When You’re Looking for an Escape
I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that quarantine is driving me crazy. Of course, I am not trying to protest against these necessary measures, and I know that some people around the world have it a lot worse than I do. So, this is just the whim of a privileged teenage girl who finds herself stuck in an even more boring reality than she might have imagined. In fact, for a few days, some would say weeks, or even months, notions of time and reality have changed considerably. With every day the same, it is complicated to maintain a ‘normal’ sense of time and reality. Apart from perhaps the occasional visit from the postman or the eventual small talk with a Trader Joe's cashier, I have lost all social and physical contact with the rest of the world. And, in this slow and passive chaos that fills my days, only three things allow me to distract myself from this burdensome situation: books, music, and movies. After months of research and experimentation, I finally found the 7 ultimate films to comfort us, help us forget about our anxieties, kill our boredom, and escape reality.
Amélie
Amélie - in French ‘Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain’ meaning ‘The Fabulous Destiny of Amélie Poulain’ - is a 2001 French romantic comedy directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Jeunet describes the story as “a chronicle of the elaborate ways in which Amélie, the whimsically observant heroine, forestalls any examination of her own loneliness by secretly helping others” (quoted in Zalewski). Years before the movie was created, Jeunet had collected a list of things that brought him happiness, from private observations to personal memories, and many of these little magical things appear in some form in Amélie. Through the intimacy that brings us, the viewers, closer to the protagonist, (mainly created by Amelie’s constant address to the camera), we are invited into her head and we can relate to her life. With its layer of colorful surfaces and a series of ‘cartoon-esque’ special effects, the movie creates an out-of-reality world where social issues don’t exist. This movie perfectly combines childhood nostalgia, spontaneous adventures, and Parisian romance, with a touch of quirkiness.
Submarine
Submarine is a 2010 coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by Richard Ayoade and adapted from the 2008 novel of the same name by Joe Dunthorne. The plot follows the life of 15-year-old Oliver Tate as he tries to accomplish the two goals he has set for himself: to lose his virginity before his next birthday, and to break his mother’s relationship with an ex-lover who has reappeared in her life. This movie deals with themes such as mother-son relationships, romantic relationships, teen angst, anxiety, and high school problems, all the while avoiding cheesy and annoying coming-of-age plot elements. Aside from the fresh, quirky, and funny storyline of the film, two things stood out for me. Firstly, the artistic sensibility of the film resulted in a visually stunning and enjoyable experience - sometimes almost Wes-Anderson-like or Godard-esque. Furthermore, with Alex Turner performing in the soundtrack music, it is not surprising that the auditory experience is just as good as the visuals.
Ghost World
Ghost World is a 2001 black comedy film directed by Terry Zwigoff, based on the 1993-1997 comic of the same name written by Daniel Clowes; the screenplay was co-written by the two men. The plot follows the lives of two friends, Enid (on the right), and Rebecca (left) as they plan to move in together after high school, and attempt to figure out their lives. Initially as a joke, they respond to a stranger's newspaper ad for a date. From this point, their journey towards discovering direction in their lives becomes even more complicated. This is one of those movies that stays with you for years. Filled with satire, dark humor, and thoughtful observations, the movie explores mature themes in an innovative and intelligent way. It’s hard not to relate, or at least sympathize with Enid when we’re exposed to her unique world-view and the parallel universe which she has created to escape a reality she can’t seem to fit in. Along with this touching story, both visual aspects of the film, (the lighting, color palette, costumes, and sets), and auditory elements - with a varied soundtrack including music genres like blues and 60s Indian rock n roll - make this movie a cult coming-of-age film.
Garden State
Garden State is a 2004 American romantic comedy-drama, written and directed by Zach Braff. The story centers on the life of Largeman, a 26-year-old actor/waiter who decides to return home in New Jersey for his mother's funeral, after being apart from his family for years. Director Braff based the film on his real-life experiences. Garden State is a movie that speaks to an entire generation, (mostly those born in the mid-80s), and includes some of the most memorable scenes in the history of cinema. While it might seem at first that it’s one of those movies that only explore somewhat mature themes on a surface level, in fact Braff manages to delve deep into the characters' feelings and explore essential questions in a complex way. Thus, while this movie will certainly make you laugh, it also will make you cry, cringe, and hopefully draw you into this beautiful yet realistic world.
Moonrise Kingdom
Moonrise Kingdom is a 2012 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by Wes Anderson, and written by Anderson and Roman Coppola. When writing the screenplay, Anderson and Coppola drew ideas from their personal experiences, memories of childhood fantasies, and films such as Melody (1971) and The 400 Blows (1959). Moonrise Kingdom follows the life of Gilman, an orphan boy who escapes from a scouting camp to finally meet his pen pal, Hayward - who is also his love interest. Very few movies accurately capture this feeling that comes with childhood adventures, and what exactly is going on inside a child’s head. The film subtly explores the mature themes of young love, child sexuality, and juvenile mental health, all through the innocent minds of the young characters. The story is simultaneously funny, melancholic, adorable, and dramatic. As for all Wes Anderson movies, the film's color palette and use of visual symmetry both contribute to a visually stunning piece. The sound design adds even more value to the movie’s technical level, including the original composition by Alexandre Desplat to supplement the existing music by Benjamin Britten.
Scott Pilgrim v.s. The World
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is a 2010 comedy film, co-written, produced and directed by Edgar Wright, based on the graphic novel series Scott Pilgrim written by Bryan Lee O'Malley. The film follows the socially awkward protagonist Scott Pilgrim as he must defeat his new girlfriend's seven evil exes in order to win her heart. Through the endless use of weird special effects, Wright definitely managed to recreate the cartoon-esque world that is found in the original comic books. The story itself is hilarious; the ridiculousness of situations and the quirkiness of the characters’ personalities culminate in a rare comedic result. The amazing visuals of this eye-candy film entertains the viewers - both mentally and visually. If you want to watch something amusing, fun, and super well-made, I recommend diving into this epic experience that no other film offers.
Juno
Juno is a 2007 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody. The plot follows Juno, a 16-year-old high-school junior in Minnesota, whose unplanned pregnancy brings her more involvement in the lives of her baby's adoptive parents than she had expected. Throughout the movie, Juno’s charisma is expressed through her quirky, tomboyish behavior, hilarious personality, and of course her mistakes, which makes her feel so real and likable. It’s one of those movies where you forget that it’s all fictional and, as you fully immerse yourself into Juno’s world, you forget about your own problems and reality. Admittedly, this movie is not for everyone; it has some flaws and some people might find it ‘annoying’, or even boring, especially if you set high expectations according to its amazing critical response. However, both the soundtrack and the visuals offer viewers an enjoyable experience as they follow Juno’s life.
Voila, I've done my job, now it's your turn to start the most epic movie marathon of your life and hopefully find some small treasures along the way. Of course, due to the subjectivity of the theme of my list and the eccentricity of these films, some of them might not be your kind of thing, or transport you to another reality. I just hope at least you'll find a little gem that you can hang on to when you're feeling down. And, if you already know these movies, take this article as a sign to watch them again ;).
Sources
Wikipedia contributors. "Amélie." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 2 Sep. 2020. Web. 2 Sep. 2020.
Wikipedia contributors. "Submarine (2010 film)." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 30 Aug. 2020. Web.
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Wikipedia contributors. "Ghost World (film)." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 25 Aug. 2020. Web. 2
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Wikipedia contributors. "Garden State (film)." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 31 Aug. 2020. Web. 2
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Wikipedia contributors. "Moonrise Kingdom." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 14 Aug. 2020. Web. 2
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Wikipedia contributors. "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 2 Sep. 2020.
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Wikipedia contributors. "Juno (film)." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 6 Aug. 2020. Web. 2 Sep. 2020.
Zalewski, Daniel. Film; Going Sweet and Sentimental Has Its Rewards. 28 Oct. 2001,
www.nytimes.com/2001/10/28/movies/film-going-sweet-and-sentimental-has-its-rewards.html.