The influx of short-form content brought by social media has led to increased attention dispersion in society. This phenomenon is reflected in the diminishing interest of moviegoers in feature-length films. For those experiencing this focus issue and valuing their time, we've curated a list of quality films, each clocking in at under 90 minutes. Enjoy your quick cinematic escape! 👇
IMDb: 7.3
Summary: Former French Foreign Legion officer Galoup reminisces about the beautiful days he spent leading soldiers in the Gulf of Djibouti. He was stern but content until he falls into the trap of jealousy upon encountering the promising young recruit Sentain. Galoup believes he must stop Sentain from capturing the attention of his admired yet indifferent commander. As he wages a war while facing the inevitable end of his jealousy, director Claire Denis intertwines the masculine world of soldiers with homoerotic undertones, presenting viewers with a visually poetic experience through music and dance.
Cast: Denis Lavant, Michel Subor, Grégoire Colin
Director: Claire Denis
IMDb: 7.6
Summary: Isolated high in the Andean mountains at an altitude of over 5000 meters, Willka and Phaxsi struggle daily against aging and harsh weather conditions. Left only with the infinity of the peaks while awaiting the return of their only son, they face a challenging existence.
Cast: Vicente Catacora, Rosa Nina
Director: Ă“scar Catacora
IMDb: 7.7
Summary: Michel steals a car in Marseille and kills a policeman on the road. In Paris, he finds Patricia, an intern for the New York Herald Tribune on the Champs-Élysées. They had been together a few times before. As Michel is pursued by the police, he tries to raise the money needed to meet up with his old friends and go to Rome. However, both are unsure of their feelings as they navigate through the uncertainties of their emotions.
Cast: Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jean Seberg, Van Doude
Director: Jean-Luc Godard
IMDb: 7.8
Summary: Heavy industry workers Bill and Abby head southward in search of better employment opportunities. Alongside their spiritual sister Linda, they start working as seasonal laborers on a large farm. Bill, aware of the landowner's feelings for Abby and her fatal illness, believes he has found a way to wealth. As Abby, who stays on the farm and later marries the landowner, becomes caught between Bill and his wife, Bill, enamored with Abby, becomes increasingly uncomfortable with the marriage and resorts to unexpected actions.
Cast: Richard Gere, Brooke Adams, Sam Shepard
Director: Terrence Malick
IMDb: 7.8
Summary: Semi-autobiographical storytelling of Makhmalbaf's youth when, at the age of 17, he stabbed a policeman during a protest. Twenty years later, he traces the footsteps of the wounded policeman to make amends.
Cast: Mirhadi Tayebi, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Ali Bakhsi
Director: Mohsen Makhmalbaf
IMDb: 7.8
Summary: Set in 1959, Emmanuelle Riva, playing in a film about peace after the atomic bomb in Hiroshima, spends her last two nights in Hiroshima with Eiji Okada. Despite both having happy marriages, they fall in love. When Eiji learns that Emmanuelle will soon return to her home country, France, he tries to convince her to stay in Hiroshima. Meanwhile, Emmanuelle recalls her first love, a German soldier, during World War II.
Cast: Emmanuelle Riva, Eiji Okada, Stella Dassas
Director: Alain Resnais
IMDb: 8.0
Summary: Canadian photographer Gregory Colbert's captivating visuals, narrated by Ken Watanabe and Laurence Fishburne, with mesmerizing music by Patrick Cassidy, create a poetic masterpiece. A unique production that seamlessly blends extraordinary images with synchronized music.
Cast: Patrick Disanto, Laurence Fishburne, Jeanne Moreau
Director: Gregory Colbert
IMDb: 8.1
Summary: Tomek, a young postal worker, harbors a deep, obsessive love for Magda, his neighbor. Constantly observing Magda's life through a telescope, he finally confesses his feelings to her. However, Magda's response will turn Tomek's world upside down, raising questions about the nature of love and its complexities.
Cast: Grazyna Szapolowska, Olaf Lubaszenko, Stefania Iwinska
Director: Krzysztof Kieslowski
IMDb: 8.1
Summary: Elisabet Vogler, the most famous theater actress of the time, suddenly becomes mute during an important play. Despite everyone's efforts to understand what is happening, Elisabet continues to remain silent. With no medical issues found, Elisabet is sent to a secluded cottage upon a doctor's recommendation. Alma, a young nurse, accompanies Elisabet. Alma shares her life story for hours and days, leading to one of the most intriguing cases in the field of psychology.
Cast: Bibi Andersson, Liv Ullmann, Margaretha Krook
Director: Ingmar Bergman
IMDb: 8.1
Summary: Renowned concert pianist Charlotte visits her neglected daughter Eva after her life partner's death. Eva, leading a modest life married to a clergyman, harbors a surprise—Charlotte's mentally disabled daughter Helena, whom she had placed in a clinic, now resides with Eva. As tensions between Eva and Charlotte escalate during a sleepless night, every unsaid truth between the mother and daughter surfaces.
Cast: Ingrid Bergman, Liv Ullmann, Lena Nyman
Director: Ingmar Bergman