Our Favorite Films of 2020

From masochist nurses to time-warping secret agents, we give you a countdown of films that have been on our watch list the past year.

 

SAINT MAUD

Directed by Rose Glass

“Never waste your pain” utters Saint Maud … A pious nurse is obsessed with saving the soul of one of her lavish and extravagant patients, a fabulous ailing, aging dancer. Director Rose Glass makes her film debut, completing her film with a dark atmosphere, a haunting score I have listened to while wandering a cemetery in Stuttgart, and costumery that has me dressing a bit more decadently. JS

 

 

COLOR OUT OF SPACE

Directed by Richard Stanley

A pulpy sci-fi strange thriller, starring Nicolas Cage with a bizarre campy Trumpian accent, this film is taken from the Lovecraft novel of the same name. A meteorite lands in an idyllic rural neighborhood and a family (and their alpacas) find themselves being silently infected by extraterrestrial parasites. A psychedelic technicolor fever dream turns into a nightmare. JS

 

FUTUR DREI  (NO HARD FEELINGS)

Directed by Faraz Shariat

By far one of the best movies produced in Germany (IMO) over the past years, and one of my favorites I’ve seen this year. The storyline is about the son of an Iranian immigrant family, Parvis, who lives in Hildesheim, living an almost carefree life. Parvis has to work social hours in a refugee home, where he stands out because of his non-stereotypical looks. He makes friends with Banafshe and Anon, a sister and brother from Iran seeking asylum in Germany. Very quickly there is romantic tension between Parvis and Anon, and with that, there come problems as Anon has difficulties confronting his sexuality. The characters are diverse and realistic, so the audience can bond with them easily. Not only are the visuals aesthetically pleasing with a dreamy mix of pastel and neon colors but also the soundtrack is worth listening to. This coming-of-age movie is a special one, as it covers many important topics in a very contemporary way and leaves room for thought. HS

OUTDEH  – THE YOUTH OF JAMAICA  

Directed by Louis Josek

A topic rarely reflected in such a natural, pure way, giving the voice to a new generation in transition. SB

 

UNDINE 

Directed by Christian Petzold

The film Undine by Christian Petzold is a new, modern interpretation of the myth of the water nymph Undine, carrying a curse which is calling for consequences for ending love and betrayal. While Undine surrenders to her fate in the mythology, in this version she represents an independent woman, facing her destiny and resists. I think every mythology has a real core of real life and can be interpreted in a lot of ways. Especially this one, about a woman who can not bear seeing a man she loves leaving, finding another love and making her feel forgotten, devaluing the perfect story we are all building around our relationships. It has a lot to do with our feeling about ending things and letting go and in a way that is the most difficult part in life, to see people leaving voluntarily. To me, even though it is somehow based on mythology, it carries a lot of reality. CB

 

 

I’M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS 

Directed by Charlie Kaufman

Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich) decided for his third feature-length to delve into the human psyche of loneliness. The Netflix film is a story based on loneliness and is pulled from Canadian writer Iain Reid’s 2016 novel. The plot is a simple one or so we think. A young woman (Jessie Buckley) has set out with her boyfriend (Jesse Plemons) to finally get to know his parents, but the journey is through a post-apocalyptic like snow-covered setting. The characters are subdued and surreal and you are left questioning more than what you were expecting. A surreal thriller. SK

 

 

TENANT

Directed by Christopher Nolan

This year’s blockbuster was not a Marvel or DC Comics film (rejoice!) but from the epic director Christoper Nolan of Inception, Interstellar and Dunkirk. The film is a fascinating and captivating sci-fi thriller that takes the audience through the lens of Nolan’s thirst for cinematic visuals and dramas. If you can keep concentrated for the whole 2 hours and 30-minute film,  A secret agent (John David Washington) sets himself on a dangerous, time-warping mission to prevent the start of World War III, all in a day’s work some would say. SK

 

 

THE GENTLEMAN

Directed by Guy Ritchie

Guy Ritchie returned back to his roots this year with a gangster film with an all-star cast. Following American ex-pat Mickey Pearson (Matthew McConaughey) who has built a very large and profitable marijuana empire in London. A dapper action-comedy. SK

 

 

Portrait of the Young Lady on Fire

Directed by Céline Sciamma

As Héloïse refuses to be portrayed to escape her forced wedding, Marianne will be presented to her as a paid companion to paint her in secret. This film brings a new point of view on lesbian history and on how to face an unescapable destiny. MB

 

 

Waves

Directed by Trey Edward Shults

For people who enjoy visual pleasures, this is a must-see! The story surrounds itself around a South African family who go through the highs and lows of life, and the many different challenges we all face. Not only are the visuals a dream but the score is also audio heaven, with a superb score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. If you’re looking for big emotion and big performances, look no further. SK