Written by: Charlotte Calvert
We all know how important entertaining ourselves has been over the past year, and now there is finally light at the end of this dark tunnel, it is time to reinvigorate your lust for life with a few good movies.
Movies can change your perspective, your mood, make you smile, make you cry or even inspire a new outlook on life. The world of film has always been there to provide the best form of escapism. According to Jillian Lynch, a psychotherapist based in Sydney, films provide “an opportunity for viewers to recognise themselves in a character or some part of a film’s narrative in order to undergo change”.
So, while we sit here and wait for our exciting re-emergence into reality, why not hop onto Netflix or Amazon Prime and try one of these movies each week for a month to help transcend you into another world, just until we can return to our own.
Starting off with a hard hitter, this might not be one you’ll want to watch twice, but it certainly makes an impact on you the first time around. Starring a young Jared Leto, Tyrone. C. Love and Jenifer Connelly, this film submerges you into a world of moral disobedience, dramatic visuals, yet…nothingness. The story follows four loners as they succumb to their various addictions and pine for the connections they will tragically never receive. This film will, for sure, get your heart rate up and is a must-see if you haven’t already.
This chilling thriller takes on a form not often found in modern films (in the respect that it has very little dialogue throughout it). This leaves many scenes with nothing but eerie music and background noise. The film forces you to see how our world might be perceived from an outsiders’ point of view, and using the backdrop of a few small Scottish towns, creates a world that may even appear alien to the viewer. To describe this film in a short paragraph is impossible, but if you want a film that will leave you feeling incredibly human, this is a great choice.
On the surface, this may seem like your typical coming of age film, following a group of young teens struggling to find their place in the world amidst their own sexuality and home life. However, this film has a deeper-rooted twist and covers past traumas’ that continue to haunt the characters. This film has some exceptional visuals and a gripping plot twist (also, Joseph Gordon Levitt in his prime), if you watch just one movie on this list, make it this one
One of the slightly less depressing films on this list, a real coming of age film, and although it does explore serious themes, it glosses over the social culture, music, relationships and skate world of the 90s. This film follows Stevie, a 13-year-old boy living in rural Los Angeles, who finds himself caught up with a group of older skaters. He spends his summer trying to gain their respect and stay well away from his older brother. This film is an easy watch and propels you back to a hot summer in the mid-90s. Well worth the watch.
So go forth and tuck yourself into bed, grab some chocolate and relax. Considering the year we’ve had, you most certainly deserve it.
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