november '24 movie roundup

Another month, another slate of films!

Joining November's monthly roundup is Atlanta, Emmanuel, Milaine, Syiva, Taie and Zeff! As always, we’ve curated our list with love, to bring you the movies that defined the past few weeks for us.

Disclaimer!

These monthly roundups tend to include more mainstream titles than our usual lists, as our goal here is to document anything we watched in the past month.

It can be hard to keep up with regular movie-watching when so many other things are happening in the world, so we do this to remember first, share second, and uplift third.

That being said, we hope you enjoy this installation of our monthly roundups! Feel free to leave a comment with your October watches, or tell us what you think about ours.

This list is available on our Letterboxd here.

atlanta’s picks

Witches (2024)

directed by Elizabeth Sankey

Witches is a documentary I have been waiting months for, and I was not disappointed. Drawing on director Elizabeth Sankey's own experience of post-partum mental illness, including a stay in a mother and child mental health unit in the UK, Sankey weaves a heritage between women's negative experiences pre- and post-partum and the history of witches. Her poignant connection between psychosis and the testimonies of supposed witches during witch trials in Europe and the US offers a diffractive reading of our collective pasts and enlightens our own present and poor treatment of women in these circumstances. It is a thoughtful and narratively adept documentary that builds on community history and collective memory in exciting and innovative ways.

Available: on Mubi

Sister Wives (2024)

directed by Louisa Connolly Burnham

Sister Wives is such a sensitive, wonderful short film. I'm biased, of course - I love lesbians and religious cults. Yet, it is a gorgeously quiet experience that delves expertly into questions of religion, control and safety. My only real complaint is that I wish it were longer, as a slow burn would lead to a much more thrilling payout, with the narrative and emotional development somewhat curtailed by the compacted sense of time. I'm now demanding a full-length romance from director Louise Connolly Burnham.

Available: on Channel 4 (in the UK)

Wasp (2003)

directed by Andrea Arnold

The release of Bird has caused me to wander through Andrea Arnold's extensive back catalogue and return to Wasp, one of her earliest shorts. It's fascinating to see how Arnold returns again and again to kitchen-sink British themes, and she has none of the usual English reservations when it comes to showing life warts and all. Wasp is a tense, nerve-racking watch that tugs the viewer to attention, and is highly recommended for those with their Bird tickets booked.

Available: on Mubi

emmanuel’s picks

The Substance (2024)

directed by Coralie Fargeat

This is a film I thoroughly enjoyed but can’t watch again because of how uncomfortable it made me feel! The premise alone is ripe for exploration of several themes such as aging, body image and womanhood to name a few. And these themes are explored to great effect through the plot, acting along with the use of body and psychological horror. This film will evoke everything from fear to sadness and will leave you questioning how you feel about your own body and self-image, which now more than ever, feels exceedingly relevant. Highly recommended to watch this, though I would give it a pass if you are not keen on body horror and gore.

Available: on MUBI, available as a purchasable download on Apple TV and Amazon Video.

Woman of the Hour (2023)

directed by Anna Kendrick

This film instilled a level of dread and discomfort that I haven’t experienced before. It puts you in the shoes of the women in this film, as they interact in a world catered for and dominated by men. And even in something as simple as dating or simple conversation, we are left with a sense of worry for the wellbeing of the lead characters, which grows as the film progresses till it becomes almost unbearable. For me, as a man, this sense of worry was mostly over when this film ended. But I imagine for the women watching this film, it simply continues: because it’s what they face day in and day out. Being continuously on guard, amenable and willing to comfort men at their own expense, because one wrong move could cost them their career or even their life. And to me, that is the true horror explored in this film. Strongly recommended, especially if you enjoy true-crime and social commentary films.

Available: on Netflix

Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)

directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert

This is a rewatch for me and for good reason: because it pushes the boundaries of storytelling through the medium of film. The cinematography, score, editing and plot: all work together to convey everything from chaos to complete serenity. The out-of-pocket comedy intermixed with the looming existential dread faced by the characters truly captures the absurdism of our human existence. I love the character of Waymond Wang, who tugs at our heartstrings by the values he embodies. He is a beacon of hope for Evelyn, the protagonist, and the audience, in how we want to get through life. In a world which oftentimes feels overwhelming and meaningless, this comfort film of mine helps ground and remind me that, in context: nothing matters, and we can do whatever we want. I will be rewatching this film for the rest of my life, so yeah, give it a shot!

Available: on DVD, cough

Agatha All Along (2024)

directed by Jac Schaeffer, Rachel Goldberg, and Gandja Monteiro

A Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) project with actual planning and creative vision proves to be an enjoyable fun watch, who would have thought? Kathryn Hahn is an amazing actress who plays an unapologetically evil villain who we still sympathize with. The plot is full of mystery and twists, dramatic musical theatre flair and LGBTQ+ representation. The comedy, music, worldbuilding along with the character dynamics uplift this series and once major plot points are revealed, it proves an excellent rewatch! For me, it’s up there with other MCU TV shows such as WandaVision and Loki, so I would strongly recommend it!

Available: on Disney+

milaine’s picks

The Decoy Bride (2011)

directed by Sheree Folkson

I bet you didn’t know David Tennant existed outside of being Dr. Who, and I think the only way I learned of this movie was because I was on too many SuperWhoLock Tumblrs back in 2010. I really love this movie even though it’s nothing much to shout about. Katie, played by Kelly McDonald, is the last single person on the little island of Hegg, off the coast of Scotland, where she meets James, a semi-unsuccessful author who has written a book so bad it’s used for toilet paper (aka David Tennant). Sadly, it turns out that James is in town for a wedding - his own, in fact, to an award-winning actress who he’s mildly concerned might be illiterate because she enjoys his bad book so much. They’re trying to get married but can’t because the paparazzi are constantly after them, ruining their private moments and driving this poor actress out of her own mind. Katie is solicited to be a “decoy bride” to distract the paparazzi. Of course, because this is a movie, she accidentally falls in love with the groom.

I’m a big fan of Kelly McDonald and David Tennant’s acting chops throughout what might seem like an unremarkable movie, as well as the details woven into the plot to create a really loving portrait of its characters who maybe shan’t change the world, but are dedicated to figuring out their own, small lives. There’s a woman who wants to be pushed into a volcano with her wheelchair, a sweet elderly couple who are completely deaf but ask complete strangers to play the bagpipes for them, and an old flame who says, “You’re young now. It’s easy to love you now, but I’ll love you when you’re old and gray,” but goes back to his week-long marriage immediately after this huge declaration. It’s not for everyone, but it is for me.

Available: on DVD

All Creatures Great and Small (2020-2024)

created by Ben Vanstone

Fans of Downton Abbey rejoice! The desperate obsession the British have with period accurate historical dramas about white people whose lives have low-to-no stakes has yielded us yet another hee hee ha ha fun time show to watch when we are sick with tonsillitis and having to have soup poured down our throats! This show set in 1930s Yorkshire is about how hard it is to be a veterinarian while you may also be a veteran of World War 1? It’s taught me that animal bodies are terrifying and disgusting miracles of science - sometimes you have to stick your hand up the butt of a horse to find out if it has a twisted bowel… You won’t find many twists and turns about the moral character of its characters here: They’re all on the straight and narrow, but the trials and tribulations of the animals are sufficient to keep the show from getting boring. There’s a standout performance in Callum Woodhouse as one of the assistant vets, and Neville Longbottom makes an appearance as a random rich man throwing money around.

Available: on Channel 5

syiva’s picks

Kabut Berduri ("Borderless Fog") (2024)

directed by Edwin

“Jangan takut, Ambong melindungi,” (“Don’t fear, Ambong protects"), anti-government message, border conflict, ideology issues– masterfully wrapped in a film. What captivated me most was the constant mention of “Ambong” throughout the movie. Its presence feels almost ghostly, haunting the audience and guiding them to the very end. The anticipation builds steadily, driving viewers toward the ultimate question: What is Ambong? Does it truly exist?

Available: on Netflix

แดนสาป (“The Cursed Land”) (2024)

directed by Kong Ritdhee & Panu Aree

Let’s take a moment to appreciate Bront Palarae’s incredible talent here... I’m truly amazed by his ability to deliver his lines in Thai for the film, showcasing his dedication and versatility. It’s equally impressive that, as a Malaysian, he also starred in Pengabdi Setan, an iconic Indonesian movie. The film itself captivated me with how it explored another perspective on Islam, seamlessly adding Buddhist values. While the themes of curses and possession may appear “negative” on the surface, the interplay between these two religions left me in awe, providing a thought-provoking and profound narrative on both perspectives of this religion.

Available: on Netflix

taie’s picks

鉄男(“Tetsuo: The Iron Man”) (1989)

written and directed by Shinya Tsukamoto

Whatever this movie was, it was absolutely up my alley. A fetishist met with a person who fulfils that fetish against his will, creating powerful commentary about industrialisation? It was an absolute delight in my eyes, though I can’t say that this film would appeal to too many… Truly a film for the freaks. The use of black and white and fast-paced non-chronological storytelling all in a 67-minute run made clear to me how versatile filmmaking is and can-be. And the music motifs paired with the insane visual? Just delightful.

Available: on DVD

Death Becomes Her (1992)

directed by Robert Zemeckis

When I say this movie was not what I expected, I mean that I did not expect the comedy that was utilised for the film and how much I would adore the film’s colouring and direction. My only thing is that I think this could’ve been a love triangle instead of a love cone but who am I to say anything. And I HAVE to say that any movie that acknowledges and takes advantage of Meryl Streep’s comedic prowess automatically gains my utmost respect.

Available: on DVD

Clue (1985)

written and directed by Jonathan Lynn

I will admit that I watched this movie with the initial intention of watching Tim Curry in a role outside of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and I was NOT disappointed. Aside from Tim Curry’s excellent performance, the women of the film (Eileen Brennan, Madeline Kahn, Lesley Ann Warren and Colleen Camp) shone so hard I think I was blinded by the time I finished watching. I often found myself gasping and gaping followed by some choked laughing because whoever wrote this script? AMAZING. Everything I could have ever asked for in a film about the game Cluedo as a board game lover.

Available: on DVD

zeff’s picks

Dune: Prophecy (2024 - Present)

written and directed by Diane Ademu-John, Alison Schapker

The spinoff to the two Dune movies are here in full force! Having just watched the first episode the week it dropped, I was blown away with how in depth the show is diving into the Dune lore and universe which the movies were unable to do. What was presented and approached in a superficial and peripheral way in the movies–understandably so–has been expanded on so much in even just the first episode of the show. Now the mysteries of the Bene Gesserit, the intrigues of the Imperium and the Great Houses are laid bare for the viewer, and I am all for it.

Some scenes in the first episode have somehow given me a bit of ‘Netflix’ show vibes for some reason, but it might have been non-consequential and probably isn’t a detriment to the show, because what I saw I thoroughly enjoyed, and I want MORE. Give this show a watch if you’ve watched the Dune movies already, it tells you so much more about the universe and how the plots of those movies came into being in the first place.

Available: on HBO

Potop (“The Deluge”) (1974)

written and directed by Jerzy Hoffman

Another historical epic on my list of interesting watches; based on the historical fiction novel ‘The Deluge’ by Henryk Sienkiewicz. This film was originally in two parts of four hours each, but has since been digitally remastered and restored in ‘Potop Redivivus’ (2014) which is the version I watched. This movie, in the first 15 minutes or so, opens with one of the best sword fights in cinema history between protagonist Andrzej Kmicic and (kind of) deuteragonist Pan (Lord) Wolodyjowski–whose character appeared in a previous movie called ‘Pan Wołodyjowski’ (1969). Historical fiction films made in the 70’s fulfill a special role in my heart for some reason, but this is not especially an accessible or easily understood movie even with the remastered version cutting down the runtime.

To understand the plot, you apparently need to either know the historical context of the Swedish invasion of Poland in the 17th century, or have read the novel, otherwise it can get really confusing who’s fighting who, and how or why the protagonist bounces between the different factions fighting over control of the country. The protagonist’s romance plot is the only thing you can understand beside the overarching politics of the narrative. But other than that, the overall presentation of the film is astounding; the battles are big and epic, the fights are chef’s kiss just amazing to watch, and the remastered version has made it look better and less crusty for modern audiences. Give this a watch if you have about 3 hours to spare to watch an obscure, historical epic.

Available: There is possibly no chance of finding this movie anywhere if you aren’t Polish, but it’s definitely on the Internet Archive.