Here are Cinephile Corner’s 10 recommendations for movies like Falcon Lake:
Rye Lane
Few films in 2023 will reach the peaceful bliss that Hulu’s newest streamer Rye Lane does, a movie about two lost twenty-somethings recovering from painful breakups over the span of one eventful afternoon in South London. Told through an episodic lens that depicts the steps from heartbreak to a restored faith in relationships, Rye Lane is a cheerful reimagining of the romantic comedy.
One Fine Morning
One Fine Morning showcases Mia Hansen-Løve’s masterful ability to capture the bittersweet complexities of life in both the good and the bad. Léa Seydoux and Pascal Greggory star.
Fingernails
Fingernails, directed by Christos Nikou, stands as another strong addition to Apple TV+’s repertoire, blending elements of romance, drama, and comedy against the backdrop of a futuristic society grappling with the complexities of love. Starring Jessie Buckley, Riz Ahmed, and Jeremy Allen White, the movie explores the fragility of relationships in a world where a single fingernail can determine the strength of a couple’s love.
Bones and All
Although it may seem like an idea and concept that would never work, Luca Guadagnino pulls off another incredibly unique movie with Bones and All as Taylor Russell and Timothée Chalamet feed on the flesh of others and try to survive on the fringes of society.
Past Lives
Celine Song‘s Past Lives is a revelation, despite a growing skepticism that romance movies are dead in the current streaming era. Every bit of emotion and rekindling romance is only strengthened by a nuanced approach to script and perfect casting. A real highlight of 2023.
Preparation for the Next Life
Bing Liu’s Preparation for the Next Life is a patient, unvarnished drama about two people trying to build a life together with nothing to fall back on. After the nonfiction clarity of Minding the Gap, Liu shifts to narrative without losing the documentary instincts that made his debut so piercing. You feel that in the way the camera lingers on kitchens in Chinatown, cramped rooms, and the small rituals of work and survival. The story is familiar, yet the texture is specific.
Here
Bas Devos‘ Here is a subtle delight, the kind of film that quietly sneaks up on you and leaves an unexpectedly profound emotional impact. Its supremely melancholic and understated style might appear unobtrusive at first glance, but Devos has a talent for crafting movies that stay with you long after they are finished.
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person is just as ridiculous and comical as its English-language title would suggest. The movie is a riff on the vampire genre in a similar way that What We Do in the Shadows is. They both poke fun at the blasé, mundane, and almost emo way in which we consume much of the vampire material that’s been produced this century. Because vampires have become synonymous with counterculture, often because the motifs and iconography of these monsters reflect that of the unimpressed teenage mindset.
Read our full review of Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person
The History of Sound
Oliver Hermanus’ The History of Sound is defined by its restraint, almost to a fault. For a film centered on a romance between two men traveling the U.S. in the late 1910s to capture music, it feels surprisingly muted, with its emotional undercurrents often simmering too quietly to ever fully ignite. On paper, the pairing of Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor—two of the most compelling actors of their generation—should be electrifying. In practice, both give strong performances, but the film rarely provides them with material that resonates beyond fleeting moments.
Fremont
Despite the complex and painstakingly sad material baked into Fremont, the movie never overplays those emotions. It’s still relentless in its comedy and hope at the same time. An achievement in tone delivered by Anaita Wali Zada and Jeremy Allen White.
READ MORE: Falcon Lake (2023)
