Lush, hauntingly beautiful films
February 26, 2016 8:55 PM   Subscribe

Transport me away for 2-3 hours at a time to a time and place of beauty!

Lately I'm finding that lush, hauntingly beautiful films are just the ticket, and am looking for more that I may have missed, would want to rewatch, or just never knew about. Bonus points for streaming on Netflix or Hulu!

I'm looking for films that tick these boxes
-Incredibly beautiful cinematography, set designs, and colour theory
-Sweeping scores that complement the above
-A sense where the movie stays with you afterwards, like an emotional after-image

Films that fall under these categories for me include-
-The English Patient
-Pride and Prejudice / Atonement
-Secret of the Kells / Song of the Sea
-In the Mood for Love (or any Wong Kar Wai film)
-The Red, White, and Blue trilogy
-The Fall
-Lawrence of Arabia
-Pina
-Big Fish
-Dark City
-Pan's Labyrinth

The below are examples of what I'm NOT looking for but seem to get recommended a lot for beautiful films- I found both films to be emptily beautiful and incomprehensible in a way that was sloppy instead of poetic.
-Hero
-The Assassin
posted by raw sugar to Media & Arts (78 answers total) 89 users marked this as a favorite
 
The Leopard
Raise the Red Lantern
Days of Heaven
Ugetsu
Sunrise
posted by thetortoise at 9:06 PM on February 26, 2016 [2 favorites]


Cinema Paradiso
posted by invisible ink at 9:07 PM on February 26, 2016 [5 favorites]


FromTrois Couleurs, La Double Vie de Véronique is the obvious extension.

You're probably looking at Terence Malick and Peter Greenaway at their floofiest and you'll get something out of Kubrick's Barry Lyndon too.

More borderline territory, but The Constant Gardener and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and, oh fuck it, just watch The Fountain and if you are willing to give yourself to it, it is the best broken film you will ever see.
posted by holgate at 9:07 PM on February 26, 2016 [4 favorites]


"I Am Love" with Tilda Swinton stayed with me for DAYS.
posted by lovableiago at 9:11 PM on February 26, 2016 [9 favorites]


The Mission. Haunting, sad, won an oscar for cinematography. Amazing score from Ennio Morricone.

Did I mention that it's nearly indescribably said?

I've watched it several times.
posted by mce at 9:16 PM on February 26, 2016 [1 favorite]


Peter Greenaway's Prospero's Books is a gorgeous retelling of The Tempest with a wonderful score.
posted by Leontine at 9:20 PM on February 26, 2016 [2 favorites]


Moulin Rouge, What Dreams May Come, and 2nding Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
posted by littlesq at 9:22 PM on February 26, 2016 [1 favorite]


Came in to suggest I am Love but lovableiago beat me too it. Seeing it at Ebertfest and then hearing Tilda Swinton talk about it was about as close to a religious experience as I've ever had.

Orlando
Black Robe
Last of the Mohicans
The Piano

Sheltering Sky

(Lots of 90s movies here for some reason...)

Fun to compare: Romeo + Juliet versus Romeo and Juliet

Tristan + Isolde

posted by DarthDuckie at 9:28 PM on February 26, 2016 [2 favorites]


Strictly Ballroom
A River Runs Through It
posted by Confess, Fletch at 9:31 PM on February 26, 2016


The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty. Stick with it until he begins to travel out of New York. Really, I bet you will love this one.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 9:31 PM on February 26, 2016 [1 favorite]


Two more 90s movies:

The Lover

Legends of the Fall
posted by DarthDuckie at 9:32 PM on February 26, 2016 [2 favorites]


Strictly Ballroom is one of my faves!
Came to recommend DAYS OF HEAVEN, WHALE RIDER, EX MACHINA, THE LIVES OF OTHERS, SECRET OF ROAN INISH.
posted by pjsky at 9:37 PM on February 26, 2016


And Children of Men occupies that space: though it's not sumptuous, it's intensely possessing: you may find aspects of the cinematography upsetting, but they are aesthetically on the money and never anywhere close to sloppy.
posted by holgate at 9:37 PM on February 26, 2016 [1 favorite]


Oh, sorry, I want to add Into The Wild, and Tracks.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 9:38 PM on February 26, 2016 [2 favorites]




I'll keep thinking of more, but Sofia Coppola's movies occupy this space for me, especially Marie Antoinette.
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 9:41 PM on February 26, 2016 [7 favorites]


The Scent of Green Papaya
posted by lois1950 at 9:42 PM on February 26, 2016 [3 favorites]


The Fountain

So sad, but so beautiful, and hopeful.
posted by ananci at 9:47 PM on February 26, 2016 [3 favorites]


The Fifth Element
Bladerunner
The Quiet Earth (deeply under appreciated and an awesome soundtrack)
Pan's Labyrinth
posted by bonehead at 9:48 PM on February 26, 2016 [1 favorite]


Heavenly Creatures

Castaway

Midsummer's Night's Dream (Max Factor actually put out a makeup line based on this)
posted by asockpuppet at 9:48 PM on February 26, 2016 [1 favorite]


Take these recommendations with a grain of salt, I guess, if you think Zhang Yimou and Hou Hsaio-Hsien are "sloppy," because holy shit they make some of the best-looking films. Anyway, I tried to pick a variety of styles and a variety of eras and limited myself to titles in color that (I think!) haven't been mentioned yet.

The Red Shoes (1948)
The Searchers (1956)
Tess (1979)
Ran (1985)
The Last Emperor (1987)
Akira Kurosawa's Dreams (1990)
Kundun (1997)
The Wind Will Carry Us (1999)
Last Life in the Universe (2003)
Ondine (2009)
The Deep Blue Sea (2011)
posted by Mothlight at 9:51 PM on February 26, 2016 [4 favorites]


Nobody's suggested Blade Runner yet? It ticks all three of your boxes for me.

(Upon preview: okay, bonehead beat me to it. The Fifth Element is a good one too.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:51 PM on February 26, 2016


Oh man, forgot to mention a great one that is totally on Netflix right now.

The Duke of Burgundy (2014)
posted by Mothlight at 9:54 PM on February 26, 2016


Response by poster: (Note on my dislike for Hero and The Assassin- I'm a native Chinese speaker and the dialogue in both films is a lot clunkier than the English subtitles would lead international watchers to believe, but that might just be my opinion.. but admittedly that might also colour my opinion of the films)
posted by raw sugar at 9:56 PM on February 26, 2016 [5 favorites]


Upstream Color
posted by sleeping bear at 9:57 PM on February 26, 2016 [2 favorites]


Departures.
posted by Trivia Newton John at 9:57 PM on February 26, 2016 [1 favorite]


Children of Men reminded me... King Arthur (Clive Owen) which makes me think of King of Heaven
posted by DarthDuckie at 10:01 PM on February 26, 2016 [1 favorite]


Okay, for cheese, I am going to suggest Moulin Rouge

It's very pretty, large sets, beautiful costumes, glorious colors. Come with me to imaginary Paris! Songs! Dance! Romance! Heartbreak!

If you don't mind distinct shift in tone, I found Melancholia equally beautiful in parts, even if the protagonist did need a good shake, or appropriate medication/medical care.
posted by Gyre,Gimble,Wabe, Esq. at 10:06 PM on February 26, 2016 [4 favorites]


Requiem for a Dream (A+ on score, too.)
Apocalypse Now
2001: A Space Odyssey
Equilibrium
+1 for some in your list and others have listed. These were some I didn't see unless I missed them.
posted by Crystalinne at 10:09 PM on February 26, 2016 [1 favorite]


The Revenant.
posted by teamnap at 10:24 PM on February 26, 2016


A Single Man is an aesthetic marvel.
posted by delight at 10:25 PM on February 26, 2016 [3 favorites]


Mood Indigo (2013)
The Tree of Life (or pretty much any Terrence Malick movie)
Blow Up (1966)
The Red Shoes (1948)
Moulin Rouge
The Fountain (great cinematography, but I found the plot -or lack thereof- unbearable)
The Great Beauty (I found the trailer off-puttingly objectifying of women)

On preview: yes to a Single Man
posted by kinoeye at 10:27 PM on February 26, 2016 [1 favorite]


To Live
posted by invisible ink at 10:35 PM on February 26, 2016 [1 favorite]


Picnic at Hanging Rock.
This is the first movie that pops into my head when I read "lush, hauntingly beautiful films". Really surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet.
posted by drugstorefrog at 11:02 PM on February 26, 2016 [4 favorites]


Climates, or in fact anything by Nuri Bilge Ceylan, the best film director alive today.
posted by little eiffel at 11:40 PM on February 26, 2016


Head-On/Gegen die Wand, and The Edge of Heaven/Auf der anderen Seite (both by Fatih Akın)

Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (Nuri Bilge Ceylan)

Monsoon Wedding (Mira Nair)

City of God/Cidade de Deus (Fernando Meirelles & Katia Lund)
posted by karayel at 11:52 PM on February 26, 2016 [1 favorite]


Indochine, with Catherine Deneuve as a pre-Dien Bien Phu plantation owner in Indochina. Just from the description you've probably already guessed that the politics of the film are...complicated, but it certainly is lush and sweeping.
posted by praemunire at 12:03 AM on February 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Oh and also you gotta watch Moon. Great set design!
posted by Crystalinne at 12:32 AM on February 27, 2016


You should go see The Revenant while it's still in theaters.
posted by Brittanie at 12:32 AM on February 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I recently posted Mr. Nobody on FanFare. It's a movie that spent very little time in U.S. theaters, so most folks have never seen it. I found the filming to be beautiful and the storyline fascinating. It's streaming on Netflix.
posted by kbar1 at 12:37 AM on February 27, 2016


Mind is blown that no one has mentioned Only Lovers Left Alive.
posted by gloriouslyincandescent at 12:49 AM on February 27, 2016 [5 favorites]


To be honest, I don't really think I've ever seen a film that gives that same hauntingly beautiful feel as what I've felt from a novel, other than Spirited Away and other Miyazaki movies, but there are particular sections in each of these movies that do contain what you are looking for. The Revenant is an example of where I think there is beautiful cinematography combined with...lots of technically well executed violence on Leo. I think older epic movies are much better at cultivating these feelings, like Gone with the Wind or Laurence of Arabia.

Life of Pi (2012)
3 Idiots (2009)
Snow Falling on Cedars (1999)
Spirited Away (2001)
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)
posted by yueliang at 1:01 AM on February 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Seven Years in Tibet has its well-known flaws, but my god is it beautiful, and so is Kundun. They're both attempts of Western directors to depict Tibet and the Dalai Lama, which poses some problems, but purely aesthetically they are gorgeous and story-wise quite immersive.

More generally, movies that won the Oscar for the Best Foreign Film tend to be aesthetically superb and often kind of epic. Nowhere in Africa comes to mind, and in a more cartoonish style, Amélie, of course.

And even though it's an animation, Waltz with Bashir. It was haunting as hell, and some of the scenes are etched into my memory.
posted by sively at 1:17 AM on February 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Stealing Beauty. It is flawed, but man it is pretty.
posted by Cocodrillo at 1:25 AM on February 27, 2016


The Mission (~1986) not on Jeremy Irons' wiki entry. it should be.
de Niro and Jeremy Irons in South America. waterfalls, wildlife and the afore mentioned.
the soundtrack's wonderful.
posted by Twist at 1:28 AM on February 27, 2016


Farewell My Concubine.
Juliet of the Spirits, Amarcord by Fellini.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 1:43 AM on February 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


I have heard good things about the visuals of Happy Together (1997), and that it's won a few cinematography awards.
posted by yueliang at 2:54 AM on February 27, 2016


AH WAIT. I think I finally hit on one that was truly very haunting and super beautiful and devastating. Senegalese writer and director Ousmane Sembène created this movie called Black Girl (1966) that is super freaking haunting. One of the best visual demonstrations of the effects of colonialism and silence on black bodies I've ever seen. I have to credit my film buff of a Gender Studies professor for introducing it to me during our "Women of Color" cinema class, and making me think that I should start watching and searching out movies again. I am thinking you are more likely to find what you need in non-Hollywood settings.

On that note, Pariah (2011) is also wonderful as well, and hits the after-image note. I thought the cinematography was very nice, tasteful and intimate. I believe it's on Netflix.
posted by yueliang at 3:05 AM on February 27, 2016




The suggestions above for I Am Love, Terrence Malick, Peter Greenaway, and Sophia Coppola are spot-on.

Have you seen Heaven? It's was written by Kieślowski/Piesiewicz, but Kieślowski died before he had a chance to film it, so it was directed instead by Tom Tykwer. It's so lovely it made me cry.

If you love Kieślowski, then you should definitely watch some Tarkovsky ("Tarkovsky's films are characterized by metaphysical themes, extremely long takes, and memorable images of exceptional beauty...He once said, 'Juxtaposing a person with an environment that is boundless, collating him with a countless number of people passing by close to him and far away, relating a person to the whole world, that is the meaning of cinema.'"). I'd say start with Andrei Rublev or Solaris, but you kind of can't go wrong.

And how about Bertolucci? The Last Emperor would probably be a good starting place.

Finally -- and this one is a stretch -- have you seen the Cremaster Cycle? This is a series of five deeply weird, extremely long, non-traditionally narrative art films that were created as part of a larger installation including sculpture and other works. As weird as they are, they're packed full of striking images that have stuck with me over the years. You can find them online if you google.
posted by ourobouros at 5:03 AM on February 27, 2016 [3 favorites]


Brideshead Revisited (the movie not the mini series)
posted by greta simone at 5:43 AM on February 27, 2016


I am here to third Days of Heaven.

Doesn't exactly fit the category but I feel like you may like Microcosmos.
posted by ReluctantViking at 6:00 AM on February 27, 2016


Though it is an intimate film, the haunting sparse landscape and frozen sea are a major and unforgettable part of The Winter Guest.

Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast fits your criteria, except that it is in black and white. I still think you should consider it.
posted by gudrun at 7:07 AM on February 27, 2016


If I were you, I'd start by exploring the work of the folks who directed the films you already love. Go through their other films. Also, when you know you like a particular movie, check both Netflix and iTunes for the films they recommend. A lot of times, the recommended films won't be good matches -- but sometimes they will be.

Check out Ex Machina.
posted by jdroth at 7:08 AM on February 27, 2016


The Time in Between (El tiempo entre costuras) hits all of your key points except it's a 17 part series.

Set against the background of the Spanish Civil War and WWII, the movie follows the journey of a seamstress whose life takes her from Madrid to Morocco and back. She makes mistakes, forms deep bonds and friendships, and is called to greater challenges.

Like some of your recommendations it's based off a well known book and it transports you to the locations and era. The production values are all very high (acting, sets, costumes camera work).

This is one of those stories that will get remade as a watered down American version that will be successful but not hit the same notes. You can find it on both Hulu and Netflix. The first couple of episodes start slowly but then it picks up. It's in Spanish with bits of English and Portuguese thrown in.
posted by euphorb at 8:34 AM on February 27, 2016


Adding on to my previous answer, some one above suggested Upstream Color, so you should check out Primer too, Shane Carruth's previous movie. It's weird and confusing but it's probably my landmark for movies that give the feeling you describe.

Also, Frances Ha, which is totally different from those in every way but has the same feeling.

And, it's a tv show, but Top of the Lake also really hit that languid note.
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 8:41 AM on February 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Very low budget, but Ink has a haunting score, ethereal look and powerful story.
posted by pushing paper and bottoming chairs at 9:00 AM on February 27, 2016


Also, Werner Herzog's Aguirre, the Wrath of God. Very haunting and lush.
posted by pushing paper and bottoming chairs at 9:04 AM on February 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


The Merchant of Venice movie with Al Pacino as Shylock and Jeremy Irons as Antonio; it's beautiful and vivid and sad, and my memory of watching is of being drenched in colour and music and language. Also, I don't know if this will be easy to find with subtitles, but I recommend the 1973 Bollywood movie, Saudagar (starring Amitabh Bacchan and Nutan); it's much quieter and more low-key than many Bollywood movies but I would definitely call it both lushly beautiful and haunting.
posted by Aravis76 at 9:07 AM on February 27, 2016


Stalker is the most ridiculously gorgeous film I've ever seen. Every frame is incredible. Pretty ahh, esoteric? In the wrong headspace it could be the most boring film ever committed to celluloid, but in the right one it's transcendent. Better trailer.
posted by rodlymight at 9:13 AM on February 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Tarkovsky has been mentioned above but I would also recommend Soderbergh's 2002 remake of Solaris with a beautiful soundtrack by Cliff Martinez.
posted by perhapses at 9:28 AM on February 27, 2016


I found Beasts of the Southern Wild to be lush and hauntingly beautiful. Just watching the trailer gives me goosebumps. Set in the Louisiana bayou, the film used some local residents on the crew and cast. It is such an amazing film, and will definitely stay with you.
posted by merejane at 9:41 AM on February 27, 2016 [1 favorite]


Far From The Madding Crowd (1967) Many vistas of England at its greenest, dotted by sheep. Also an excellent cast.

I see there is a new version. It may also be beautiful, but I don't know a thing about it.
posted by SemiSalt at 9:45 AM on February 27, 2016


Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is beautiful. I understand there's a new sequel on Netflix, but haven't seen it yet.
posted by General Malaise at 11:04 AM on February 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


oooohh so many good suggestions above.

a few:
The Spirit of the Beehive (1973 - Spain)
Paris, Texas (1984 - USA)
Uncle Boonmee who can recall his past lives (2010 - Thailand) [streaming on Netflix now, I think]

they really take you away into other worlds, even though the worlds are more about ghosts you can't see, memories, haunting humanity, etc etc. the first two may or may not be as totally "lush" as other films mentioned (more time spent in arid/impoverished landscapes than colorful/verdant ones), but are undeniably beautiful.
posted by cluebucket at 11:29 AM on February 27, 2016


Third time:
Perfume: the story of a murderer
is Amazing!!
posted by Crystalinne at 11:35 AM on February 27, 2016


Seconding "The Scent of Green Papaya" and adding "The Vertical Ray of the Sun" by the same director.
posted by Petersondub at 2:16 PM on February 27, 2016




Assassination of Jesse James with Brad Pitt. Beautiful movie with a haunting score by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis.
posted by foxhat10 at 6:26 PM on February 27, 2016 [2 favorites]


Departures, which has been mentioned, is amazing. You might also like Into Great Silence, a documentary about the really singular monks of the Grand Chartreuse, although it has very little music. And! another one of Fellini's, La Grande Bellezza.
posted by undue influence at 6:54 PM on February 27, 2016


Hugo is gorgeous and stayed with me (and many of my friends) for weeks. Several of us saw it more than once while it was still in theaters.
posted by MexicanYenta at 9:55 PM on February 27, 2016


Howards End
posted by sallybrown at 5:59 AM on February 28, 2016


For me, Thin Red Line.
posted by turbid dahlia at 2:31 PM on February 28, 2016 [1 favorite]


The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover.
posted by Fireland at 6:09 PM on February 28, 2016


The House of Sand (2005) (Casa D'Areia)
posted by lafemma at 7:57 AM on February 29, 2016


From the early 80s:

The Year of Living Dangerously

Body Heat
posted by marsha56 at 11:39 AM on February 29, 2016


Seconding Amelie, and if you like that then The Grand Budapest Hotel is also a blast.

Apocalypse Now (extended version).
The Conformist
posted by storybored at 12:24 PM on March 4, 2016


The City of Lost Children has that kind of feeling in a strange steampunk kind of way.
posted by duoshao at 6:44 AM on March 5, 2016 [1 favorite]


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