Movies About Determination

From Michel Gondry, starring Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Tom Wilkinson, Gerry Robert Byrne
Rated R

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a 2004 romantic science fiction comedy-drama directed by Michel Gondry and written by Charlie Kaufman. It stars Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet as Joel and Clementine, respectively. The film follows Joel as he undergoes a procedure to remove all memories of his ex-girlfriend Clementine from his brain, only to realize that he still loves her. The film was critically acclaimed and was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Original Screenplay. It was also awarded the 2004 BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay. The story follows Joel and his ex-girlfriend Clementine, who undergoes a procedure to have all of her memories of Joel removed from her brain. Joel is then forced to reevaluate his life and his feelings for Clementine as he attempts to erase her from his memory. Through his journey, he discovers that he still loves her and that even if he forgets her, his love for her will never die.

From Ingmar Bergman, starring Bibi Andersson, Liv Ullmann, Margaretha Krook, Gunnar Björnstrand
Rated Not Rated

Persona is a 1966 Swedish film directed by Ingmar Bergman. It tells the story of Elisabet Vogler, a stage actress who has inexplicably gone mute, and her nurse Alma, who is tasked with caring for her. The two women form an uneasy bond as they both struggle to understand each other and their own inner conflicts. Throughout the film, the two women engage in a series of conversations that explore their complex psychological states, as well as their relationships with the world outside them. While Elisabet gradually opens up to Alma, Alma's own motives become increasingly unclear and the viewer is left to ponder the meaning of their conversations. The film is known for its innovative use of narrative, visuals, and sound to create a powerful exploration of identity and the human condition.

From Naoko Yamada, starring Miyu Irino, Saori Hayami, Aoi Yûki, Kenshô Ono
Rated Not Rated

A Silent Voice: The Movie is a 2016 Japanese animated film directed by Naoko Yamada. It is based on the manga of the same name by Yoshitoki Ōima and follows the story of Shouya Ishida, a school bully, and Shouko Nishimiya, the deaf victim of his bullying. After years of guilt and regret, Shouya attempts to make amends with Shouko, only to discover the difficulty of truly understanding one another and overcoming the past. Through their journey of friendship, they learn valuable lessons about communication, understanding, and the power of forgiveness.

From Ingmar Bergman, starring Harriet Andersson, Gunnar Björnstrand, Max von Sydow, Lars Passgård
Rated Not Rated

Through a Glass Darkly (1961) is a psychological drama directed by Ingmar Bergman. The film follows Karin, a young woman struggling with schizophrenia, and her family as they vacation on a remote island. As Karin's mental health deteriorates, her relationships with her husband Martin, her father David, and her brother Minus become strained. While on the island, Karin believes she has seen God, and as a result, she becomes increasingly paranoid. In the end, Karin realizes that her illness is inescapable and resigns herself to it. The film is a powerful exploration of faith, relationships, and mental illness.

From Denis Villeneuve, starring Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas, Dave Bautista
Rated R

Blade Runner 2049 is a 2017 science fiction film directed by Denis Villeneuve and set thirty years after the events of the original film. The film follows K (Ryan Gosling), a replicant blade runner working for the Los Angeles Police Department, as he discovers a secret that could plunge society into chaos. K's investigation leads him to Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former blade runner who is missing. As K follows the trail of clues, he is faced with enemies on all sides, forcing him to confront his past and his own identity. Along his quest, he finds allies in Joi (Ana de Armas) and Lieutenant Joshi (Robin Wright). With the future of humanity hanging in the balance, K must decide whether to embrace his synthetic nature or to fight for a greater purpose.

From Hal Ashby, starring Ruth Gordon, Bud Cort, Vivian Pickles, Cyril Cusack
Rated PG

Harold and Maude is a 1971 dark comedy directed by Hal Ashby. The film follows the unlikely relationship between Harold, a young, wealthy, and morbidly obsessed 20-year-old, and Maude, an eccentric 79-year-old woman. Despite their age difference, Harold and Maude become close friends and eventually fall in love. Through their friendship, Harold begins to learn to live life to its fullest, embracing the joys of life and death. The film deals with life, death, and the beauty of enjoying life. The film is a cult classic and is considered an influential work of dark comedy.

From Luca Guadagnino, starring Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar
Rated R

Call Me by Your Name is a 2017 romantic drama directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer, and Michael Stuhlbarg. Set in 1983 in the Italian Riviera, the film follows Elio Perlman (Chalamet), a seventeen-year-old Jewish-Italian boy, as he develops a romantic relationship with Oliver (Hammer), his father’s assistant. As Elio and Oliver’s relationship develops, their connection grows stronger, and Elio begins to confront his feelings for Oliver and his own identity. The film is a tender exploration of first love, and the painful experience of letting go.

From Bob Fosse, starring Liza Minnelli, Michael York, Helmut Griem, Joel Grey
Rated PG

Cabaret is a 1972 musical drama film directed by Bob Fosse, set in 1931 Berlin, Germany during the Weimar Republic. The film follows a young American writer, Brian (Michael York), as he discovers the vibrant and decadent nightlife of the city. Brian meets Sally Bowles (Liza Minnelli), a cabaret singer, and becomes enamored with her and the atmosphere of the cabaret club. As the film progresses, Brian gets more involved in the politics of the area, and starts to see the rise of Nazism in Germany. As the world around them changes, Sally and Brian's relationship also changes, and they must both face the harsh realities of their new world.

From Wes Anderson, starring Bryan Cranston, Koyu Rankin, Edward Norton, Bob Balaban
Rated PG-13

Isle of Dogs is a 2018 stop-motion animated film directed by Wes Anderson. Set in a dystopian future Japan, the film follows a young boy named Atari Kobayashi as he attempts to locate his lost dog, Spots, after all the canine pets of Megasaki City are exiled to nearby Trash Island by the town's mayor. With the help of five other dogs, Atari embarks on a dangerous journey to the Isle of Dogs in search of his beloved pet. Along the way, the group must battle a hostile environment, dangerous adversaries, and a powerful conspiracy, all while uncovering the truth behind the mayor's sinister motives.

From Richard Curtis, starring Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy, Lydia Wilson
Rated R

About Time is a 2013 romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Richard Curtis. The film stars Domhnall Gleeson as Tim, a young man who discovers he has the ability to time travel. Tim uses his newfound power to try and improve his relationships with his family, friends, and new love interest, Mary (Rachel McAdams). Through his travels, Tim learns the importance of living in the moment and cherishing the people in his life. The film follows Tim as he navigates the ups and downs of relationships and his unique ability, ultimately coming to terms with his own mortality.

From Fatih Akin, starring Baki Davrak, Gürsoy Gemec, Cengiz Daner, Tuncel Kurtiz
Rated Not Rated

The Edge of Heaven is a German/Turkish drama directed by Fatih Akin that follows the intersecting lives of several characters living in Germany and Turkey. The core story focuses on the relationship between an elderly German widower, Ali Aksu (played by Tuncel Kurtiz), and a Turkish prostitute, Yeter (played by Nursel Köse). When Ali's son Nejat (Baki Davrak) travels to Istanbul to find Yeter and bring her back to Germany, he crosses paths with a young university student, Ayten (Nurgül Yesilçay), who is searching for her mother, whom she has been separated from for years. As their stories unfold, the film reveals how the characters' lives are intertwined in unexpected ways. Ultimately, the film is a powerful exploration of love, loss, redemption, and the complexities of family relationships.

From Robert Altman, starring Shelley Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Janice Rule, Robert Fortier
Rated PG

Three Women is a 1977 drama film directed by Robert Altman, that follows three seemingly unrelated women in the small desert town of Lone Star, California. Millie Lammoreaux (Shelley Duvall) is an emotionally troubled woman who is searching for an identity, while Pinky Rose (Sissy Spacek) is a shy, pregnant woman who is looking for meaning in her life. Willie Hart (Janice Rule) is the town's mysterious newcomer, who is trying to escape her past. As the three women's lives begin to intertwine, the film explores the complicated relationships between them, as well as their own psychological journeys. Through the lens of Altman's unique visual style and use of symbolic imagery, Three Women ultimately tells a story of human connection, identity and finding purpose.

From Doris Dörrie, starring Elmar Wepper, Hannelore Elsner, Aya Irizuki, Maximilian Brückner
Rated Unrated

Cherry Blossoms (2008) is a German-Japanese drama film directed by Doris Dörrie. The film follows Rudi, a German man who travels to Japan when he learns that his wife, Trudi, has passed away. While in Japan, Rudi meets and befriends a young woman, Yūko, and discovers that Trudi had been planning to visit Japan in order to learn more about Yūko's life. Rudi then embarks on a journey of self-discovery and renewal as he learns about the culture, customs, and people of Japan. Throughout his journey, Rudi discovers the beauty and power of cherry blossoms and learns to accept his own mortality. In the end, he finds a renewed sense of purpose and joy in his life.

From Sean Baker, starring Brooklynn Prince, Bria Vinaite, Willem Dafoe, Christopher Rivera
Rated R

The Florida Project is a 2017 drama film written and directed by Sean Baker. It follows a precocious six-year-old named Moonee and her rag-tag group of friends over the course of a summer in Central Florida. Moonee and her friends live in a budget motel just outside the gates of Disney World, and under the watchful eye of Bobby, the motel manager. As Moonee and her friends explore the world outside their motel, they stumble upon a series of experiences that are both heartbreaking and life-affirming. Meanwhile, Moonee's mother Halley struggles to provide for them both, while trying to keep the motel from being shut down by the authorities. The Florida Project is a powerful and poignant look at poverty, innocence and resilience in modern-day America.

From Ava DuVernay, starring David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Wilkinson
Rated PG-13

Selma is a 2014 biographical drama film directed by Ava DuVernay, based on the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches led by James Bevel, Hosea Williams, Martin Luther King Jr., and John Lewis. The film stars David Oyelowo as King, Tom Wilkinson as President Lyndon B. Johnson, and Carmen Ejogo as Coretta Scott King. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when the civil rights activists fought for equal voting rights, culminating in their march from Selma to the Alabama state capital in Montgomery. Along the way, they encounter racism, violence, and intimidation from local law enforcement and the Ku Klux Klan. Despite all the obstacles, the activists eventually manage to reach their goal, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is eventually passed. Selma is both an uplifting and powerful story about the courage and resilience of the African-American civil rights activists who fought for a better future and secured a historic victory. It serves as a reminder of the importance of standing up for what is right and fighting for justice and equality.

From Ildikó Enyedi, starring Alexandra Borbély, Géza Morcsányi, Réka Tenki, Zoltán Schneider
Rated Not Rated

On Body and Soul is a 2017 Hungarian romantic drama film directed by Ildikó Enyedi. The story follows two office workers, Endre and Mária, who discover that they share the same dream each night. This shared dream draws them closer together, as they explore its meaning and learn to confront their respective pasts in order to find a way to be together. Endre is a cynical older factory manager and Mária is a younger woman who has been recently hired as the new quality inspector. Though initially distant and awkward, the two eventually develop a bond as they discover the mysterious power of their dream and, in the process, come to terms with their respective pasts. As their relationship grows, they must decide if the power of their dreams is enough to face their fears and take a chance on love.

From François Ozon, starring Pierre Niney, Paula Beer, Ernst Stötzner, Marie Gruber
Rated PG-13

Frantz is a French drama directed by François Ozon in 2016. Set in a small German town in the aftermath of World War I, the film tells the story of Anna (Paula Beer), a young woman whose fiancé, Frantz, was killed in the war. When a mysterious Frenchman, Adrien (Pierre Niney), arrives claiming to have been a friend of Frantz’s, Anna is initially suspicious and hostile. However, she gradually begins to appreciate Adrien’s presence, and her attachment to him causes her to question her own identity and beliefs. The film is a powerful exploration of the psychological and emotional effects of war, as well as a meditation on the healing power of love and friendship.

From Phil Grabsky, starring Emanuel Ax, Jonathan Biss, Riccardo Chailly, Alban Gerhardt
Rated Not Rated

In Search of Beethoven is a documentary film from 2009 directed by Phil Grabsky. It explores the life and works of Ludwig van Beethoven, one of the world's greatest and most celebrated composers. Through interviews with leading musicians, historians, and academics, the film gives viewers a unique insight into the life and works of Beethoven, and takes them on a journey through the composer's tumultuous life, from his early years as a musical prodigy, to his success as a virtuoso performer and composer, to his struggles with deafness and personal isolation. The film also looks at Beethoven's relationship with the music of his time, his influence on later composers, and his legacy in the world of music.

From Greta Gerwig, starring Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Lucas Hedges
Rated R

From Stephen Frears, starring John Cusack, Iben Hjejle, Todd Louiso, Jack Black
Rated R

From Michael Moore, starring Michael Moore, William Black, Jimmy Carter, Elijah Cummings
Rated R

From Cary Joji Fukunaga, starring Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Jamie Bell, Su Elliot
Rated PG-13

From Jan-Ole Gerster, starring Tom Schilling, Katharina Schüttler, Justus von Dohnányi, Andreas Schröders
Rated Not Rated

From Leo McCarey, starring Irene Dunne, Charles Boyer, Maria Ouspenskaya, Lee Bowman
Rated Approved

From Kirill Serebrennikov, starring Roman Bilyk, Irina Starshenbaum, Teo Yoo, Filipp Avdeev
Rated Not Rated