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Samsara (2011)

Thought provokingIntenseSlow movingOriginal

Filmed over nearly five years in twenty-five countries on five continents, and shot on seventy-millimetre film, Samsara transports us to the varied worlds of sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial complexes, and natural wonders.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ron Fricke
CAST:  Marcos Luna  •  Putu Dinda Pratika  •  Puti Sri Candra Dewi  •  Ni Made Megahadi Pratiwi

Filmed over nearly five years in twenty-five countries on five continents, and shot on seventy-millimetre film, Samsara transports us to the varied worlds of sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial complexes, and natural wonders.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ron Fricke
CAST:  Marcos Luna  •  Putu Dinda Pratika  •  Puti Sri Candra Dewi  •  Ni Made Megahadi Pratiwi

Ship of Theseus (2012)

OriginalThought provokingRomanticBrainy

Three stories about persons forced to think about the ethics and moral issues raised by medical advances.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Anand Gandhi
CAST:  Aida El Kashef  •  Sohum Shah  •  Neeraj Kabi  •  Vinay Shukla

Three stories about persons forced to think about the ethics and moral issues raised by medical advances.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Anand Gandhi
CAST:  Aida El Kashef  •  Sohum Shah  •  Neeraj Kabi  •  Vinay Shukla

This Girl's Life (2004)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

"Slice of life" take on life of international porn celebrity, Moon, and her musings on modern life, love and loss.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ash Baron-Cohen
CAST:  James Woods  •  Juliette Marquis  •  Kip Pardue  •  Tomas Arana

"Slice of life" take on life of international porn celebrity, Moon, and her musings on modern life, love and loss.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ash Baron-Cohen
CAST:  James Woods  •  Juliette Marquis  •  Kip Pardue  •  Tomas Arana

The Godfather (1972)

Thought provokingEmotionalViolentDark

Spanning the years 1945 to 1955, a chronicle of the fictional Italian-American Corleone crime family. When organized crime family patriarch, Vito Corleone barely survives an attempt on his life, his youngest son, Michael steps in to take care of the would-be ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Francis Ford Coppola
CAST:  Marlon Brando  •  Al Pacino  •  James Caan  •  Richard S. Castellano

Spanning the years 1945 to 1955, a chronicle of the fictional Italian-American Corleone crime family. When organized crime family patriarch, Vito Corleone barely survives an attempt on his life, his youngest son, Michael steps in to take care of the would-be ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Francis Ford Coppola
CAST:  Marlon Brando  •  Al Pacino  •  James Caan  •  Richard S. Castellano

Upstream Color (2013)

Thought provokingComplexOriginalRomantic

A man and woman are drawn together, entangled in the lifecycle of an ageless organism. Identity becomes an illusion as they struggle to assemble the loose fragments of wrecked lives.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shane Carruth
CAST:  Amy Seimetz  •  Shane Carruth  •  Andrew Sensenig  •  Thiago Martins

A man and woman are drawn together, entangled in the lifecycle of an ageless organism. Identity becomes an illusion as they struggle to assemble the loose fragments of wrecked lives.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shane Carruth
CAST:  Amy Seimetz  •  Shane Carruth  •  Andrew Sensenig  •  Thiago Martins

A Girl Like Her (2015)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

Sophomore year has been a nightmare for Jessica Burns. Relentlessly harassed by her former friend Avery Keller, Jessica doesn't know what she did to deserve the abuse from one of South Brookdale High's most popular and beautiful students. But when a shocking event ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Amy S. Weber
CAST:  Jimmy Bennett  •  Lexi Ainsworth  •  Hunter King  •  Amy S. Weber

Sophomore year has been a nightmare for Jessica Burns. Relentlessly harassed by her former friend Avery Keller, Jessica doesn't know what she did to deserve the abuse from one of South Brookdale High's most popular and beautiful students. But when a shocking event ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Amy S. Weber
CAST:  Jimmy Bennett  •  Lexi Ainsworth  •  Hunter King  •  Amy S. Weber

Return to Paradise (1998)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

Lewis, Sheriff and Tony are three friends vacationing in Malaysia. Sheriff and Tony eventually leave to pursue careers in New York, but Lewis stays behind to work with orangutans. Two years later, Sheriff and Tony learn that, because of their past actions, Lewis ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joseph Ruben
CAST:  Vince Vaughn  •  Anne Heche  •  Joaquin Phoenix  •  David Conrad

Lewis, Sheriff and Tony are three friends vacationing in Malaysia. Sheriff and Tony eventually leave to pursue careers in New York, but Lewis stays behind to work with orangutans. Two years later, Sheriff and Tony learn that, because of their past actions, Lewis ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joseph Ruben
CAST:  Vince Vaughn  •  Anne Heche  •  Joaquin Phoenix  •  David Conrad

Angela's Ashes (1999)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

Based on the best selling autobiography by Irish expat Frank McCourt, Angela's Ashes follows the experiences of young Frankie and his family as they try against all odds to escape the poverty endemic in the slums of pre-war Limerick. The film opens with the family ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alan Parker
CAST:  Emily Watson  •  Robert Carlyle  •  Joe Breen  •  Michael Legge

Based on the best selling autobiography by Irish expat Frank McCourt, Angela's Ashes follows the experiences of young Frankie and his family as they try against all odds to escape the poverty endemic in the slums of pre-war Limerick. The film opens with the family ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alan Parker
CAST:  Emily Watson  •  Robert Carlyle  •  Joe Breen  •  Michael Legge

The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day (2009)

Action-packedSuspensefulViolentThought provoking

Skillfully framed by an unknown enemy for the murder of a priest, wanted vigilante MacManus brothers Murphy and Connor must come out of hiding on a sheep farm in Ireland to fight for justice in Boston.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Troy Duffy
CAST:  Sean Patrick Flanery  •  Norman Reedus  •  Billy Connolly  •  Clifton Collins Jr.

Skillfully framed by an unknown enemy for the murder of a priest, wanted vigilante MacManus brothers Murphy and Connor must come out of hiding on a sheep farm in Ireland to fight for justice in Boston.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Troy Duffy
CAST:  Sean Patrick Flanery  •  Norman Reedus  •  Billy Connolly  •  Clifton Collins Jr.

Philadelphia (1993)

InspiringIntenseEmotionalThought provoking

Two competing lawyers join forces to sue a prestigious law firm for AIDS discrimination. As their unlikely friendship develops their courage overcomes the prejudice and corruption of their powerful adversaries.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jonathan Demme
CAST:  Roberta Maxwell  •  Buzz Kilman  •  Antonio Banderas  •  Jason Robards

Two competing lawyers join forces to sue a prestigious law firm for AIDS discrimination. As their unlikely friendship develops their courage overcomes the prejudice and corruption of their powerful adversaries.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jonathan Demme
CAST:  Roberta Maxwell  •  Buzz Kilman  •  Antonio Banderas  •  Jason Robards

Stranger Than Fiction (2006)

OriginalEnjoyableThought provokingMind blowing

Harold Crick is a lonely IRS agent whose mundane existence is transformed when he hears a mysterious voice narrating his life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marc Forster
CAST:  Will Ferrell  •  Maggie Gyllenhaal  •  Dustin Hoffman  •  Queen Latifah

Harold Crick is a lonely IRS agent whose mundane existence is transformed when he hears a mysterious voice narrating his life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marc Forster
CAST:  Will Ferrell  •  Maggie Gyllenhaal  •  Dustin Hoffman  •  Queen Latifah

Words on Bathroom Walls (2020)

UpliftingThought provokingEmotionalTear-jerker

Diagnosed with a mental illness halfway through his senior year of high school, a witty, introspective teen struggles to keep it a secret while falling in love with a brilliant classmate who inspires him to open his heart and not be defined by his condition.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Thor Freudenthal
CAST:  AnnaSophia Robb  •  Molly Parker  •  Taylor Russell  •  Walton Goggins

Diagnosed with a mental illness halfway through his senior year of high school, a witty, introspective teen struggles to keep it a secret while falling in love with a brilliant classmate who inspires him to open his heart and not be defined by his condition.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Thor Freudenthal
CAST:  AnnaSophia Robb  •  Molly Parker  •  Taylor Russell  •  Walton Goggins

Hustle (2022)

InspiringIntenseUpliftingThought provoking

After discovering a once-in-a-lifetime player with a rocky past abroad, a down on his luck basketball scout takes it upon himself to bring the phenom to the States without his team's approval. Against the odds, they have one final shot to prove they have what it ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jeremiah Zagar
CAST:  Adam Sandler  •  Queen Latifah  •  Robert Duvall  •  Ben Foster

After discovering a once-in-a-lifetime player with a rocky past abroad, a down on his luck basketball scout takes it upon himself to bring the phenom to the States without his team's approval. Against the odds, they have one final shot to prove they have what it ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jeremiah Zagar
CAST:  Adam Sandler  •  Queen Latifah  •  Robert Duvall  •  Ben Foster

The Ice Storm (1997)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

In the weekend after thanksgiving 1973 the Hood family is skidding out of control. Then an ice storm hits, the worst in a century.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ang Lee
CAST:  Kevin Kline  •  Joan Allen  •  Sigourney Weaver  •  Henry Czerny

In the weekend after thanksgiving 1973 the Hood family is skidding out of control. Then an ice storm hits, the worst in a century.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ang Lee
CAST:  Kevin Kline  •  Joan Allen  •  Sigourney Weaver  •  Henry Czerny

Cuties (2020)

DepressingHeartbreakingDisturbingThought provoking

Amy, an 11-year-old girl, joins a group of dancers named “the cuties” at school, and rapidly grows aware of her burgeoning femininity—upsetting her mother and her values in the process.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Maïmouna Doucouré
CAST:  Maïmouna Gueye  •  Fathia Youssouf  •  Medina El Aidi  •  Esther Gohourou

Amy, an 11-year-old girl, joins a group of dancers named “the cuties” at school, and rapidly grows aware of her burgeoning femininity—upsetting her mother and her values in the process.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Maïmouna Doucouré
CAST:  Maïmouna Gueye  •  Fathia Youssouf  •  Medina El Aidi  •  Esther Gohourou

Life as a House (2001)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

When a man is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he takes custody of his misanthropic teenage son, for whom quality time means getting high, engaging in small-time prostitution, and avoiding his father.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Irwin Winkler
CAST:  Kevin Kline  •  Kristin Scott Thomas  •  Hayden Christensen  •  Jena Malone

When a man is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he takes custody of his misanthropic teenage son, for whom quality time means getting high, engaging in small-time prostitution, and avoiding his father.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Irwin Winkler
CAST:  Kevin Kline  •  Kristin Scott Thomas  •  Hayden Christensen  •  Jena Malone

Leave No Trace (2018)

UpliftingThought provokingEmotionalTear-jerker

A father and daughter live a perfect but mysterious existence in Forest Park, a beautiful nature reserve near Portland, Oregon, rarely making contact with the world. But when a small mistake tips them off to authorities, they are sent on an increasingly erratic ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Debra Granik
CAST:  Ben Foster  •  Thomasin McKenzie  •  Jeff Kober  •  Dale Dickey

A father and daughter live a perfect but mysterious existence in Forest Park, a beautiful nature reserve near Portland, Oregon, rarely making contact with the world. But when a small mistake tips them off to authorities, they are sent on an increasingly erratic ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Debra Granik
CAST:  Ben Foster  •  Thomasin McKenzie  •  Jeff Kober  •  Dale Dickey

Tomboy (2011)

UpliftingDepressingHeartbreakingEmotional

A French family moves to a new neighborhood with during the summer holidays. The story follows a 10-year-old gender non-conforming child, Laure, who experiments with their gender presentation, adopting the name Mikäel.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Céline Sciamma
CAST:  Zoé Héran  •  Malonn Lévana  •  Jeanne Disson  •  Sophie Cattani

A French family moves to a new neighborhood with during the summer holidays. The story follows a 10-year-old gender non-conforming child, Laure, who experiments with their gender presentation, adopting the name Mikäel.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Céline Sciamma
CAST:  Zoé Héran  •  Malonn Lévana  •  Jeanne Disson  •  Sophie Cattani

Heart of Champions (2021)

InspiringIntenseUpliftingThought provoking

During their last year at an Ivy League college in 1999, a group of friends and crew teammates' lives are changed forever when an army vet takes over as coach of their dysfunctional rowing team.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Mailer
CAST:  Michael Shannon  •  Alexander Ludwig  •  Charles Melton  •  Michael Tacconi

During their last year at an Ivy League college in 1999, a group of friends and crew teammates' lives are changed forever when an army vet takes over as coach of their dysfunctional rowing team.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Mailer
CAST:  Michael Shannon  •  Alexander Ludwig  •  Charles Melton  •  Michael Tacconi

Gattaca (1997)

FuturisticBrainyBrilliantThought provoking

In a future society in the era of indefinite eugenics, humans are set on a life course depending on their DNA. Young Vincent Freeman is born with a condition that would prevent him from space travel, yet is determined to infiltrate the GATTACA space program.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrew Niccol
CAST:  Ethan Hawke  •  Jude Law  •  Gore Vidal  •  Uma Thurman

In a future society in the era of indefinite eugenics, humans are set on a life course depending on their DNA. Young Vincent Freeman is born with a condition that would prevent him from space travel, yet is determined to infiltrate the GATTACA space program.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Andrew Niccol
CAST:  Ethan Hawke  •  Jude Law  •  Gore Vidal  •  Uma Thurman
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