by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Welcome to the Buried Treasure of the Streaming World! This series takes a month’s worth of content at a time and sifts out the buried treasure that exists on all forms of streaming. These films most likely fly under the radar but now it is time to shine that spotlight on them and give them the attention they truly deserve. Time to dive in, shall we?
The Sound of Scars (9/10) – VOD
What makes a great music documentary rise above the rest? One way is to transcend those expectations and deliver a film about so much more than just music. The Sound of Scars highlights the hardcore music of Life of Agony, who have been quite the influential band. On top of that, the film captures the many tensions of trying to keep a band together over the course of many years. But this film goes well beyond that with its story of Mina Caputo. This story of transition is deeply emotional and raw in the way that it pulls no punches. It is a brutally honest portrayal of the struggle as well as the beauty of living one’s life in its truest form. This is a rock documentary like no other and is certainly worth your time.
Fabian: Going to the Dogs (8/10) – Mubi
How many potentially alienating boxes can one film possibly check off for an audience? Fabian: Going to the Dogs is a period film set in Nazi Germany with a complete arthouse feel, and a bold barrage of experimental narrative threads and challenging themes. Oh… did I mention it was three hours too? That is just the kind of film that cinephile hub, Mubi, is looking for. This epic drama might check plenty of arthouse checkboxes, but rest assured, this bold and abstract narrative is quite compelling. At its core, this film is about the challenges of love and the human experience. Luckily, we can all relate to those themes which help us navigate a bold cinematic experience, if you choose to take the dive.
Jump, Darling (8/10) – VOD
There aren’t enough great grandson-grandmother bonding films, are there? Move over, Grandma’s Boy… a new king is in town in the form of Jump, Darling! This unexpected film finds a young man struggling with his blossoming career as a drag queen who is seeking out residence with his grandmother in the country after a serious breakup. As our protagonist, Russell, struggles with his own life challenges (portrayed with amazing energy by Thomas Duplessie), his grandmother is in steep decline. Audiences are treated to one of Cloris Leachman’s last acting roles along with a breakout performance by Duplessie. An endearing and emotional story paired with these dual performances make for a wonderfully emotional experience.
Paris, 13th District (8/10) – VOD
What is more Parisian than love? Paris, 13th District is quite the French experience as this new drama weaves together plenty of human connections (including platonic, romantic, and sexual) into its narrative. This honest and raw story finds four people’s lives weaved together as they find different connections with each other. A strong cast (including Portrait of a Lady on Fire alum Noemie Merlant) anchor these stories as they inject relatability and genuine emotion into these relationships. You will laugh and cry, as well as feel deep sexual tension in its variety of intimate scenes. This is certainly not the kind of romance you will find in American rom-coms, but that might be its biggest strength.
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