BY YU CAMPO
Don’t forget the popcorn!
It’s not always easy going through a bunch of films on Netflix to find the perfect movie to watch. Quite frankly, the hunt for something that appeals to your palate is a rigorous task that can take a great deal of time, at times even greater than finishing an entire film. Even with Netflix being a digital nest for cinema, you’re not always sure that the ones curated for you are your cup of tea — the ‘97% match’ at the bottom of the trailer isn’t as accurate as you thought it would be.
You can kiss the 45 minutes worth of attrition warfare goodbye. We rounded up a few of our favorite films that we’re sure you’ll love available on the platform for our first of many Netflix stay-at-home movie marathon recommendations.
Heaven’s Waiting
‘Heaven’s Waiting’ or Hintayan ng Langit is an original Filipino film about life after death and a long-awaited encounter between ex-lovers demanding closure. Inside the busy walls of Purgatory, Manolo finds himself sharing not only a room but also quite the colorful history with a sprightly Lisang, a tenant of 2 long years.
Your Name Engraved Herein
Set in an all-boys Catholic school in post-martial law Taiwan, Jia-han meets eccentric transferee Birdy. Deemed as one of the most notable queer films of 2020, ‘Your Name Engraved Herein’ takes coming of age to a bittersweet melancholic height as an unspoken love between friends is confined behind the bars of societal issues, authoritarian culture, and homophobia.
Marriage Story
This critically acclaimed and Academy Award-nominated film starring Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver takes a deep dive into the emotional and harrowing drawbacks of marriage. Riddled with miscommunication and depravity, former big-screen actress Nicole files a divorce against theater company owner and stage director husband Charlie to establish her own sense of belonging.
When Marnie Was There
Following an asthma attack, twelve-year-old Anna takes her adoptive mother’s advice and spends her summer break in the care of her relatives’ home in the rural seaside for some clean air. In this 2014 Studio Ghibli film, a chain of mysteries slowly unravels as Anna gets closer to the girl in the secluded mansion at the end of the marsh.
Cities of Last Things
‘Cities of Last Things’ is a dystopian noir drama that narrates the seemingly adverse stages in the life of a police officer in reverse chronological order. Zhang Dong Ling goes through a series of misfortune that leads to cynical and pervasive disasters in three pictures.
Pieces of a Woman
All things crumble when a couple expecting parenthood is met with a tragedy. A Netflix original that portrays the great peril that comes with childbirth, ‘Pieces of a Woman’ tells of Martha Weiss as she grapples with loss, muddled relationships, and a civil suit against her midwife, Eva Woodward.
The Shawshank Redemption
Based on Stephen King’s compelling crime fiction novel Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ is a renowned classic from the ’90s depicting a tale of hope, perseverance, and camaraderie. When banker Andy Dufrenes was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife and lover, he learns the true meaning of ‘survival of the fittest’ as he is left with nothing but time and thick, suffocating walls.
Changeling
In the face of a misogynistic and corrupt justice system and public vilification, a woman refuses to falter to get to the bottom of her son’s disappearance. Directed by Clint Eastwood, this film trudges into the blatant maltreatment and defilement of women in the 1920’s.
Dear Ex
It would take a miracle to evade the wrath of San-lian as she discovers neither her nor her son was his spouse’s insurance beneficiary, but instead, it was Jay, a free-spirited person with an uncanny love for theater. An unlikely dynamic is formed between mother, son, and dead husband’s male lover.
Loving Vincent
In veneration of one of the most influential artists of all time, this homage to Vincent Van Gogh is the first to have manually oil-painted frames up to 65,000 courtesy of 125 artists. It centers around Armand Roulin, who was tasked to deliver a special letter and then soon ventures out to uncover the mystery behind the artist’s death.
Slide into your comfy pajamas for the best watch experience.