Independent films give the power back to the creators!
Independent or "indie" films, crafted beyond the confines of mainstream studios, often operate on modest budgets with smaller casts and crews, granting directors considerable creative freedom. These productions embrace experimentation and innovation while also exploring established genres and tropes with a fresh perspective. In this list, we attempt to make a note of the greatest hidden “indie” films ever made!
One of the most exciting new voices in Hollywood today, Damien Chazelle, has made five amazing feature films. Many people think that his second picture, "Whiplash," is his best. This independent hit, which is based on Chazelle's 2013 short film, is about a gifted young drummer who enrols at a demanding conservatory where his goals are both cruelly tested and encouraged by a teacher who doesn't accept mediocrity. With Oscar-winning J.K. Simmons and Miles Teller giving powerful performances, "Whiplash" is 105 minutes of nonstop turmoil, swearing, and explosive jazz. There are many stories of struggling artists, but few have the same intensity and longevity as Chazelle's masterpiece.
The heartbreaking drama “12 Years a Slave”, which won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York who is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the antebellum United States. Unquestionably one of the greatest biopics to win Best Picture, “12 Years a Slave” handles its difficult subject matter with tact and compassion while never hesitating to depict the brutality and horror of the pre-Civil War American Deep South. Even though it's not a walk in the park, the deeply touching story makes the effort totally worth it!
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One of the most successful independent filmmakers working today, Noah Baumbach frequently writes screenplays for other directors, such as Wes Anderson. “Marriage Story”, a devastating, perceptive, and sympathetic look at a marriage dissolving and a family fighting to be together, is undoubtedly his greatest picture as a director. The film isn't just downright sad; Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson deliver some of the finest performances of their careers, bringing to life a raw and intimate portrayal of the pain and eventual acceptance that come with divorce. But it's Baumbach's screenplay that truly shines as the film's standout feature.
Given that France is arguably the country where cinema originated, it should come as no surprise that the country has made one of the greatest contributions to the history of the medium. A number of outstanding French indies were released in the 2010s, the most notable of which was the stunning “Portrait of a Lady on Fire”, a historical romance in which a painter is required to create a bridal portrait of a young woman who lives on a remote island. The film tells a heartwarming story about the power of art and female bonding via precise and delicate brushstrokes.
The 21st century saw a huge increase in the general appeal of Korean film, and innovator Park Chan-wook played a key role in that critical upsurge. One of his greatest pieces is “The Handmaiden”, a romantic thriller in which a woman is hired to serve as a Japanese heiress's handmaiden but is actually complicit in a scheme to deceive her. With a haunting soundscape, exquisitely sumptuous imagery, and some genuinely remarkable performances, “The Handmaiden” highlights all of Park's abilities as a filmmaker. Its numerous twists and turns are delightful to follow when the characters are this compelling. One of the finest thrillers of the past few years, it makes the most of the eccentricities of its filmmaker, wearing them all on its sleeve.
These fierce and bold cinematic visions prove that even with a modest budget, real creativity knows no bounds.
