List
Kanopy Favorites
Great movies you can stream using Kanopy. Watch and enjoy.
-
English Vinglish
2022Get this itemThis lovely coming-of-age film celebrates the journey of Shashi Godbole, who begins as a quiet, timid housewife who is not respected because she doesn't speak or understand English. She transforms into an independent woman who understands her self worth from joining as ESL course. This is one of my favorite performances from the legendary Sridevi. Suggested by Rummanah.
-
Love Sarah
2021Get this itemAfter her mother dies in a tragic accident, daughter Clarissa decides to go forward with her mother's dream to open a bakery. With the help of her mom's best friend and her estranged grandmother, Clarissa starts to renovate an old shop to create the bakery of her mother's dreams. It's heartwarming and touching with a little bit of romance. I loved this movie and drooled over all the baked goods. Suggested by Lynnanne.
-
The Death of Mr. Lazarescu
2014Get this itemA blistering, morbidly funny descent into a Dante-esque, overburdened medical hell, this Romanian film from 2005 packs an almost documentary-like level of detail into its nearly 2-1/2 hour running time. In the end, despite its bureaucratic detachment, fluorescent chill, and spare rays of humanity, the film bears relentless witness to one man's demise. Suggested by Chris.
-
Poetry
2014Get this itemThis calm, intricately composed film by the great Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-Dong sneaks up on you. While themes of justice, grief, and art are all present, the film is carried on the back of the great South Korean actress Yun Jung-Hee, whose performance quietly reveals depths of dignity and strength. With patience and attention, the film arrives at a surprising, almost transcendent empathy. Suggested by Chris.
-
Breaking Fast
2021Get this itemNominated for this year's GLAAD award for Outstanding Film in Limited Release. Mike Mosallam directs a heartwarming romantic comedy set during Ramadan in which Mo, a practicing Muslim living in West Hollywood, is learning to navigate life post-heartbreak until he unexpectedly meets Kal. The movie's portrayal of a cross-cultural relationship and its exploration of the intersectionality between identity, culture, and faith is refreshing, heartfelt, and introspective. Suggested by Rummanah.
-
Killer of Sheep
2021Get this itemMade for roughly $10,000 on weekends in 1971-1972, Killer of Sheep is not only one of the greatest works of independent Black cinema from that era, it's also a stunningly neorealist look at the Black American family. It took a while for the film to gain its reputation, and it thankfully became one of the first 50 films to be preserved in the Library of Congress by the National Film Registry in 1990. Suggested by Chris.
-
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
2021Get this itemThis "cult classic" was (for many) the first mainstream exposure to drag and paved the way for current classics like RuPaul's Drag Race and Kinky Boots. As Out Magazine states, "Although the film represents only one aspect of gay culture—drag queen life, Donna Summer songs, and the sowing and stitching of sequins—its success during the last 20 years has only underscored the desire audiences have had to savour the campness and queen-ness that excess, nostalgia, and drag queens can provide." It's not a perfect film but it is worth a watch for the costumes alone (the costume design won an Academy Award for Best Costume Design in 1995). Suggested by Becca.
-
Strange Fruit: The Biography of a Song
2016Get this itemThis is a heartbreaking documentary that explores the history of Billie Holiday's recording of "Strange Fruit." It spotlights the courage of those who fought for racial equality and how "Strange Fruit," which was actually written by a Jewish school teacher, became a significant song for the civil rights movement. Suggested by Amber.
-
Lady Bird
2019Get this itemThe turbulent relationship between a hardworking mother and a strong-willed daughter is explored in this bittersweet coming-of-age film. From class struggle to personal growth to the pains of adolescence, this film covers many themes. It is a perfect blend of humorous, snarky, and heartbreaking. Suggested by Elise.
-
Russian Ark
2021Get this itemA dreamy, unseen narrator wanders through the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg as various historical figures and acts wander in and out of various scenes. A momentous undertaking, and all done in a mind-boggling single 90-minute shot (no edits!), it ends with a breathtaking reenactment of a ball that took place in 1913. A stunning, ravishing work of art. Suggested by Chris.
-
Taste of Cherry
2022Get this itemDirected by one of Iran's critically acclaimed filmmakers, Abbas Kirostami, Taste of Cherry is a philosophical meditation on life and death. The film follows Mr. Badi, a taxi driver, as he drives through the suburbs of Tehran in search of someone who would be able to quietly bury him under a cherry tree after he commits suicide. Kirsostami is known for his minimalism and naturalism in his films. He has a small cast, a loose script that relies heavily on improv, and long aerial shots of Mr. Badi driving in a natural landscape. The film won the Palme d'Or in 1997. Suggested by Rummanah.
-
Quo Vadis, Aida?
2021Get this itemWe meet Aida, a translator for the United Nations in Srebrenica, when Serbian troops seize control and thousands of citizens are desperate to escape, including her own family. Bosnian filmmaker Jasmila Žbanić based her screenplay on true events, focusing on a fictional female protagonist. It is an incredibly executed, superbly acted, impactful movie. Suggested by Sharon.
-
Kedi
2018Get this itemA Turkish documentary that follows seven stray cats through the streets of Istanbul as they live and interact with various people who take care of them. It is a unique inside look at an ancient city and the humans who cherish their feline friends. Suggested by Sharon.
-
East Side Sushi
2017Get this itemJuana is a single mom who works as a street fruit vendor, trying to make ends meet. After a random attack, she finds a new job at a Japanese restaurant. She sees a connection between her fresh fruit creations and making sushi, and decides to train as a sushi chef. But tradition and custom are set against Juana—her race and gender are not what folks expect. A tasty feel-good indie dramedy that pleases your senses. Suggested by Sharon.
-
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
2021Get this itemOn an isolated island in Brittany in the late 18th century, we find a forbidden love affair between two women. One is Héloïse, who previously lived in a convent until her older sister committed suicide to break an arranged marriage. The other woman, Marianne, is an artist commissioned to paint a portrait of Héloïse, which will be used to secure a marriage contract. There is another woman living in the home, a maid named Sophie. She provides an additional interesting perspective. Gorgeously filmed, with fantastic acting and a compelling script--this is a masterpiece. Suggested by Sharon.
-
Fatima
2019Get this itemThis Cesar award-winning film tackles the themes of motherhood, assimilation, immigration, and prejudice through the eyes of a working single mother estranged by her two daughters. The screenplay and performances are excellent in depicting realistic success and failures. Suggested by Rummanah.
-
Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl)
2020Get this itemLearning to Skateboard is a simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking look into the lives of Afghan girls who secretly attend Skateistan, a charity-run school, and learn how to skateboard. Though the current state of Skateistan is unknown, its impact on the girls' lives is long lasting. The film is the winner of the 2020 Oscar for short documentary. Suggested by Rummanah and Sharon.
-
Daughters of the Dust
2019Get this itemWritten and directed by Julie Dash, this stunning movie, set in 1902, focuses on the women of the Peazant family, some of whom are preparing to leave their home on Saint Helena Island for the mainland, and a more modern way of life. Interweaving the past, present, and future via a circular narrative, this movie is poetic in its nature, leaving a lasting and thoughtful impression. If you’re a fan of this filmmaker, be sure to check out from Kanopy her critically acclaimed 1982 short film Illusions. Suggested by Sharon.
-
Half Nelson
2020Get this itemThis is one of my favorite Ryan Gosling movies and performances. This is the film for which he was first nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars. The movie follows Dan Dunne, a dedicated teacher with drug addiction, and the friendship he strikes with Drey, one of his students who finds out his secret and has her own problems. Writer and director Ryan Fleck removes the Hollywood glossiness from his script and film and as a result, it shines with realism. Suggested by Rummanah.
-
Captain Fantastic
2019Get this itemThis movie has often been described as a quirky dramedy, but I think it has a lot more depth and nuance, such as in the titular role of Ben, played by the incredible and scene stealing Viggo Mortenson, a father who is devoted to raising his six kids with a rigorous physical and intellectual education. This movie discusses grief, introduces its viewers to an alternative lifestyle, and explores what it means to be a parent without being didactic. Suggested by Rummanah.
-
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
2018Get this itemTaika Waititi is one of my favorite filmmakers. I love his offbeat, witty, and dark sense of humor. In this story, a teenage boy and his foster parent hide in the New Zealand wilderness for months to evade a manhunt organized by a relentless social services agent, who threatens to relocate the boy to a new family after his foster mother unexpectedly passes away. It’s a fun adventure story with well-placed quirkiness that strangely rings true. Suggested by Sharon.
-
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It
2021Get this itemShe’s won the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. Born in Puerto Rico and eventually making her way to Hollywood, challenging racism and sexism, Moreno is iconic and inspirational. With new interviews, archival movie clips and photos, along with current footage of Moreno, I was completely engaged and firmly on team Rita. Suggested by Sharon.
-
Honeyland
2021Get this itemFrom North Macedonia, this beautifully filmed documentary is about a female beekeeper who lives in an abandoned village and follows the family tradition of wild beekeeping. She takes half the honey to live on and sell in the city (a four-hour journey each way) and leaves half for the bees. Threats to the balance of nature and her livelihood emerge when a nomadic family moves next door and greed becomes a factor. Suggested by Sharon.
-
The Biggest Little Farm
2021Get this itemThe magnificent visuals alone are reason enough to watch this documentary about a city couple who follow their dream to become farmers. But the Chesters' determination to transform their nutrient-depleted land into a diverse biodynamic farm is inspirational and shows environmental advocacy hard at work. Suggested by Sharon.
-
Devdas
2022Get this itemThis stunning film captures all of the best qualities of a Bollywood film: exquisite cinematography, a heart-wrenching plot beautifully executed by its fabulous cast of India's top actors, and wonderful songs that take you on a emotional rollercoaster. This is a wonderful introduction to Bollywood. Suggested by Rummanah.
Bookmatch
Bookmatch allows Skokie Library cardholders to receive a custom list of titles prepared for you by the library's expert staff.
Try Bookmatch