Five Films For Isolation
Written by Catriona Mahmoud
Isolation and lockdown has meant many of us have been sat at home watching Tiger King and wishing we could find something enriching and uplifting instead. There’s nothing wrong with Tiger King (although there’s nothing particularly RIGHT about it either), but here are five films you can emerge from lockdown that you can be proud of talking about AND feel like kept you on a spiritually upper level!
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
(Celine Sciamma, 2020)
Available through Mubi (a little independent streaming service that you can get a free 90-day subscription to here), Portrait of a Lady on Fire is the latest film from French filmmaker Celine Sciamma (Girlhood, Tomboy).
Taking on isolation as an escapism and opportunity to explore their true selves, we follow the story of two women developing a deep bond as one is instructed to secretly paint the other’s wedding portrait. What emerges is a tender story about connection and womanhood, with a fiery central scene where we break away from the solitude of the film and meet the dozens of other women inhabiting the village. This scene unites women through a haunting and trance-like Latin song that will truly have you talking and recommending non-stop when you’re finally allowed back around the office water cooler.
Unorthodox
(Maria Schrader, 2020)
Technically not a film, Unorthodox is a 4-part mini-series on Netflix that follows the story of a young woman leaving her ultra orthodox Hasidic community and heading to Berlin. She chooses Berlin as her place to reinvent and start her new life in part due to being entitled to a German citizenship, but also due to spiritually being drawn to discovering the space of trauma that has affected every part of her community's existence.
The series demonstrates arguably the most accurate representation of Satmar Hasidic Judaisim ever made, including being one of the first series to be in the Yiddish language made for popular consumption. It’s gripping and fascinating from start to finish, with minute cultural details that chooses not to exotisise or other the community, but rather plays an important role in educating the viewer, from those who are from the community themselves.
For Sama
(Waad al-Kateam, 2019)
Probably the most harrowing film on this list, For Sama was a sensation when it was first released and is currently available on Channel 4, hopefully for a while. This film has to be seen, but will emotionally be one of the most difficult experiences for you to watch.
For Sama is a documentary about a family playing a central role in Aleppo during the ongoing Syrian civil war, with their father leading a hospital that treats victims of the war every day, and their mother (the director) recording and reporting as a journalist for UK news channels.
This is an unmissable insight into the power of friendship, family and community, and finding joy and support from one another during a truly devastating and unimaginable time. The film will find ways of humbling you and bringing you unexpected joy, but be prepared to think and talk about this film for a long time after watching.
Lady Vengeance
(Park Chan-wook, 2005)
Available either through Mubi or BFI Player (both offering free trials right now), Lady Vengeance is a clever and stylistic story about one woman seeking revenge on a man who forced her to take the blame for his murder of a 6-year old boy.
Part of Park Chan-wook’s Vengeance Trilogy (Oldboy, Sympathy for Mr Vengeance), Lady Vengeance is the first of his films to focus on a centralised female character, and a fantastic supporting cast of women, all who bring character and charm to the screen. The film begins in bright primary colours and gradually fades to black and white, just one of many stylistic choices from the filmmaker to keep the audience intrigued, if they weren’t already so captivated by the addictive dialogue and plotline.
Lady Vengeance is about revenge yes, but it also shows the importance of portraying women in strong roles and in action/thriller films - a genre that has often forgotten that women can be more than a love interest or support character for a male protagonist.
Tigertail
(Alan Yang, 2020)
Recently released on Netflix, Tigertail (definitely not to be confused with Tiger King) is the deeply moving story about a young Taiwanese man emigrating to the US with his wife and the subsequent years of hardship he faces.
A topic like the American Dream has been explored in film and pop culture time and time again, but the nuanced approach that Tigertail makes is something emotionally to be reckoned with. The film darts back and forth between his youth in Taiwan, falling in love, and his retired adult life, where he has little emotional connection to his children and is only known as a stranger to his family.
Tackling loneliness in an astute way, Tigertail tackles reflection in a way that many of us may be encountering right now, and reminds us of the importance of human connection, something which we’re all looking forward to at this time.