For those with busy schedules & short attention spans!
It's safe to say that life seems to have gotten hectic again lately.
As the UK begins to reopen after eighteen months of lockdowns and covid restrictions, I seem to find my schedule getting busier and busier, with hours previously spent curled in bed with a raging blockbuster or an indie darling replaced by attempting to catch up on some of the "lost" experiences and socialisations of the last couple of years. No matter how much I greet these reopenings with hope and excitement, the need for escapism derived from getting lost in a brilliant film lingers on, the longing to leave the struggles of the real world behind for two hours remains. So, in an attempt to continue to expand my knowledge on film while I may not have an entire afternoon or evening to spare, I've turned to shorter films; films that capture life; the human experience; visceral emotion concisely and beautifully.
So, for all you fellow film lovers lost in a myriad of social gatherings and evenings out, here are my top picks (spoiler free!) for the best films that are 100 minutes or under, recommended for those who want to get lost in an epic story in little time:)
(side note: there are so many brilliant documentaries under 100 minutes that I haven't included on here, but will do in a separate post in the future!)
Frances Ha
"Ahoy sexy!"
Run time: 86 minutes
Possibly Noah Baumbach's most celebrated work before the release of his critically acclaimed Marriage Story (2019), Frances Ha (2012) is the whimsical, joyous story of twenty-something Frances, an aspiring dancer who moves to New York City only to be met with career setbacks, financial misfortunes and flighty friendships. Frances, portrayed charismatically by Greta Gerwig (who also co-wrote the screenplay), is as charming as she is clingy, clutching onto lifelong best friend Sophie and dwindling childhood passions as the bustling, often stressful city life seems to pass her by. Oozing all the messy moments of humanity that are so commonly associated with the mumblecore sub-genre, Baumbach and Gerwig's snappy dialogue somehow manages to stray away from over-romanticisations and glamourisations of Hollywood, providing a sometimes gritty insight into the reality of being a quote-unquote "undateable" aspiring artist in a vast city, whilst also maintaining a fantastical quality, with Frances often appearing to be swept away by her own whimsicality and spontaneity that transcend the expectations placed onto her. Gerwig is the sunshine in this monochromatic masterpiece, and her immature yet compelling magnetism will leave you giggling, as the stunningly crafted cinematography evokes deep nostalgia and a longing for the innocence of childhood. Lonely yet heartwarming, Frances Ha is a must-watch for anyone feeling as if they're grasping at fading dreams, or for all the endeavoring artists who are too, like me, apparently undateable!
Lady Bird
"I wish I could live through something."
Run time: 94 minutes
Exuding teenage angst alongside soulful friendship and unconventional love, it's difficult to believe at times that Lady Bird (2017) is Greta Gerwig's (notice a theme with these films?) solo directorial debut. Crafted in a quirky yet deeply human fashion that feels reminiscent of some of her previous acting roles, Lady Bird follows passionate high school student Lady Bird as she dreams of escaping her hometown of Sacramento for the bustling glamour of New York, much to the disapproval of her deeply opinionated, yet loving, mum, as Gerwig provides a compelling protagonist-antagonist dynamic in the clashing of mother and daughter that is sporadically and heartwarmingly thwarted by moments of tender affection between the pair. A semi-autobiographical retelling of Gerwig's own coming of age in California, the subtle, gentle grace taken with much of the cinematography points to a heartfelt love for her hometown, painting a portrait of Sacramento as a town not of angst-driven asphyxiation, but instead one drenched in seemingly insignificant memories; small moments of friendship, infatuation and freedom that breathe life into rows of suburban houses, endless treelines and school hallways. Assisted by a stellar cast, Gerwig manages to explore wider sociological messages of Catholicism and classism whilst still maintaining the essence of the film: an appreciation for the comfort and the security of home. A must-see for anyone feeling as if they are teetering between childhood and adulthood, Lady Bird compresses all the highs, lows, heartbreaks and euphoria of adolescence into one 90 minute treasure, filling you up with sheer delight and moving you in the most unexpected of ways.
The Father
"I feel as if I'm losing all my leaves. The branches, and the wind, and the rain. I don't know what's happening anymore."
Run time: 97 minutes
Based on his own play "Le Pere", Florian Zeller makes his directorial debut (again, notice a theme? But truly, so many directorial debuts, in the past decade especially, have been astounding) with 2020 Oscar darling The Father, a heartbreaking telling of 80-year-old Anthony, who refuses all offers of assistance from his daughter, Anne, as he begins to doubt the fabric of his reality and lose his grip on life. Anthony Hopkins' performance as our protagonist is simply outstanding, and the final scene in particular left me shaking and sobbing for a long while afterward (his Oscar was well deserved may I say). Zeller masterfully utilises genre conventions of a psychological thriller, not to build suspense or to add stereotypically Hollywood "thrills", but instead to allow us as an audience to understand the terrifying disorientation of dementia, gradually building an atmosphere of claustrophobic dread until a cruel climax near the denouement that will leave any viewer heartbroken. An exploration into the torturous effects of dementia (as well as other illnesses with comparable symptoms) not only on the sufferer but on those who care for them (with the added intricacy of Hopkins' portrayal of how the knowledge of the unintended affliction of this suffering has distressing ramifications), Zeller's strong vision in conjunction with the asphyxiation of the almost "doll's house" cinematography and heart-piercing score combine to form a work of art which cultivates such deep empathy, and on a personal level, provided an insight into the mind of those affected by this illness in a way that was nothing short of devastating. Worth a watch for anyone, bring tissues!
Paddington
"I'll never be like other people, but that's alright, because I'm a bear. A bear called Paddington.”
Run time: 96 minutes
Where can I even begin with this film? I truly believe, and I say this from the very bottom of my heart, that Paddington (2014) and its subsequent sequel make for some of the most entertaining, most heartwarming and most joyously moving watches of the past decade. Following the young Peruvian bear, Paddington, in search of a home in London, director Paul King exceeds any of his previous work by managing to delicately craft a story centred around such universal themes (family, home, acceptance and love) that anyone, regardless of their age, can enjoy this true masterpiece. With standout performances from Sally Hawkins as a pillar of warmth and comfort, juxtaposed by the Nicole Kidman's antagonistic portrayal of Millicent Clyde, this quintessentially British ensemble provides an audience with brilliantly timed humour, moments of true trepidation as well as tender messages surrounding the true meaning of home that are timeless and wholly ubiquitous. Regarding ongoing political situations, such as the terrifying scenes unfolding in Afghanistan, perhaps it takes a film such as Paddington to remind those who remain ignorant at this present moment as to the importance of acceptance, and the value of showing simple kindness to all no matter where they are from. It'll make you giggle with glee, it'll make you sob with its benevolence, and I wholeheartedly believe it deserved best picture over Birdman (2014) (out with male-centric films that promote violence against women and in with Paddington bear!) : Paddington is a film for the ages.
(you can currently watch Paddington on Netflix UK)
The Farewell
"In the East, a person's life is part of a whole."
Run time: 100 minutes
Written and directed by the incredible Lulu Wang, The Farewell (2019) is easily one of the best films of the past decade, and possibly the biggest Oscar snub ever (Awkwafina will get her Academy Award one day, mark my words). A semi-autobiographical work based on Wang's own experiences, the film follows Billi, a strong-minded Chinese-American woman who returns to China to attend an impromptu wedding staged as a ruse to mask the truth of her grandma's terminal diagnosis, as she grapples with the concept of having to say goodbye to her beloved Nai Nai, who is kept in the dark about the state of her own illness. Whilst it may be a modest, low budget film distributed by the popular independent film company A24, Wang doesn't shy away from tackling hefty universal themes of family, grief and the differences of Western and Eastern cultures, with our protagonist at times appearing torn between overwhelming emotion that fuels an innate desire to expose the truth, and her duty, not only to her family, but to her grandmother's peace of mind. Blending a plethora of gentle creams and deep blues in the cinematography with neon signs that illuminate the streets of Changchun, Wang delicately captures the simple complexity of family, intertwining mourning with love, jubilance with despair, with Alex Weston's score plucking at your heartstrings throughout. Comforting and homely, The Farewell is a true gem that will softly wrap its arms around you and shatter your heart into a million pieces.
Ida
"What sort of sacrifice are those vows of yours?"
Run time: 82 minutes
I had the honour of studying Ida (2013) as part of my AS film studies course, and it remains as stunning as it is heartbreaking, as well as being Pawel Pawlikowski's greatest work. Adhering to some typical genre conventions of a "road film" whilst carefully intertwining elements of neo-noir and "genreless" cinema, Pawlikowski provides a commentary on the issues surrounding the horrors of the Holocaust and the Stalinist era through the eyes of Ida, a young novice nun preparing to take her vows in 1962 Poland, when she is approached by her aunt Wanda, a stone-cold Stalinist state prosecutor. Every character is portrayed with such depth by the often non-professional cast; each shot lingers on past expectation to create an atmosphere of uncomfortable melancholia; the 4:3 aspect ratio alongside fully monochrome mise-en-scene serves further to submerge an audience into Pawlikowski's childhood. With a myriad of rural shots of Poland and the delicate framing of our protagonist often in the corners of frames to entrap an audience in the mood of calm alienation, the cinematography is nothing short of spellbinding, and alongside a sparse score serves as a backdrop to Pawlikowski's meditation on religion, conflict and family. Whilst Pawlikowski has mentioned that Ida was not intended to be a historical film, and subsequently may not be a fully accurate retelling of post-war Poland, it serves as an eye-opener to the effects of war not just sociologically, but psychologically on an individual level.
Shiva Baby
"You look like Gwyneth Paltrow on food stamps. And not in a good way"
Run time: 78 minutes
You guessed it, it's another directorial debut! This time the film comes from Canadian writer-director Emma Seligman, drawing from personal experiences in the crafting of Shiva Baby (2020), a chaotically masterful 78-minute firecracker following Danielle, a college student, as she attends a family shiva only to be confronted by overbearing family members, belittled by an overachieving ex-girlfriend and placed face to face with her sugar daddy and his family. Anxiety inducing and stressful at every turn, Seligman's consistently quotable snappy dialogue alongside the rising acting talents of Rachel Sennott and Molly Gordon, Shiva Baby never fails to feel fresh and innovative, combining genre conventions from comedies, dramas, and even horrors at some points (your heart rate will be at a constant high watching this, but in the best way) to create a perfectly gripping, yet whimsically humourous film. An exploration into familial pressures surrounding coming of age, generational divides and bisexuality, Seligman's utilisation of cramped framing, asphyxiating close-ups and Ariel Marx's tense string score provide a captivatingly claustrophobic atmosphere that is simply impossible to draw your eyes away from. Hands down my most stressful yet refreshing cinematic experience of the past few months, Shiva Baby is a must-watch.
(you can currently watch Shiva Baby on Mubi)
A Quiet Place
"You have to protect them. Promise me, you will protect them."
Run time: 91 minutes
Tantalisingly terrifying; heart-wrenchingly raw; hideously gripping; John Krasinski's thrilling A Quiet Place (2018) serves to innovate and reinvent the genre of horror, following a family in a dystopian version of our own world who have been forced to exist in silence while hiding from monstrous creatures that hunt by sound alone. Similarly to Shiva Baby (see above), this film provides a heart-racing, panic-inducing viewing experience for an audience, but as opposed to the former, which makes use of overlapping and chaotic streams of dialogue to create a limiting atmosphere of claustrophobia, it is the distinct lack of diegetic sound in Krasinski's work that makes for such an alarming watch. Punctuated only by Marco Beltrami's chillingly discordant score, seemingly endless silences almost mimic the pent-up trepidation experienced before a classic jump scare, except this feeling seems to be stretched out over 91 minutes without any hint of cessation. Even after the credits have rolled, the slightest rustle of a crisp packet or distant cough will run a shiver down your spine. Emily Blunt's performance is nothing short of extraordinary, and in accompaniment with John Krasinski himself, Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe, Kransinski manages to delicately weave complex, yet beautiful, family dynamics alongside the terror of the characters' predicament, with messages of love and hope protruding through the plethora of fear. For and of horror, and those who are not, A Quiet Place is an eye-opener to the future of the horror genre.
There you have it, my top picks of films of 100 minutes or under for all the short film lovers out there! I hope I have managed to spark some interest within you towards some of these extraordinary movies, and hope you feel inspired to go and watch some (if you do, please let me know your thoughts, either via Letterboxd (@romcnoffs), Twitter (@jess_rooke) or via the contact form on this blog, I'd love to know your takes)!