more amelie and antonia's line, please?
March 4, 2011 1:54 PM Subscribe
[movie/book filter]: looking for suggestions for movies/books that are similar to amelie, like water for chocolate, antonia's line, a very long engagement.
i've checked out all the threads that seemed similar to this, but am wondering if anything new/missed should be added? i like magical movies. darker stuff is ok (pan's labryinth was beautiful), but generally i like bits of happiness/love/humor/quirk. and fun feministy stuff (like antonia's line) is always welcome :)
also book recommendations in the same genre(s), if you have them. my sweetie and i are re-reading like water for chocolate together and will then watch the movie (again) when we're done.
i've checked out all the threads that seemed similar to this, but am wondering if anything new/missed should be added? i like magical movies. darker stuff is ok (pan's labryinth was beautiful), but generally i like bits of happiness/love/humor/quirk. and fun feministy stuff (like antonia's line) is always welcome :)
also book recommendations in the same genre(s), if you have them. my sweetie and i are re-reading like water for chocolate together and will then watch the movie (again) when we're done.
Run, Lola, Run (not terribly cheerful, but defnitely quirky).
posted by Melismata at 2:15 PM on March 4, 2011
posted by Melismata at 2:15 PM on March 4, 2011
Big Fish, seconding Chocolat, Ma Vie en Rose, Little Miss Sunshine
Books-- you'd probably like One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez if you haven't already read it.
posted by geegollygosh at 2:15 PM on March 4, 2011
Books-- you'd probably like One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez if you haven't already read it.
posted by geegollygosh at 2:15 PM on March 4, 2011
Response by poster: ooh, great ideas, and they sound familiar! chocolat is one of my favorites - my bad for not listing it - but now you're making me want to watch it again! little miss sunshine secretly breaks my heart, but the last dance scene makes it all worth it :)
posted by anya32 at 2:18 PM on March 4, 2011
posted by anya32 at 2:18 PM on March 4, 2011
Amelie and A Very Long Engagement were both directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Before directed those, he had a partnership with Marc Caro and they co-directed the wonderful movies Delicatessen and City of Lost Children. These movies are generally much darker and less mainstream then Amelie and AVLE. I highly recommend them.
posted by beisny at 2:21 PM on March 4, 2011
posted by beisny at 2:21 PM on March 4, 2011
Movie: The Fall
Book: The Housekeeper and the Professor. It's not a grand tale like some of the other titles mentioned here but it is quirky and has its own magic. A very quick read, too.
posted by (alice) at 2:50 PM on March 4, 2011
Book: The Housekeeper and the Professor. It's not a grand tale like some of the other titles mentioned here but it is quirky and has its own magic. A very quick read, too.
posted by (alice) at 2:50 PM on March 4, 2011
Seconding The Fall and Big Fish.
You might like The Triplets of Belleville too. Animated, but has a great sense of off-kilter quirkiness and wonder.
posted by afx237vi at 3:06 PM on March 4, 2011
You might like The Triplets of Belleville too. Animated, but has a great sense of off-kilter quirkiness and wonder.
posted by afx237vi at 3:06 PM on March 4, 2011
Babette's Feast
posted by bq at 3:16 PM on March 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by bq at 3:16 PM on March 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
A Walk in the Clouds, also directed by Alfonso Arau of "Like Water for Chocolate"
posted by pineapple at 3:28 PM on March 4, 2011
posted by pineapple at 3:28 PM on March 4, 2011
Among Jeunet's movies, Micmacs; not Delicatessen.
Also, the TV show Pushing Daisies. I know you didn't ask about TV.
posted by madcaptenor at 3:59 PM on March 4, 2011
Also, the TV show Pushing Daisies. I know you didn't ask about TV.
posted by madcaptenor at 3:59 PM on March 4, 2011
Seconding Micmacs, which is a lot of fun. Also, Pushing Daisies. Have you considered rewatched The Labyrinth with Bowie in full leather-panted glory?
posted by maryr at 4:01 PM on March 4, 2011
posted by maryr at 4:01 PM on March 4, 2011
And The Fall is... weird. But beautiful.
posted by maryr at 4:01 PM on March 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by maryr at 4:01 PM on March 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
Some things that hit my personal "delightful magic realism" buttons, in approximate oder of recommendedness:
Bagdad Cafe
Saving Grace, more on the quirky than magic end (and if you like that one: Waking Ned Devine, Little Voice, The Full Monty)
Into the West (Irish from 1993, there's a few movies with that title)
Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story
It sounds funny to include a documentary, but Mad Hot Ballroom
Do you like anime? Any of Hayao Miyazaki's movies, particularly My Neighbor Totoro.
I second Triplets of Belleville, and if you like it, that animator has a new one out that I was actually planning to see this weekend.
posted by tchemgrrl at 4:09 PM on March 4, 2011
Bagdad Cafe
Saving Grace, more on the quirky than magic end (and if you like that one: Waking Ned Devine, Little Voice, The Full Monty)
Into the West (Irish from 1993, there's a few movies with that title)
Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story
It sounds funny to include a documentary, but Mad Hot Ballroom
Do you like anime? Any of Hayao Miyazaki's movies, particularly My Neighbor Totoro.
I second Triplets of Belleville, and if you like it, that animator has a new one out that I was actually planning to see this weekend.
posted by tchemgrrl at 4:09 PM on March 4, 2011
Possibly MirrorMask? It's on the darker fantasy side, with a nugget of sweetness.
You might also enjoy Shall We Dance? (the Japanese original, NOT the American remake). Not grand fantasy, but it has a similar quirky sweetness at its core as some of the films you've listed.
Some of the vignettes in Paris, Je T'aime also have that light, happy fantasy feeling, although some of them really do not.
Oh, and you've probably seen Edward Scissorhands, but in the off chance you haven't, that fits pretty well into the lightly magical, sweet fantasy type you're searching for.
Delicatessen and City of Lost Children are excellent films and well worth seeing, but they are pretty different in tone from Amelie. Based on what you're looking for, I'd watch City of Lost Children before Delicatessen. Oh, but I'd totally 100% second the Pushing Daisies recommendation.
posted by Diagonalize at 5:18 PM on March 4, 2011
You might also enjoy Shall We Dance? (the Japanese original, NOT the American remake). Not grand fantasy, but it has a similar quirky sweetness at its core as some of the films you've listed.
Some of the vignettes in Paris, Je T'aime also have that light, happy fantasy feeling, although some of them really do not.
Oh, and you've probably seen Edward Scissorhands, but in the off chance you haven't, that fits pretty well into the lightly magical, sweet fantasy type you're searching for.
Delicatessen and City of Lost Children are excellent films and well worth seeing, but they are pretty different in tone from Amelie. Based on what you're looking for, I'd watch City of Lost Children before Delicatessen. Oh, but I'd totally 100% second the Pushing Daisies recommendation.
posted by Diagonalize at 5:18 PM on March 4, 2011
Truly, Madly, Deeply
Wonderfalls
Enchanted April
Cold Comfort Farm
posted by gudrun at 6:16 PM on March 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
Wonderfalls
Enchanted April
Cold Comfort Farm
posted by gudrun at 6:16 PM on March 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
Secondhand Lions.
And seconding recommendations of The Fall, Big Fish, Babette's Feast, Edward Scissorhands and, even though it's TV, Pushing Daisies.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 6:50 PM on March 4, 2011
And seconding recommendations of The Fall, Big Fish, Babette's Feast, Edward Scissorhands and, even though it's TV, Pushing Daisies.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 6:50 PM on March 4, 2011
Response by poster: these are awesome suggestions! i haven't heard of many of these films. thank you so very much! keep the ideas coming if you have any new ones :) i just realized that another one of these lovely films, with a little less magic, perhaps, is il postino. any other lovely foreign films like it also welcomed (i enjoyed malena, too).
posted by anya32 at 7:35 PM on March 4, 2011
posted by anya32 at 7:35 PM on March 4, 2011
Tampopo and L'Auberge Espagnole are two of my favorite foreign films, along with Amelie.
posted by srah at 8:24 PM on March 4, 2011
posted by srah at 8:24 PM on March 4, 2011
I'll second MirrorMask, My Neighbor Totoro, and Wonderfalls. I'll add Kitchen, Asleep, and Lizard by Banana Yoshimoto. These are novella and short story collections, all Japanese magical realism. I like that they're the kind of story you can read one of, and then spend the day thinking about. You might also like The Wind-up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami.
And if you like quirky along the lines of Pushing Daisies or Doctor Who (the recent series), I'd also try The Middleman. It's based on a comic book, but since the episodes are basically the same word for word, I'd go for watching it. (I normally like reading something I've watched, but not in this case.)
posted by Margalo Epps at 9:06 PM on March 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
And if you like quirky along the lines of Pushing Daisies or Doctor Who (the recent series), I'd also try The Middleman. It's based on a comic book, but since the episodes are basically the same word for word, I'd go for watching it. (I normally like reading something I've watched, but not in this case.)
posted by Margalo Epps at 9:06 PM on March 4, 2011 [1 favorite]
This is kind of left field, but you might want to give Scott Pilgrim a try.
posted by Artw at 10:21 PM on March 4, 2011
posted by Artw at 10:21 PM on March 4, 2011
Cashback, Stranger Than Fiction, and Les Adventures D'Adele Blanc-Sec
posted by lizbunny at 12:30 AM on March 5, 2011
posted by lizbunny at 12:30 AM on March 5, 2011
Response by poster: you all just reminded me of the uber quirky Benny and June!
posted by anya32 at 5:18 AM on March 5, 2011
posted by anya32 at 5:18 AM on March 5, 2011
The Milagro Beanfield War --(the movie--I haven't read the book).
The Twilight Samurai
Eat Drink Man Woman
Let the Right One In -- (The original Swedish movie--I haven't seen the American remake)
My Life as a Dog
Chunking Express
True Stories
Dreams
posted by I'm Brian and so's my wife! at 6:27 AM on March 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
The Twilight Samurai
Eat Drink Man Woman
Let the Right One In -- (The original Swedish movie--I haven't seen the American remake)
My Life as a Dog
Chunking Express
True Stories
Dreams
posted by I'm Brian and so's my wife! at 6:27 AM on March 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
Other foreign movies that I've really enjoyed:
The Maid
Intimate Stories
Tulpan
Tuya's Marriage
Elling
Travelers and Magicians
Mi abuelo, mi papá y yo
Monsoon Wedding
posted by I'm Brian and so's my wife! at 7:00 AM on March 5, 2011
The Maid
Intimate Stories
Tulpan
Tuya's Marriage
Elling
Travelers and Magicians
Mi abuelo, mi papá y yo
Monsoon Wedding
posted by I'm Brian and so's my wife! at 7:00 AM on March 5, 2011
Withnail and I is my favorite movie, but I'm not sure it's lovely.
I Know Where I'm Going is lovely.
posted by Ideefixe at 8:40 AM on March 5, 2011
I Know Where I'm Going is lovely.
posted by Ideefixe at 8:40 AM on March 5, 2011
Ah, coming back to say that I forgot to mention Local Hero .
posted by gudrun at 11:00 AM on March 5, 2011
posted by gudrun at 11:00 AM on March 5, 2011
Also coming back for an additional rec: Happy-Go-Lucky. Not what I'd call "magical" but it's definitely got the happiness/humour/quirk you're after. (Note: it contains some darkness, as well.)
I'm not the movie-quoting type but there are certain lines from that film I couldn't stop repeating afterwards. Anyone who's seen it knows what I mean.
posted by (alice) at 11:26 AM on March 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm not the movie-quoting type but there are certain lines from that film I couldn't stop repeating afterwards. Anyone who's seen it knows what I mean.
posted by (alice) at 11:26 AM on March 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
Since you like Malena, maybe some more Giuseppe Tornatore?
Cinema Paradiso (love love love)
Legend of 1900 is pretty good, too
posted by sprezzy at 12:14 PM on March 5, 2011
Cinema Paradiso (love love love)
Legend of 1900 is pretty good, too
posted by sprezzy at 12:14 PM on March 5, 2011
A little more mainstream:
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
(500) Days of Summer
posted by sprezzy at 12:27 PM on March 5, 2011
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
(500) Days of Summer
posted by sprezzy at 12:27 PM on March 5, 2011
Chungking Express.
posted by Artw at 12:29 PM on March 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 12:29 PM on March 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
Digging a bit further into the past and into my film memories, you might look for Wings of Desire and Celine and Julie Go Boating (it is long, and parts are uneven, but it may still be worth a try). Amarcord is another thought.
If you try Run Lola Run and like it, as someone else suggested you view, then try the same director's somewhat darker film The Princess and the Warrior.
posted by gudrun at 1:39 PM on March 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
If you try Run Lola Run and like it, as someone else suggested you view, then try the same director's somewhat darker film The Princess and the Warrior.
posted by gudrun at 1:39 PM on March 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: awesome! more new movies! some old ones that i forgot about and love! this is awesome!!!
posted by anya32 at 2:34 PM on March 5, 2011
posted by anya32 at 2:34 PM on March 5, 2011
Movies: Pleasantville, Lawn Dogs, The Devil's Backbone, Accidents Happen, Happy Accidents, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, The Saddest Music in the World, Tin Man
posted by anoirmarie at 10:52 AM on March 8, 2011
posted by anoirmarie at 10:52 AM on March 8, 2011
Response by poster: too many to add a favorite - i have started down the list!
posted by anya32 at 12:24 PM on April 4, 2011
posted by anya32 at 12:24 PM on April 4, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by littlesq at 1:57 PM on March 4, 2011