Movies About Wildfires

From Thomas Vinterberg, starring Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Annika Wedderkopp, Lasse Fogelstrøm
Rated R

The Hunt is a 2012 Danish drama film directed by Thomas Vinterberg and written by Tobias Lindholm. Starring Mads Mikkelsen, the film follows a kindergarten teacher in a small Danish village whose life is turned upside down after he is falsely accused of a crime he did not commit. The villagers, many of whom were his friends, turn against him, leading to a devastating and life-altering experience. Through the film, Vinterberg explores themes of small town life, trust, betrayal, and the power of community in times of crisis.

From Xavier Dolan, starring Anne Dorval, Antoine Olivier Pilon, Suzanne Clément, Patrick Huard
Rated R

Set in present-day Montreal, Mommy is a powerful drama about a widowed mother, Diane (Anne Dorval), struggling to raise her troubled teenage son, Steve (Antoine-Olivier Pilon). After Steve is expelled from school, they are both placed in a restrictive, government-mandated program designed to keep him from escalating out of control. With the help of a neighbor, Kyla (Suzanne Clément), Diane fights to regain control of her son’s destiny, and in the process, discovers a new sense of hope and possibility for her family. Directed by Xavier Dolan, Mommy is a heartbreaking yet ultimately redemptive story about the strength of a mother’s love.

From Hirokazu Koreeda, starring Lily Franky, Sakura Andô, Kirin Kiki, Mayu Matsuoka
Rated R

Shoplifters (2018) is a Japanese film directed by Hirokazu Koreeda. It tells the story of a struggling family of small-time criminals, who rely on shoplifting to make ends meet. After their latest heist, the family takes in a young girl, who they learn is being abused. The family takes her in, and all of their lives are changed as a result. As the family struggles to hide their criminal activities from society, their bonds of love and loyalty are tested. Ultimately, the family discovers that some things are more important than money. Shoplifters is an uplifting story of family and redemption, and a reflection of the changing nature of modern Japanese society.

From Bong Joon Ho, starring Hye-ja Kim, Won Bin, Jin Goo, Je-mun Yun
Rated R

Mother is a 2009 South Korean thriller written and directed by Bong Joon Ho. The film follows an elderly widowed woman, played by Kim Hye-ja, who suspects that her son, played by Won Bin, may have committed a murder. To prove his innocence, she embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about the victim and his murderer. Along the way, she discovers that her son may not be as innocent as she originally thought. Throughout the film, the mother displays tremendous courage and unconditional love as she fights to prove her son's innocence.

From Pedro Almodóvar, starring Cecilia Roth, Marisa Paredes, Candela Peña, Antonia San Juan
Rated R

All About My Mother is a 1999 comedy-drama film written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar, and starring Cecilia Roth, Marisa Paredes, Candela Peña, Antonia San Juan, Penélope Cruz and Rosa María Sardá. The film is a tribute to both Spanish culture and the director's mother, and follows the story of Manuela (Cecilia Roth), a single mother living in Madrid, who must cope with the unexpected death of her son Esteban. In her search to find the father of her son, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery with the help of a diverse group of women, including Esteban’s transvestite godmother and a young nun. Along the way, they confront many issues and struggles, including HIV, alcoholism, and abortion. Through their relationships, Manuela begins to learn more about herself and ultimately discovers a new perspective on motherhood.

From Satoshi Kon, starring Megumi Hayashibara, Tôru Emori, Katsunosuke Hori, Tôru Furuya
Rated R

Paprika is a 2006 Japanese anime science fiction film directed by Satoshi Kon, based on Yasutaka Tsutsui's novel of the same name. The story follows a team of scientists who develop a device that allows therapists to help patients explore the content of their dreams. When the device is stolen, the team must use it to enter the dream world and stop the thief from using it to wreak havoc in the real world. The team is led by Atsuko Chiba, a renowned psychotherapist who uses the alter ego of "Paprika" to enter the dream world, and her colleague Dr. Tokita, an obese genius inventor of the device. Their journey into the subconscious leads them through weirder and more twisted dreamscapes as they attempt to stop the thief and save the world.

From Tom Tykwer, starring Franka Potente, Moritz Bleibtreu, Herbert Knaup, Nina Petri
Rated R

Run Lola Run is a German thriller directed by Tom Tykwer in 1998. It follows Lola, a young woman in Berlin, as she attempts to secure 100,000 Deutschmarks from her gangster boyfriend Manni to save him from a dangerous situation. When Manni fails to show up at their meeting place, Lola must race against the clock to save him. The film follows her three attempts to save Manni as she runs through the streets of Berlin, encountering a variety of people and obstacles along the way. Through its innovative use of split screens and freeze frames, Run Lola Run is a thrilling, fast-paced ride that has been hailed as one of the best films of its time.

From Park Chan-wook, starring Nam-mi Kang, Jeong-nam Choi, Hye-Sook Go, Bok-hwa Baek
Rated R

Lady Vengeance is a 2005 South Korean psychological thriller film directed by Park Chan-wook. The film follows the story of Lee Geum-ja (Lee Young-ae), a young woman recently released from prison for a crime she did not commit. After 13 years in prison for the murder of a young child, Geum-ja sets out to exact revenge against the true murderer. Along the way, she discovers the truth behind her false conviction and is faced with difficult moral choices. Geum-ja must grapple with justice and retribution, seeking out her own personal revenge while trying to protect those she loves. With a unique blend of violence, dark humor, and psychological complexity, Lady Vengeance is a thrilling exploration of morality and revenge.

From Haifaa Al-Mansour, starring Waad Mohammed, Reem Abdullah, Abdullrahman Al Gohani, Ahd
Rated PG

Wadjda is a 2012 Saudi Arabian drama film written and directed by Haifaa Al-Mansour. It tells the story of a spirited 10-year-old Saudi girl living in a suburb of Riyadh who, in her quest for independence, challenges the restrictions imposed on her gender. Wadjda enters a Koran recitation competition at her school in the hope of winning enough money to buy the bicycle of her dreams, something she believes will help her beat her friend Abdullah in a race. Despite the obstacles she faces due to her gender, Wadjda ultimately prevails in her quest for freedom. The film was a milestone for Saudi Arabian cinema, being the first feature film shot entirely in the country and the first feature-length film made by a Saudi female director.

From Nagisa Ôshima, starring David Bowie, Tom Conti, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Takeshi Kitano
Rated R

From Alfonso Arau, starring Marco Leonardi, Lumi Cavazos, Regina Torné, Mario Iván Martínez
Rated R

From Bernardo Bertolucci, starring Michael Pitt, Louis Garrel, Eva Green, Anna Chancellor
Rated NC-17

From Amma Asante, starring David Oyelowo, Rosamund Pike, Tom Felton, Jack Davenport
Rated PG-13