June Watchlist
Written by Lana Spota
May 29, 2024
Still taken from Purple Noon (1960)
June Watchlist
Written by Lana Spota
May 29, 2024
Still taken from Purple Noon (1960)
As May comes to an end, here are some films that I'll be watching (and rewatching) to get me in my ideal summer headspace. Make sure to stay tuned for film analyses about the films that follow. Happy watching!
Along The Coast (1958)
Dir. Agnes Varda
Narrations from Roger Coggio and Anne Ollivier, and archival footage containing Brigitte Bardot and Sophia Loren. Varda's unique lens captures the essence of the French Riviera, with a mix of documentary and poetic elements.
Claire's Knee (1970)
Dir. Éric Rohmer
Jean-Claude Brialy as Jerome, Aurora Cornu as Aurora, Laurence de Monaghan as Claire. The story follows a diplomat, Jerome, who becomes infatuated with a young woman, Laura, but his feelings become complicated when he becomes fixated on her friend, Claire.
Donkey Skin (1970)
Dir. Jacques Demy
Catherine Denevue as La Princese, Jacques Perrin as Le prince charmant. The film tells the story of a princess who, in order to escape the unwanted advances of her father, disguises herself by wearing the skin of a donkey.
Bottle Rocket (1996)
Dir. Wes Anderson
Luke Wilson as Anthony Adams, Owen Wilson as Dignan, and Robert Musgrave as Bob Mapplethorpe. "Bottle Rocket" marks Wes Anderson's directorial debut, a film he co-wrote with Owen Wilson. It's a quirky comedy about three friends who embark on a series of heists, despite being hilariously inept at crime.
The Swimming Pool (1969)
Dir. Jacques Deray
Romy Schneider as Marianne, Alain Delon as Jean-Paul, Maurice Ronet as Harry, and Jane Birkin as Penelope. It's a psychological thriller starring Alain Delon and Romy Schneider, set against the backdrop of a luxurious villa in St. Tropez. The film follows the complex dynamics between a writer, his lover, her ex-lover, and the mysterious young woman who disrupts their idyllic retreat.
The Last of Sheila (1973)
Dir. Herbert Ross
Richard Benjamin as Tom, Dylan Cannon as Christine, James Coburn as Clinton, Joan Hackett as Lee, James Mason as Philip, Ian McShane as Anthony, and Yvonne Romain as Sheila. The film revolves around a wealthy Hollywood producer who invites a group of friends on his yacht for a scavenger hunt. However, the game takes a dark turn when one of the guests is murdered, leading to a complex whodunit investigation.
Days of Heaven (1978)
Dir. Terrence Malick
Richard Gere as Bill, Brooke Adams as Abby, Sam Shepard as The Farmer, and Linda Manz as Linda. Set in the early 20th century, the story follows a young couple who flee Chicago to work on a wealthy farmer's land in Texas.
The Lacemaker (1977)
Dir. Claude Goretta
Isabelle Huppert as Beatrice "Pomme", Yves Beneyton as Francois Beligne, Florence Giorgetti as Marylene, and Renate Schroeter as Marianne. The film stars Isabelle Huppert as Pomme, a young and shy hairdresser who becomes infatuated with a philosophy student named François. As their relationship unfolds, Pomme struggles to adapt to François's world and faces challenges related to social class and personal identity.
Marie Antoinette (2006)
Dir. Sofia Coppola
Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette and Jason Schwartzman as Louis XVI. The film offers a stylized and modern interpretation of Marie Antoinette's story, focusing on her transition from an Austrian princess to the Queen of France, and ultimately her downfall during the French Revolution.
The Sound of Music (1965)
Dir. Robert Wise
Julie Andrews as Maria, Christopher Plummer as Captain Georg von Trapp, and Eleanor Parker as The Baroness. The film tells the story of Maria, a spirited young woman who becomes a governess for the seven children of a widowed naval captain, Captain von Trapp. Set against the backdrop of pre-World War II Austria, the film follows Maria as she brings music and joy into the lives of the von Trapp family, while also dealing with the looming threat of the Nazi regime.
The Worst Person in the World (2021)
Dir. Joachim Trier
Renate Reinsve as Julie, Anders Danielsen Lie as Aksel, and Herbert Hordrum as Eivind. The film explores Julie's relationships with various men and her search for meaning and fulfillment in her life.
My Brilliant Career (1979)
Dir. Gillian Armstrong
Judy Davis as Sybylla Melvyn, Sam Neill as Harry Beechman, and Wendy Hughes as Aunt Helen. The story revolves around a young woman named Sybylla Melvyn, who dreams of becoming a writer despite societal expectations for her to marry and conform. The film explores themes of gender roles, independence, and the pursuit of personal aspirations.
Purple Noon (1960)
Dir. Rene Clement
Alain Delon as Tom Ripley, Marie Laforet as Marge Duval, and Philippe Greenleaf as Maurice Ronet. Based on the novel "The Talented Mr. Ripley" by Patricia Highsmith, The film follows Tom Ripley, a charming but amoral young man who becomes involved in a complex web of deception and murder while impersonating a wealthy friend.
The Wind Rises (2013)
Dir. Hayao Miyazaki
Hideaki Anno voices Jiro Horikoshi, Hidetoshi Nishijima voices Honjo, and Miori Takimoto voices Naoko Satomi. Released in 2013, it's a fictionalized biopic of Jiro Horikoshi, the designer of the Mitsubishi A5M and A6M Zero fighter aircraft used by Japan in World War II. The film follows Jiro's passion for aviation and his dreams of designing beautiful aircraft, juxtaposed with the harsh realities of war and the ethical dilemmas of his work.