One Way Passage (1932) dir. Tay Garnett
Winner of the now-defunct “Best Story” category at the Oscars, and for good reason. This story of a murderer and a terminally ill woman hiding their true identities to fall in love while on a boat from Hong Kong to San Francisco may seem far fetched, but the chemistry between Dan (William Powell) and Joan (Kay Francis) makes it work. It also features incredibly innovative cinematography as the camera travels down the bar to show the various stories unfolding around us until we end up at Dan and Joan and the plot begins.
Last Summer (1969) dir. Frank Perry
If three teens found a camera on the beach at the beginning of summer, this is the film you would get. A cross between crude student film and intense documentary on growing up, Last Summer examines the exact moment when kids become adults and how irreversible that growth can be. While it’s their unbearable teenage sexuality making the ultimate decision, it’s the decadent warmth of summer that provides the ammunition.
Bait (2019) dir. Mark Jenkin
This British drama was shot entirely on a hand-cranked Bolex camera with 16mm monochrome film, providing an anachronistic look into the gentrification of a Cornish fishing village. With the timeline of the film constantly muddied by modern technology vs. old-school film techniques, director Mark Jenkin provides a timeless sense of dread between the advancement of their craft and the loss of it.
Sorry Angel (2018) dir. Christophe Honoré
Achingly beautiful, this film delves into the idea of how to love when you know the end is near. While it’s easy to say this is simply BPM + Call Me by Your Name, it truly is a marriage of those two ideals. Also, there’s just something about how Arthur (Vincent Lacoste) spins his cigarette in his feminine hand while Jacques (Pierre Deladonchamps) leans against the bridge post at just the right angle that explains it all without saying a word.
A Letter to Three Wives (1949) dir. Joseph L. Mankiewicz
If you’re a fan of the Real Housewives franchise, then boy, do I have the film for you! Three wives receive a letter from a woman stating she has run away with one of their husbands just as they’re boarding a boat so they cannot stop her. Dramatic, right? The film then runs through each of the wives’ stories on why they think it could be their husband, providing heaps of entertainment for the viewer as they mull over the facts of each case. It’s a mystery-thriller that mixes light and dark tones with low stakes and a great pay-off, a rare find in the catalog of film genres.
Les Diaboliques (1955) dir. Henri-Georges Clouzot
Considered to be one of the scariest films of all-time, Les Diaboliques does not disappoint, even despite its age. Director Henri-Georges Clouzot doesn’t rely on cheap scares or monsters, but instead on the mind of the viewer as he sets up our thoughts through impeccable sound mixing and camera angles. The film revolves around the idea of the “devil” and proves that you can never get rid of him, no matter how hard you try.
Butterflies Are Free (1972) dir. Leonard Gershe
This is a story about love and what “knowing what’s best” really means. We see each of the three characters struggle with this idea and how to balance both knowing what you want and being told what you want. As the title suggests, the film places emphasis on freedom and independence, in your physical whereabouts as well as in your mind while being blind, literally for Don (Edward Albert), to the pitfalls all around you.
The China Syndrome (1979) dir. James Bridges
More relevant than ever, The China Syndrome tells the story of a potential nuclear explosion cover-up unearthed by an unrelenting reporter, Kimberly Wells (Jane Fonda), and a morally-challenged plant employee, Jack Godell (Jack Lemmon). It’s the dichotomy of Kimberly and Jack’s selfishness in their careers and the nuclear corporation’s selfishness in their shoddy practices that creates a complex conflict to erupt, much like the explosion they’re attempting to avoid.
Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969) dir. Paul Mazursky
This film is the embodiment of 1969 as it provides a realistic view of how the sexual revolution affected the American family. As Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice traverse their way through the new liberties they’ve allowed themselves in their marriages, so does the viewer as their own point of view is manipulated, at first seeing their new ideas as bizarre and then seeing it as a proper evolution by the end. The film begs the question though: is this satire or is this a true depiction of the perfect relationship? Have human beings evolved in such a way that they can be so honest with their sexuality so as to divide itself between the physical and emotional?
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005) dir. Ken Kwapis
Ok, hear me out. If you’re going to revisit one of those ‘00s teen movies, let it be this one. It has a carefully crafted plot with concise editing to create four cohesive interwoven stories that delve into very serious issues such as cancer, divorce, death, and depression, with love and understanding. Looking back on this as an adult elicits an even more emotional response as you see the points of view from both the child and the adult in each situation. Of course there’s still the cheese factor, but the heart of the film is what elevates it from its peers, as well as the immersive atmosphere of Lena’s (Alexis Bledel) scenes set in Greece.
Josh Schonfeld was born and raised in Braintree, MA and holds a bachelor's degree in American Studies & English from Providence College, where he discovered his love of film after taking the History of Film - The Silent Era. He continues this passion by electing to complete the Every Oscar Winner Ever Challenge, of which he is currently in the midst. Follow him on Twitter @enyasurvivor and on Letterboxd @enyasurvivor.