top 5 indie movies to watch in 2024

September 13, 2024by claudia cavaleiro

ALL OF US STRANGERS

all of us is andrew haigh's new adaptation of the novel strangers by japanese author taichi yamada. the story centers on adam (andrew scott), a gay screenwriter with a traumatic childhood who lives a very lonely life in his apartment on the outskirts of london. one night, harry (paul mescal) knocks on his door with a bottle of whiskey in his hand. slowly, adam falls in love with harry, while we also learn more about himself and his most impossible wish: to see his parents, who died when he was 12, and show them who he is now. it's an impeccable cast, a very moving and heartbreaking story that touches you in a way that few movies manage.

GHOSTLIGHT

ghostlight is a moving film about a family devastated by the tragic death of their teenage son. daisy, the sister, is an angry teenager who ends up suspended from school. and dan, the father, on the edge of stress, is also suspended from his construction job. It is at this point that dan, by chance, finds himself day after day at the rehearsals for the play "romeo and juliet". it is here that they find the therapy they need, a kind of catharsis that only theater can provide, uniting them both as actors and as an audience.

HOUSEKEEPING FOR BEGINERS

director goran stolevski brings another must-see film, set in skopje, about a struggling family. dita, a social worker, and her partner suada face the drama of having recently diagnosed with terminal cancer. worried about the future of their two daughters, suada begs dita to adopt them and register them as "white" in order to protect them from the systematic racism to which romanians are subjected. to maintain the appearance of a "traditional family," dita persuades her gay roommate, toni, to marry her. ali, another romanian, after a one-night stand with toni, becomes another member of the extended family, bringing joy to a house in mourning. a story of family dynamics, sacrifice and pain that affects all families, but especially the most vulnerable.

THEATER CAMP

theater camp is a delightful and witty indie comedy that masterfully captures the quirky and endearing world of performing arts summer camps. directed by molly gordon and nick lieberman, this mockumentary-style film is not only a love letter to the theater community but also an enjoyable ride for audiences of all backgrounds, filled with humor, heart, and a sincere appreciation for artistic expression.

set in the fictional adirondACTS theater camp, the story revolves around a group of theater-obsessed children and eccentric instructors who come together for an unforgettable summer. when the camp's beloved leader, joan (amy sedaris), falls ill, her clueless son troy (jimmy tatro) takes over, despite knowing nothing about running a theater camp. this sets the stage for a series of comedic missteps as the staff, including rebecca-diane (molly gordon) and amos (ben platt), must band together to save their camp from financial ruin.

KINDS OF KINDNESS
in kinds of kindness, yorgos lanthimos, the visionary director behind the favourite and the lobster, brings his signature blend of dark humor, surrealism, and biting social commentary to a thought-provoking exploration of human kindness. known for his idiosyncratic approach to storytelling, lanthimos crafts a film that challenges viewers’ understanding of empathy, connection, and the often uncomfortable complexities behind acts of compassion.

set in a world that feels both familiar and eerily off-kilter, the movie follows multiple characters whose lives intersect in strange and unexpected ways. lanthimos takes the concept of kindness and flips it on its head, asking viewers to question whether acts of compassion are always selfless or if they sometimes serve hidden personal agendas. the narrative explores the gray areas of morality, making for a film that is as unsettling as it is poignant.

cláudia cavaleiro the editor in chief for CINCO editorial. born in '82 in coimbra, she is graduated in philosophy from the university of coimbra. passionate about books and podcasts in a geek kind of way, she always find something interesting to research. loves to bring awareness to social problems and loves working at CINCO!

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