search for a murder victim.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina • 2011
- Director Nuri Bilge Ceylan
- Cast Muhammet Uzuner, Yılmaz Erdoğan, Taner Birsel, Ahmet Mümtaz Taylan, Fırat Tanış, Ercan Kesal
- Genre Crime, Drama
- Available on MUBI Amazon Channel, Metrograph, Apple TV, Kanopy
The Turin Horse
(A torinói ló)
A horse's refusal to work or eat signals the beginning of the end for a poor farmer and his daughter.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Hungary, France, Switzerland • 2011
- Director Béla Tarr
- Cast János Derzsi, Erika Bók, Mihály Kormos, Ricsi, Lajos Kovács
- Genre Drama
- Available on Metrograph, Apple TV, Kanopy
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives
(ลุงบุญมีระลึกชาติ)
Contemplating the reasons for his illness, Boonmee treks through the jungle with his family to a mysterious hilltop cave.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Thailand, United Kingdom, France • 2010
- Director Apichatpong Weerasethakul
- Cast Sakda Kaewbuadee, Jenjira Pongpas, Thanapat Saisaymar, Natthakarn Aphaiwonk, Geerasak Kulhong, Wallapa Mongkolprasert, Kanokporn Tongaram
- Genre Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
- Available on Metrograph, Strand Releasing Amazon Channel, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube
Police, Adjective
(Polițist, adjectiv)
A cop risks his career and goes undercover to bust a drug ring.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Romania • 2009
- Director Corneliu Porumboiu
- Cast Dragoș Bucur, Vlad Ivanov, Irina Săulescu, Ion Stoica, Cerasela Trandafir, Marian Ghenea
- Genre Comedy, Crime, Drama
- Available on Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube, Plex, Plex Channel
Silent Light
(Stellet Licht)
Johan is a Mennonite who, despite his guilt, is cheating on his wife.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Mexico, France, Netherlands • 2007
- Director Carlos Reygadas
- Cast Cornelio Wall, Miriam Toews, Maria Pankratz, Peter Wall, Jacobo Klassen, Elizabeth Fehr
- Genre Drama, Romance
- Available on Fandango At Home, VUDU Free, Kanopy
Taste of Cherry
(طعم گيلاس)
A middle-aged man, Mr. Badii, seeks someone to bury him after he commits suicide.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Iran, France • 1997
- Director Abbas Kiarostami
- Cast Homayoun Ershadi, Abdolrahman Bagheri, Afshin Khorshid Bakhtiari, Safar Ali Moradi, Mir Hossein Noori, Ahmad Ansari
- Genre Drama
- Available on Criterion Channel, Max Amazon Channel, Max, Kanopy