More Films Out Of This World
The Apollo 10 mission was the first time humans set foot on the moon. It was also a watershed moment in American space history. Richard Linklater’s personal journey through the space age when man was on the precipice of reaching the moon has autobiographical elements. The film is an urgent watch if you want to get transported back to that era and experience what it was like to be a part of history.
The director has used rotoscope animation to create a world of nostalgia that is gradually absorbed into the viewer. This contemplative tone and lack of plot make it a great way to spend time in, without feeling rushed.
In “Linklater’s new film,” life is simpler than ever before. The idea of living is simpler and does not require too many superficial qualifications, as it does today. His observant narrative has notions about humanity being brought together by a revolutionary event in its history books.
- ‘Apollo 10 1/2’
- ‘The Shawshank Redemption’
- ‘The Godfather’
- ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’
- ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’
Waking Life (2001)
“Waking Life” is a film that uses a similar visual style and animation technique to explore the uncharted beyond traditional storytelling. It is one of those plotless films that works out on the back of its altruistic ideas and the exploration of human reaction in a conducive environment seldom found in mass cinema. ..
In ‘Waking Life’, Linklater takes on the idea of dreaming after the dream. This is a common feature in all great films, whether it be the recently released ‘Everything, Everywhere, All at Once’, or ‘2001 Space Odyssey’. A lot of digging and introspection reveals the true intentions of the makers, which usually has little or no connection to the meaning of the actual events of the film. Even ‘Apollo 10 1/2’ works on a similar notion.
Stardust Memories (1980)
In Woody Allen’s Stardust Memories, Sandy Bates goes through a tough time. She has lost her job, her home, and her friends. She is struggling to make ends meet and find a way to cope with the difficult times she is going through.
Woody Allen’s convention attendance and storytelling techniques are indicative of his unfulfilled personal ambitions and insecurities. Sandy, Allen’s character, is stressed out and unhappy, with issues extending to politics in addition to typical Woody Allen themes like relationships. ..
The movie is a tender look at the past in hindsight, and it does not do so to regret but to achieve a sense of completion that he cannot find in the present.
Stand by Me (1986)
While ‘Stand by Me’ does not account for a happy revisiting of the past, it does create a vivid experience of it. The viewer’s perspective is guided through Gordie’s narration of his beautiful, stout friendship with his mates. Through thick and thin, they stood by each other. Standing the test of actual threats and real events is tough for any relationship that is vowed by the maker to be a bond etched in time. We see it happening in real-time with the four friends.
The group in ‘Stand by Me’ tries to protect each other and revel in their spotless camaraderie. The innocence attached to their togetherness is no coincidence. For every kid who grows up in today’s technology disrupted times, these displays of childhood can only evoke envy.
Persepolis (2007)
“Persepolis” is an animated film that deals with serious subjects such as war, politics, and identity. Its appeal lies partly in the haunting realization of the pain of a family during the carnage that the 1979 revolution in Iran brought upon the countrymen. But more significantly, “Persepolis” portrays Marji coming to terms with being an adult and facing the challenge of life against all odds. ..
This film is about the journey of two astronauts, Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, as they walk on the moon. It also looks at social values and political change.
Mid90s (2018)
In reviving the skate scene from the 1990s, Jonah Hill has hit the nail on the head. From the music to the clothes, everything seems to be spot on. It follows Stevie, a 13-year-old boy who is trying to figure out who he is and how to cope with the world. Eventually, he finds a place among the neighborhood skateboarders and realizes that the life he imagines they live is quite different from the one he had imagined.
“Mid90s” is a semi-autobiographical film about the life of writer and director James Hill. The film feels organic and full of quaint observations about the nature of childhood, rather than forced with a lot of details. ..
It is a family whose bond is founded in environmental conditioning rather than blood that his misfits enjoy each other’s loyalty and band together. Hill’s heartfelt tribute to his childhood is well framed in the realistic arches of the neighborhood of his childhood and does not for one-second drag. Overall, ‘Mid90s’ raw mix of emotion and innocence is powerful enough to make it a lasting watch.
Ivan’s Childhood (1962)
Ivan Tarkovsky’s “Ivan’s Childhood” is one of my favorite films. The Russian auteur’s polished craftsmanship went along with his courage to make the kind of films that didn’t do well commercially (although this was an exception). He remained true to his principles and affection for cinema in a way that many cannot. “Ivan’s Childhood” is set in and around WWII, and like most of his work, it is beautifully shot and deeply moving. ..
Ivan’s Childhood is special because of the poetic infusion of the “little sapling in the storm” arc. The sudden draw of events that pull you out of the lull proves to be the real show-stealer. In a homage to Ivan’s memory, Galstev’s final scene preserves it and cherishes it. You do not let go of that until a long time after you have left the screen. ..
Licorice Pizza (2021)
The film is set in the early 1960s, when America was on the cusp of a new era. The country was on the rise and young people were eager to experience all that the country had to offer. Paul Thomas Anderson’s film captures this feeling perfectly. The characters are relatable and you can feel their excitement as they explore America for the first time.
It is a regular phenomenon that happens with characters like Barry from ‘Punch-Drunk’, or Daniel in ‘There Will be Blood’. But it is a regular phenomenon that uses the strange times of the ’70s as a setup when most teenagers and young adults were familiarizing themselves with a new way of life. This combination of the bittersweet and inconsistent quality of its two main titular ingredients in Gary and Alana’s awkward and inert romance makes it an interesting piece of writing.
The courting seems harmless, even childish at times. But as they grow into the story and experience the feeling for the first time, the passion grows. Making its way through a myriad of laughs and strange San Francisco delicacies, love finds them. They no more have to run away from themselves or the unsure fate of life.
In ‘Licorice Pizza’, the essence of nostalgia is not in how it happened, but in how you remember it happening.
Only Yesterday (1991)
Although most films in the list do not conform to realism much, ‘Only Yesterday’ is a noted exception. It is very much grounded in the sincerity and seriousness of drama that purists adulate. The Japanese animation film follows Taeko Okajima, a middle-aged company worker as she discovers her wistful desire to return back to the glory days of her childhood when she visits her cousin’s house in a rural town.
Director Isao Takahata’s exposition is more personal than literary. The base memories of his structure are similar to Linklater’s in “Apollo 10 1/2,” the only difference being in the scale of his correlation to the setting. And just like the space film that is not really about space and can be equally enjoyed by children and adults (as children, mind you), “Only Yesterday” characterizes itself by its universality of longing with a hint of regret that comes with hindsight and the arrogance to do things the right way. ..
- Apollo 10: The First manned mission to the moon
- Apollo 11: The first manned mission to the moon and return
- Apollo 13: A fatal mission to the moon that ended in disaster
- Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
- Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
- Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
- Jurassic Park III: The Lost World
Our picks for the best summer reads are just the beginning! Let us know in the comments below what books you’re looking forward to reading this season. ..
