Movies About Photography On Netflix

From Directors: Fernando Meirelles, Kátia Lund, starring Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Matheus Nachtergaele, Phellipe Haagensen
Rated R

City of God is a 2002 Brazilian crime film directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund. It tells the story of life in the slums of Rio de Janeiro and centers around two boys growing up in a violent neighborhood. It follows Rocket, a young boy who dreams of becoming a photographer, and Li'l Ze, a local crime boss. As Rocket tries to distance himself from the gangs and violence, Li'l Ze continues to expand his criminal empire, leading to a violent and deadly confrontation between the two. Ultimately, Rocket must choose between his dream of a better future, or getting caught in the crossfire of the chaotic gang wars. The film features non-professional actors and is seen as a realistic portrayal of life in the slums of Rio de Janeiro.

From Alfred Hitchcock, starring James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey, Thelma Ritter
Rated PG

Rear Window is a 1954 American thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring James Stewart and Grace Kelly. The story follows a wheelchair-bound photographer who spies on his neighbors from his apartment window and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder. Stewart's character enlists the help of his girlfriend, played by Kelly, and his visiting nurse, played by Thelma Ritter, to investigate the suspicious neighbor. The film is noted for its use of technology and techniques in order to create suspense and tension, as well as its exploration of voyeurism and the moral implications of it.

From Directors: Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, Wim Wenders, starring Sebastião Salgado, Wim Wenders, Lélia Wanick Salgado, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado
Rated PG-13

The Salt of the Earth is a 2014 documentary directed by Juliano Ribeiro Salgado and Wim Wenders. The film follows the life of Sebastião Salgado, a Brazilian photographer and environmentalist who travels the world documenting the struggles of human labor and the effects of war, poverty, and natural disasters. Salgado also shares his passion for photography and his efforts to protect the environment. The film is a tribute to Salgado's life, his work, and his commitment to preserving the world. The film also highlights his commitment to his family, which includes his wife, Lélia Wanick Salgado, and their son, Juliano, who co-directed the film with Wenders.

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Matthew Modine, R. Lee Ermey, Vincent D'Onofrio, Adam Baldwin
Rated R

Full Metal Jacket is a 1987 war film directed by Stanley Kubrick. It follows a platoon of U.S. Marines as they endure basic training and later fight in the Battle of Huế during the Vietnam War. The film stars Matthew Modine, Adam Baldwin, Vincent D'Onofrio, and R. Lee Ermey. It explores the experiences and drill of a group of Marine recruits, focusing on two in particular: Private Joker (Modine) and Private Pyle (D'Onofrio). While doing basic training, Joker and Pyle are subjected to the harsh, often unscrupulous tactics of Gunnery Sergeant Hartman (Ermey). This leads to a breakdown in Pyle's mental state that eventually leads to tragedy. After basic training, the Marines are sent to fight in the Battle of Huế, where they experience the horror of war. The film examines the effects of war on the human psyche and how it can transform even the most hardened individuals.

From Wim Wenders, starring Harry Dean Stanton, Nastassja Kinski, Dean Stockwell, Sam Berry
Rated R

Paris, Texas is a 1984 drama film directed by Wim Wenders and starring Harry Dean Stanton, Nastassja Kinski, and Dean Stockwell. It tells the story of Travis Henderson (Stanton), a man who has been missing for four years and suddenly reappears in a Texas desert. He is suffering from amnesia and is taken in by his brother Walt (Stockwell), who reunites him with his son Hunter (Hunter Carson). Travis soon finds himself drawn back to Paris, Texas, where he attempts to reunite with his estranged wife (Kinski). Along the way, he meets and falls for a mysterious woman (Aurore Clément) and is forced to confront the past he had been trying to forget. Through this journey, Travis discovers the truth about his past and the importance of family.

From Wes Anderson, starring Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric, Adrien Brody
Rated R

The Grand Budapest Hotel is a 2014 comedy-drama film directed by Wes Anderson, starring Ralph Fiennes as the eccentric concierge Gustave H., Tony Revolori as his protégé Zero Moustafa, and F. Murray Abraham as the elderly author. Set in the fictional Republic of Zubrowka in the 1930s, the story follows Gustave and Zero as they become embroiled in a battle for a valuable painting and the inheritance of a large fortune. Along the way, they experience a series of misadventures including escaping from prison, being pursued by the police, and racing across the countryside in a series of comical chases. Meanwhile, a war brews in the background and the citizens of Zubrowka find themselves on the brink of civil unrest. Through the course of their journey, Gustave and Zero form a strong bond, and ultimately fight to protect their beloved Grand Budapest Hotel from destruction.

From Richard Linklater, starring Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, Elijah Smith
Rated R

Boyhood is a 2014 American drama film written and directed by Richard Linklater and starring Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane, Lorelei Linklater, and Ethan Hawke. The film follows the story of a young boy, Mason Evans Jr., from pre-teen to adulthood, played by Ellar Coltrane, as he navigates the joys and pitfalls of growing up. Mason's parents (Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette) struggle to keep their marriage alive, while Mason tries to find his purpose in life. As the years pass, Mason and his family experience moments of love, loss, joy, and heartache. By the end of the film, Mason has grown into a young man, ready to take on the challenges of adulthood.

From Directors: Emad Burnat, Guy Davidi, starring Emad Burnat, Soraya Burnat, Mohammed Burnat, Yasin Burnat
Rated Not Rated

5 Broken Cameras is a 2011 documentary film directed by Emad Burnat and Guy Davidi. The film tells the story of Burnat, a Palestinian farmer, and his documented experiences during the first five years of the ongoing non-violent resistance in Bil'in, a West Bank village threatened by encroaching Israeli settlements. The film shows the impact of the growing Israeli settlements on the villagers, and the harsh response of the Israeli military to the non-violent protests against them. The film follows Burnat's cameras as they are broken one-by-one, and the story of his personal journey as a villager turned activist. The film also features interviews with Israeli and Palestinian activists, as well as Israeli soldiers, to provide a more balanced perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2012.

From Roland Joffé, starring Sam Waterston, Haing S. Ngor, John Malkovich, Julian Sands
Rated R

The Killing Fields is a 1984 British drama film directed by Roland Joffé and starring Sam Waterston and Haing S. Ngor. It is based on the experiences of two journalists, Cambodian Dith Pran and American Sydney Schanberg, during the 1975-1979 Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia. The film follows Schanberg, an American journalist and his Cambodian colleague and friend, Pran, as they cover the war between the Khmer Rouge and the Vietnamese-backed government. As the Khmer Rouge takes control of the country and begins a campaign of genocide, Pran is separated from Schanberg and forced to survive in the dangerous killing fields. Meanwhile, Schanberg is unable to secure Pran's freedom, and with the help of a Cambodian refugee living in New York, he struggles to find his friend and return him safely to the United States. The film is a powerful and heartbreaking tale of courage, friendship and survival during one of the darkest periods in Cambodia's history.

From Directors: John Maloof, Charlie Siskel, starring Vivian Maier, John Maloof, Daniel Arnaud, Simon Amédé
Rated Not Rated

Finding Vivian Maier is a 2013 documentary by directors John Maloof and Charlie Siskel. It tells the story of Vivian Maier, a reclusive nanny and self-taught photographer who produced tens of thousands of photographs that were discovered after her death in 2009. The film follows Maloof's quest to uncover Maier's story, which leads him to the people who knew her and to photographs that reveal her as an artist. Through interviews and archival footage, the film paints a portrait of Maier as a mysterious, fascinating woman and a brilliant photographer. Finding Vivian Maier was widely praised by critics, won numerous awards and was named one of the best documentaries of 2013.

From Sam Mendes, starring Tom Hanks, Tyler Hoechlin, Rob Maxey, Liam Aiken
Rated R

Road to Perdition is a 2002 drama directed by Sam Mendes. Set in 1931 during the Great Depression, it tells the story of Michael Sullivan (Tom Hanks), a loyal and unflinchingly honest hitman employed by mob boss John Rooney (Paul Newman). When Sullivan's youngest son Michael Jr. (Tyler Hoechlin) inadvertently witnesses one of his father's hits, Sullivan and his son become targets of Rooney's son, Connor (Daniel Craig). Sullivan and Michael Jr. flee, with Sullivan determined to find a way to protect his son and avenge his family. The film follows their journey across the United States in an attempt to stay one step ahead of the gangsters in hot pursuit. Along the way, Sullivan finds unexpected allies, including a sympathetic photographer (Jude Law), and must confront the consequences of his violent life.

From Clint Eastwood, starring Clint Eastwood, Meryl Streep, Annie Corley, Victor Slezak
Rated PG-13

The Bridges of Madison County is a 1995 romantic drama film directed by Clint Eastwood, starring Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood. Based on the best-selling novel of the same name, the film follows the story of Francesca Johnson (Meryl Streep), a married Italian-American woman living in rural Iowa with her husband and two children. Johnson is visited by National Geographic photographer Robert Kincaid (Clint Eastwood) while her family is out of town. The two share a four-day love affair, culminating in a difficult decision that will have lasting consequences. The Bridges of Madison County examines the fragility of life and the power of love, as well as the importance of self-discovery and fulfillment.

From Wes Anderson, starring Gene Hackman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller
Rated R

The Royal Tenenbaums is a 2001 American comedy-drama film directed by Wes Anderson. It stars Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Ben Stiller, Gwyneth Paltrow, Owen Wilson, and Luke Wilson. The story focuses on an estranged family of former child prodigies reuniting when their father announces he has a terminal illness. The Tenenbaums are a dysfunctional family living in New York City. They include Royal Tenenbaum, a lawyer who abandoned his family three decades ago; Etheline, Royal's wife and mother of the three Tenenbaum children; Chas, a financial wizard; Richie, a tennis prodigy; and adopted daughter Margot, an acclaimed playwright. The film follows the family as they attempt to reunite and cope with the impending death of their patriarch. Along the way, the family must confront their past indiscretions, secrets, and reconciliations. The Tenenbaums must come to terms with their own failures and strive to find peace in their lives.

From Michelangelo Antonioni, starring David Hemmings, Vanessa Redgrave, Sarah Miles, John Castle
Rated Not Rated

Blow-Up is a 1966 British-Italian drama directed by Michelangelo Antonioni. The film follows a successful London fashion photographer, Thomas (David Hemmings), who believes he has witnessed a murder. When Thomas develops the film from the incident, he discovers something suspicious in the background of one of his photographs, leading him to further investigate the scene of the alleged crime. Throughout his investigation, Thomas becomes increasingly obsessed with the photograph and its implications. The film is an exploration of both the meaning of reality and the act of artistic creation. It features a renowned soundtrack by Herbie Hancock that helped to make the film a classic.

From Jan Troell, starring Maria Heiskanen, Mikael Persbrandt, Jesper Christensen, Callin Öhrvall
Rated Not Rated

Everlasting Moments is a 2008 Swedish drama film directed by Jan Troell and starring Maria Heiskanen. The film follows the life of a working-class woman, Maria Larsson, living in Sweden at the beginning of the twentieth century. It is based on the real-life story of Maria's husband, who won a camera in a lottery and gave it to her. She discovers a hidden talent for photography, and eventually establishes a successful business taking photographs for the local community. The film explores the struggles she faces as a result of her newfound passion, including her husband's disapproval and her strained relationship with her children. Everlasting Moments paints an intimate portrait of a woman trying to hold her family together while pursuing her artistic vocation.

From Nuri Bilge Ceylan, starring Muzaffer Özdemir, Mehmet Emin Toprak, Zuhal Gencer, Nazan Kesal
Rated Not Rated

Distant is a 2002 Turkish drama film written, produced, and directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan. The story centers on Mahmut (Muzaffer Özdemir), a middle-aged photographer who lives in Istanbul, and his cousin Yusuf (Mehmet Emin Toprak), who has recently arrived from the countryside seeking work. Mahmut, who is living a solitary life, is initially resistant to opening up his home to Yusuf, though eventually he agrees to let him stay. Over the course of the film, the two men develop a strained, yet close relationship as they each attempt to come to terms with the frustrations and disappointments of their lives. The film touches on themes of loneliness, alienation, and the difficulty of communication between two people with very different points of view.

From Oliver Stone, starring James Woods, Jim Belushi, Michael Murphy, John Savage
Rated R

From Wayne Wang, starring Harvey Keitel, William Hurt, Giancarlo Esposito, José Zúñiga
Rated R

From Ben Stiller, starring Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Jon Daly, Kathryn Hahn
Rated PG

From Heinz Bütler, starring Henri Cartier-Bresson, Alexander Brooks, Robert Delpire, Elliott Erwitt
Rated Not Rated

From Mike Nichols, starring Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Clive Owen, Julia Roberts
Rated R

From Directors: Zana Briski, Ross Kauffman, starring Kochi, Avijit Halder, Shanti Das, Manik
Rated R

From Wes Anderson, starring Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman, Amara Karan
Rated R

From Wes Anderson, starring Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Anjelica Huston, Cate Blanchett
Rated R

From Peter Weir, starring Mel Gibson, Sigourney Weaver, Linda Hunt, Bembol Roco
Rated PG