45 Indie Gems: Diverse Stories Shaping 2022 Cinema
45 titles
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The Nowhere InnMovie · 2021 · 92m · Music, Comedy, ThrillerSt. Vincent wants to make a documentary about her music, aiming to show the real person behind her stage image. However, things get complicated when she asks a close friend to direct. As the film progresses, the line between reality and fiction blurs, and questions of identity and what's genuine become increasingly strange.IMDb 5.6TMDB 6.0 - 2
The Killing of Kenneth ChamberlainMovie · 2021 · 83m · Mystery, Thriller, DramaThis film is based on the true story of Kenneth Chamberlain Sr., an elderly African American veteran with bipolar disorder. He was killed during an encounter with police officers who were sent to check on him. The film depicts the events leading up to his death.IMDb 7.1TMDB 7.3 - 3
Prayers for the StolenMovie · 2021 · 110m · DramaIn a remote countryside village, Ana and her friends Maria and Paula face the harsh realities of their lives. Their families toil in the poppy fields, harvesting opium, while the girls must cope with the growing threat of a local cartel. They strive to maintain a sense of normalcy amidst increasing danger.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.6 - 4
To ChiaraMovie · 2021 · 121m · Drama, FantasyThe Guerrasio family and their friends celebrate the 18th birthday of Claudio and Carmela’s oldest daughter. The birthday girl and her 15-year-old sister Chiara playfully compete dancing. It's a joyful time for the close-knit family. But the next day, their father vanishes. Chiara doubts the explanation and begins her own search. Uncovering the truth forces her to consider her own path forward.IMDb 6.8TMDB 6.8 - 5
Compartment No. 6Movie · 2021 · 106m · DramaA young Finnish woman flees a mysterious romance in Moscow by taking a train to Murmansk, a port in the Arctic. Sharing the lengthy journey and a cramped sleeping car with an eccentric Russian miner, the passengers in Compartment No. 6 unexpectedly confront profound truths about relationships.IMDb 7.2TMDB 6.9 - 6
HollerMovie · 2021 · 91m · DramaIn a struggling part of Southern Ohio, a driven young woman sees college as her only way out. To afford it, Ruth Avery joins a risky scrap metal crew with her older brother. They work hard during the day and steal valuable metal from abandoned factories at night. As Ruth gets closer to her goal, she realizes the price of her education might be higher than she imagined, forcing her to choose between a bright future and her family.IMDb 6.2TMDB 6.0 - 7
PebblesMovie · 2021 · 74mA young boy accompanies his abusive, alcoholic father on a journey to locate his mother, who has fled from his violent treatment.IMDb 6.9TMDB 6.1 - 8
MassMovie · 2021 · 111m · DramaFollowing a devastating event, two couples gather for a difficult and emotionally exposed discussion.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.4 - 9
C'mon C'monMovie · 2021 · 109m · DramaJohnny and his young nephew develop a fragile but significant bond during a road trip across the country, seeking a different way of life outside of Los Angeles.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.2 - 10
Catch the Fair OneMovie · 2022 · 85m · Thriller, MysteryA Native American boxer begins a challenging journey to find her sister who has gone missing.IMDb 6.3TMDB 6.3 - 11
ZolaMovie · 2021 · 86m · Comedy, CrimeA waitress joins an exotic dancer, her frustrated boyfriend, and her enigmatic roommate on a road trip to Florida. They're all hoping to find success at a glamorous strip club.IMDb 6.4TMDB 6.2 - 12
CicadaMovie · 2021 · 94mBen, a young man who is bisexual, decides to publicly come out. He begins a passionate relationship with Sam, a man of color dealing with significant emotional pain. As their connection deepens throughout the summer, Ben is forced to confront unresolved issues from his own history.IMDb 6.7TMDB 5.8 - 13
The NoviceMovie · 2021 · 97m · DramaA new college student joins the university rowing team and embarks on a relentless physical and mental challenge to earn a spot in the top varsity boat, pushing herself to the limit.IMDb 6.5TMDB 6.4 - 14
7 DaysMovie · 2021 · 86mRavi and Rita's arranged date, set up by their families, is already awkward. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic forces them to spend time together. Perhaps, despite their differences, they might actually connect.IMDb 6.5TMDB 6.0 - 15
PleasureMovie · 2021 · 108m · DramaLinnéa, a 19-year-old from a small Swedish town, moves to Los Angeles determined to become a famous adult film star. However, achieving her ambition proves to be more difficult than she anticipated.IMDb 6.3TMDB 6.3 - 16
CODAMovie · 2021 · 112m · Drama, Music, RomanceRuby is a CODA – a child of deaf adults – and the only hearing person in her family. When their fishing business faces difficulties, Ruby struggles to balance her passion for music with her reluctance to leave her parents behind.IMDb 8.0TMDB 7.9 - 17
JockeyMovie · 2021 · 94mA veteran jockey sets his sights on a final championship victory, but his ambition is challenged by the arrival of a young rider who insists he is his son.IMDb 6.3TMDB 5.7 - 18
I Blame SocietyMovie · 2020 · 85mFeeling increasingly dismissed by her fellow filmmakers, a determined director resolves to reclaim her reputation. She chooses to finish her long-abandoned project, but her ambition takes a dark turn when she plans and executes a flawless murder.IMDb 5.5TMDB 5.5 - 19
Red RocketMovie · 2021 · 130m · Drama, ComedyMikey Saber, a former adult film actor struggling in Los Angeles, returns to Texas to live with his wife and mother-in-law. As family tensions lessen, he develops feelings for Strawberry, a young woman who works at a local doughnut shop.IMDb 7.1TMDB 6.8 - 20
Sweet ThingMovie · 2020 · 91mBillie and Nico experience a life with their father that shifts between joy and anxiety. His drinking brings sadness and disrupts their seemingly perfect family. Their mother is often absent and unreliable. However, their friendship with Malik, a boy their age, offers them an escape. Together, they find freedom through intense experiences. The film uses vibrant black and white visuals to explore the emotional world of these three young people and their ideas about growing up. Alexandre Rockwell’s story highlights a strong bond of friendship and affection – for movies, Billie Holiday, and the excitement of taking chances.IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.6 - 21
Together TogetherMovie · 2021 · 90m · Comedy, Drama, RomanceA solitary young woman named Anna is hired as a surrogate for Matt, a man in his 40s who is single. As they work together, Anna and Matt begin to question their ideas about relationships, intimacy, and what it truly means to love someone.IMDb 6.4TMDB 6.4 - 22
Test PatternMovie · 2021 · 83mA couple's bond is strained when the girlfriend experiences a sexual assault. The boyfriend drives her from one hospital to another, seeking a rape kit.IMDb 6.4TMDB 6.9 - 23
In the Same BreathMovie · 2021 · 98m · DocumentaryThis documentary follows the experiences of people as the novel coronavirus first emerged, examining how two countries responded to the initial spread of the disease. It chronicles the outbreak's early days in Wuhan and its subsequent impact across the United States.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.1 - 24
This Is Not a War StoryMovie · 2021 · 112mIn New York City, a diverse group of veterans struggles to readjust to civilian life. They find an unconventional outlet for their experiences by collaborating on unique artistic projects.IMDb 5.3TMDB 6.0 - 25
Petite MamanMovie · 2021 · 72m · Drama, Fantasy, FamilyFollowing her grandmother's passing, eight-year-old Nelly encounters an oddly familiar girl in the woods. Quickly bonding with this enigmatic new friend, Nelly begins a magical adventure that helps her process her grief.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.1 - 26
Parallel MothersMovie · 2021 · 123m · DramaTwo women, both unexpectedly pregnant and about to give birth, meet in a hospital room. Janis is in her late thirties, embracing her situation with joy and without regret. Ana is a teenager, overwhelmed by fear and regret.IMDb 7.1TMDB 6.8 - 27
The HumansMovie · 2021 · 106m · DramaFor Thanksgiving, Erik Blake brings his family – spanning three generations – to his daughter's apartment in lower Manhattan. As night falls, unsettling events begin to occur, forcing the family to confront their most hidden fears.IMDb 6.1TMDB 6.1 - 28
Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)Movie · 2021 · 117m · Music, Documentary, HistoryThe summer of Woodstock also saw the Harlem Cultural Festival, where over 300,000 people gathered to celebrate African American music and culture, fostering Black pride and unity. Footage of this remarkable event remained hidden in storage for over 50 years, obscuring its place in American history—until now.IMDb 8.0TMDB 7.6 - 29
Try Harder!Movie · 2021 · 85mAt Lowell High School, where intelligence is celebrated and Asian American identity is commonplace, the graduating seniors vie for the ultimate goal: acceptance into their preferred colleges. The school's orchestra is renowned globally, and the academic pressure to succeed is intense.IMDb 7.3TMDB 8.6 - 30
Drive My CarMovie · 2021 · 179m · DramaTwo years after the death of his wife, stage actor and director Yusuke Kafuku takes on a directing job for a play in Hiroshima. He's assigned a quiet young woman named Misaki to drive his car. During their journeys, buried secrets and emotional confessions begin to surface.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.4 - 31
PigMovie · 2021 · 92m · Drama, ThrillerA solitary truffle hunter in the Oregon wilderness travels to Portland to track down the individual who has stolen his prized foraging pig.IMDb 6.9TMDB 6.6 - 32
PassingMovie · 2021 · 98m · DramaNew York City, 1920s. A Black woman's life is disrupted when she reconnects with a childhood friend now living as white.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.3 - 33
CryptozooMovie · 2021 · 95m · Animation, FantasyA team of specialized keepers attempts to capture a Baku, a mythical creature that consumes dreams. As they work to contain this hybrid beast, they begin to question whether these creatures should be revealed to the world or kept secret.IMDb 6.4TMDB 5.9 - 34
Wild IndianMovie · 2021 · 90m · Crime, Drama, ThrillerYears after concealing his role in a classmate's murder, Michael has built a new life, leaving his past behind. But when a man who knows his secret seeks revenge, Michael desperately tries to shield his present – his wife and his job – from the ghosts of his history.IMDb 5.8TMDB 5.4 - 35
LuzzuMovie · 2021 · 94mOn the island of Malta, Jesmark, a fisherman facing hardship, breaks with his family's history and takes a dangerous risk by joining the black market fishing trade. His motivation: to support his girlfriend and their new baby.IMDb 6.9TMDB 6.8 - 36
Faya DayiMovie · 2021 · 120mThis film follows a spiritual journey to the highlands of Harar, exploring the traditions surrounding khat, a leaf used for centuries by Sufi Muslims for religious meditation and now Ethiopia's major cash crop. Through personal stories, it offers a glimpse into the aspirations of young people living under a restrictive government.IMDb 6.8TMDB 7.6 - 37
Swan SongMovie · 2021 · 105m · Comedy, DramaA retired hairdresser leaves his nursing home and journeys through his town to give a final hairstyle to a deceased woman for her funeral, and in doing so, rediscovers his passion for his craft.IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.9 - 38
Shiva BabyMovie · 2021 · 78m · Comedy, DramaCollege student Danielle is caught in a difficult situation when she unexpectedly encounters her sugar daddy at a shiva. To make matters worse, her parents, ex-girlfriend, and family friends are also present. She must now try to conceal their connection.IMDb 7.1TMDB 7.1 - 39
FleeMovie · 2021 · 89m · Documentary, AnimationMostly told through animation to protect his privacy, Amin reflects on his childhood as an Afghan refugee while confronting a secret he has guarded for two decades.IMDb 7.9TMDB 7.7 - 40
Queen of GloryMovie · 2022 · 78mSarah, a brilliant Columbia University doctoral student, has her life upended when her mother dies unexpectedly, leaving her the owner of a small Christian bookstore in the Bronx. As she prepares for a culturally sensitive funeral for her mother, Sarah navigates the expectations of her close-knit family and the unexpected return of her estranged father. She must also decide the future of the bookstore, supported by a quirky group of neighbors: Eastern European friends, spirited aunties, and a pragmatic ex-con colleague, all while trying to stay true to herself.IMDb 6.5TMDB 7.2 - 41
The Lost DaughterMovie · 2021 · 122m · DramaDuring a relaxing seaside getaway, a woman's fascination with a young mother unravels, drawing her into a confrontation with buried memories.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.5 - 42
ProcessionMovie · 2021 · 118mSix men, all survivors of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of Catholic clergy, find a path to healing and strength by making short films based on their experiences.IMDb 7.1TMDB 6.6 - 43
Blue BayouMovie · 2021 · 117m · DramaA Korean-American man, who has built a life for his family in the Louisiana bayou through hard work, is threatened with deportation. He's forced to face painful memories as he learns he might lose the only home he's ever known.IMDb 7.1TMDB 7.5 - 44
AscensionMovie · 2021 · 97m · DocumentaryThis documentary follows the drive to achieve the "Chinese Dream." Using captivating and occasionally funny visuals, it offers a modern look at China, where productivity and innovation are the top priorities.IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.9 - 45
North by CurrentMovie · 2021 · 86mAngelo Madsen Minax returns to his rural Michigan hometown after his infant niece's death and the arrest of her killer, who is also his brother-in-law. Employing essay film techniques, vérité footage, staged scenes, and family home movies, Madsen explores a community grappling with opioid addiction, economic hardship, and intense religious beliefs. Through the process of filmmaking, he attempts to repair fractured family relationships and rethink the concept of justice. *North By Current* doesn't aim to solve a crime; instead, it presents a detailed look at a resilient family and offers a new perspective on incarceration, addiction, gender identity, and rural life, using empathy as a path toward a fairer world.IMDb 6.4TMDB 6.0
