Topic: Small Town Life

Direction John Ford

Cast Walter Pidgeon · Maureen O'Hara · Roddy McDowall · Donald Crisp

Synopsis How Green Was My Valley (1941) unfolds as a poignant tale of a Welsh valley's transformation from an untouched Eden to a coal-mining hub at the dawn of the 20th century. The narrative is recounted through the lens of Huw...

Direction Carl Theodor Dreyer

Cast Henrik Malberg · Emil Hass Christensen · Preben Lerdorff Rye · Cay Kristiansen

Synopsis Ordet (The Word) (1955) unfolds in a tightly-knit, deeply religious Danish village, where the widower Morten Borgen stands out due to his unorthodox beliefs and persistent skepticism. Morten's eldest son, Mikkel, finds himself in a complex romantic relationship with a...

Direction Mario Camus

Cast Alfredo Landa · Francisco Rabal · Juan Diego · Terele Pávez

Synopsis The Holy Innocents (1984) unfolds in the 1960s within the rural landscapes of Spain, where Paco and his wife Régula struggle with poverty. Their existence is defined by resignation, sacrifice, and obedience as they toil for a wealthy landowner. Their...

Direction Carl Theodor Dreyer

Cast Thorkild Roose · Lisbeth Movin · Sigrid Neiiendam · Preben Lerdorff Rye

Synopsis Day of Wrath (1943) unfolds in Denmark during the year 1623, where a elderly woman is condemned to be burned at the stake. As the flames consume her, she casts a chilling curse upon the local clergyman and his kin,...

Direction Béla Tarr

Cast Mihály Víg · Putyi Horváth · Peter Berling · Erika Bók

Synopsis Sátántangó (Satan's Tango) (1994) unfolds in a rundown village in post-communist Hungary, where life has nearly ground to a halt. The autumn rains have begun, and the villagers are eagerly awaiting a substantial cash payment that evening, planning to depart...

Direction Maurice Pialat

Cast Pierre Doris · Jacqueline Dufranne · Agathe Natanson · Henri Puff

Synopsis The House in the Woods (TV Miniseries) (1971) is a compelling television miniseries that spans 7 episodes, set against the backdrop of World War I. The narrative unfolds in a quaint French village, offering a poignant and authentic portrayal of...

Direction Federico Fellini

Cast Bruno Zanin · Pupella Maggio · Armando Brescia · Ciccio Ingrassia

Synopsis Amarcord (1973) delves into the vibrant tapestry of a modest Italian coastal community during the 1930s, a time marked by the pervasive influence of Fascism. The narrative unfolds through the eyes of its inhabitants, capturing the essence of their daily...

Direction John Ford

Cast John Wayne · Maureen O'Hara · Barry Fitzgerald · Ward Bond

Synopsis The Quiet Man (1952) follows the story of Sean Thornton, portrayed by John Wayne, a former American boxing champion seeking solace from his past by venturing back to Innisfree, the tranquil Irish village where he was born. Thornton buys his...

Direction Raymond Depardon

Direction Ingmar Bergman

Cast Ingrid Thulin · Max von Sydow · Gunnar Björnstrand · Gunnel Lindblom

Synopsis Winter Light (1963) is the second installment in Ingmar Bergman's trilogy that delves into the complexities of religious belief and existential doubt through a raw, visually striking, and thought-provoking lens. Set on a frigid winter Sunday, the narrative revolves around...

Direction Fernando Fernán Gómez

Cast Carlos Larrañaga · Tota Alba · Lina Canalejas · Jesús Franco

Synopsis Strange Voyage (1964) follows the lives of Paquita and her brother Venancio, two unmarried siblings residing in a quaint town near Madrid. Their lives are controlled by their domineering elder sister, Ignacia, who is also unmarried. One evening, Paquita overhears...

Direction Adolfo Aristarain

Cast Federico Luppi · Cecilia Roth · José Sacristán · Leonor Benedetto

Synopsis A Place in the World (1992) follows the story of Mario and Ana, who have chosen to live in seclusion from Buenos Aires in a distant Argentine valley with their 12-year-old son, Ernesto. Mario manages a school and a wool...

Direction Víctor Erice

Cast Omero Antonutti · Sonsoles Aranguren · Icíar Bollaín · Lola Cardona

Synopsis The South (1983) follows the journey of Estrella, a young girl who is transplanted from her cherished homeland in Southern Spain to the unfamiliar North. Estrella's heart remains deeply connected to her birthplace, a bond that is vividly expressed through...

Direction Zhang Yimou

Cast Zhang Ziyi · Sun Honglei · Hao Zheng · Yuelin Zhao

Synopsis The Road Home (1999) follows Luo Yusheng (Sun Honglei), who journeys back to his rural hometown, Sanheutun, to assist his elderly mother in organizing a traditional funeral for his late father. The narrative delves into the emotional journey of Luo...

Direction Zhang Yimou · Yang Fengliang

Cast Gong Li · Li Baotian · Cong Zhijun · Li Wei

Synopsis Ju Dou (1990) tells the story of a woman who is wedded to a cruel and childless dye mill proprietor in the countryside of China. She becomes pregnant by her husband's nephew, but societal norms compel her to nurture her...

Direction Víctor Erice

Cast Ana Torrent · Fernando Fernán Gómez · Isabel Tellería · Laly Soldevila

Synopsis The Spirit of the Beehive (1973) unfolds in a quiet Castilian village during the early 1940s, in the aftermath of the devastating Spanish Civil War. The story revolves around two young sisters, Ana and her sibling, who, after witnessing a...

Direction Hayao Miyazaki

Synopsis My Neighbor Totoro (1988) follows the enchanting journey of two young sisters, Satsuki and Mei, who relocate to a rural countryside home with their father to be near their ailing mother. As they explore their new surroundings, the sisters stumble...

Direction Claude Berri

Cast Yves Montand · Gérard Depardieu · Daniel Auteuil · Elisabeth Depardieu

Synopsis Jean de Florette (1986) tells the tale of a cunning landowner and his dim-witted nephew who devise a scheme to cut off the sole water supply to a neighboring plot. Their goal is to drive the neighboring property owner into...

Direction Lav Diaz

Cast Angie Ferro · Pen Medina · Elryan De Vera · Marifé Necesito

Synopsis Evolution of a Filipino Family (2005) is a sweeping modernist drama that chronicles the lives of a farming family over a span of 15 years, set against the backdrop of the tumultuous Marcos regime. The narrative delves into the family's...

Direction Robert Bresson

Cast Nadine Nortier · Jean-Claude Guilbert · Jean Vimenet · Marie Cardinal

Synopsis Mouchette (1967) follows the story of a young adolescent girl navigating the harsh realities of rural life. Her mother is on the brink of death, and her father is neglectful, leaving her to face her struggles alone. Unable to articulate...