Fox Searchlight Pictures (USA): 20

A Hidden Life (2019) is an epic historical drama film written and directed by Terrence Malick. Born and raised in the small village of St. Radegund, Austrian peasant farmer Franz Jägerstätter is tending to his land when war breaks out. Alongside his wife Franziska, affectionately known as Fani, they are valued members of their close-knit rural community, living a humble life with their three daughters. However, Franz is called for basic training in the German army and must leave behind his beloved family for an extended period. When France surrenders and it appears that the war may soon end, he is sent home from ...

Mistress America (2015), an American comedy film directed by Noah Baumbach and written by Baumbach and Greta Gerwig, follows college freshman Tracy Fishko as she struggles to adjust to life at Barnard. Feeling lonely after developing a crush on fellow student Tony, who begins dating someone else, Tracy reaches out to her soon-to-be stepsister Brooke in New York. Captivated by Brooke’s lifestyle, Tracy takes her mother’s advice and gets closer to her. Inspired by their time together, Tracy writes a short story ...

The comedy-drama film, The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), is written and directed by Wes Anderson. A teenage girl pays a visit to the monument of the author who wrote ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ and finds inspiration in his story. This author was inspired to write the book during his stay at the once-luxurious hotel located in the European mountainous country formerly known as Zubrowka. Despite its current dilapidated state in 1968, the hotel holds a special place in the heart of its owner, Mr. Zero Moustafa. He shares with the author how he came to acquire it and why he continues to keep it open despite not ...

Calvary (2014) is an Irish drama film written and directed by John Michael McDonagh. In the film, Father James is confronted with a troubled soul who confesses to him about suffering sexual abuse from a priest in his childhood. Shocked by this revelation, Father James offers sympathy for the man’s pain. However, things take a dark turn when the man reveals his plan to murder Father James as revenge for the indifference towards priestly child abuse. In a twisted logic, the man believes that killing an innocent priest will spark more outrage than punishing a guilty one. He gives Father James one week before carrying ...

Wild (2014) is a 2014 biographical adventure drama film directed by Jean-Marc Vallée and written by Nick Hornby. It is based on Cheryl Strayed’s 2012 memoir, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. Despite her lack of experience, in June 1995, Cheryl embarks on a 1,100-mile solo hike along the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail. She grapples with painful memories of her mother’s death from cancer and her own struggles with depression, drugs, and promiscuity. After losing her marriage and having ...

The psychological thriller film, Trance (2013), was directed by Danny Boyle and written by Joe Ahearne and John Hodge from a story by Ahearne. During a heist at an auction house, the thieves steal what they believe to be a valuable painting. In the midst of the robbery, Simon Newton attacks their leader Franck and is knocked unconscious. But when Franck opens the package, he finds only an empty frame. It turns out that Simon, who was the ‘inside man’ for the ...

Margaret (2011) is a riveting American epic psychological drama written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan. In the bustling streets of Manhattan, 17-year-old student Lisa Cohen has an unexpected encounter with bus driver Gerald Maretti on the Upper West Side. A moment of distraction leads to a tragic accident as Gerald misses a red light, resulting in the death of pedestrian Monica Patterson. Overcome with guilt, Lisa initially tells police that the traffic signal was green but later changes her statement. As her life takes unexpected turns, including a flirtation with math teacher Aaron Caije and heated debates with her ...

The film The Descendants (2011), directed by Alexander Payne, is a comedy-drama based on Kaui Hart Hemmings’ novel of the same name. It follows Honolulu-based attorney and sole trustee of a family trust, Matthew ‘Matt’ King, who is responsible for 25,000 acres of valuable land on Kauai that also holds sentimental value to his family. While Matt has diligently managed his own finances like his father before him, most of his cousins have recklessly spent their inheritances. However, with the trust expiring in seven years due to legal limitations, the King ...

The American epic experimental coming-of-age drama film, The Tree of Life (2011), written and directed by Terrence Malick, follows the O’Brien family during two pivotal periods. In the 1960s, the family is thrown into turmoil upon learning of the death of their 19-year-old son, R.L. In contrast, in 2010, eldest son Jack struggles with his life as an architect in Dallas, Texas, feeling disillusioned and disappointed. Throughout the film, Mrs. O’Brien asks God why R.L. had to die while visuals show the creation of the universe and Earth’s beginnings. At one point, a compassionate dinosaur chooses not to ...

The American sports comedy-drama film Win Win (2011) was written and directed by Tom McCarthy. Mike Flaherty, a small-town attorney in New Providence, New Jersey, struggles to maintain his law practice while also coaching wrestling. He faces the challenge of keeping his financial problems hidden from his wife Jackie and their two young daughters, Abby and Stella. Mike sees an opportunity when he is assigned to represent Leo Poplar, a client with early dementia who has no known family. He convinces a judge to make him Leo’s guardian, resulting in a monthly stipend of $1,508. However, instead of taking care of Leo ...

Directed by David Ayer, Street Kings (2008) is an American action thriller film. The protagonist, Tom Ludlow, is a detective for the LAPD’s Vice-Special unit who has struggled with alcoholism following his wife’s death. In his latest undercover mission, he arranges a meeting with Korean gangsters under the guise of a firearms deal as he believes they have abducted two teenage girls. During the encounter, Ludlow allows himself to be beaten and robbed before tracking them down using a device on his stolen vehicle. Upon arriving at their hideout, he takes swift action to eliminate the gang members, fabricates ...

Sunshine (2007) is a science fiction psychological thriller film directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland. In the year 2057, Earth is facing a crisis as the Sun is nearing its end and causing global freezing. To save humanity, eight international astronauts embark on a mission aboard Icarus II – a spacecraft equipped with a mirrored stellar bomb designed to reignite the dying star. However, as they pass Mercury, they receive a distress signal from Icarus I – a previous attempt that was lost seven years ago. Despite objections from Mace, Physicist ...

Wes Anderson co-wrote and directed the American comedy-drama film, The Darjeeling Limited (2007).  While in India, a businessman named Peter fails to catch his train of the same name, as he is beaten to it by a younger man. On board, Peter reunites with his brothers Francis and Jack after not seeing each other since their father’s funeral a year ago. Francis, who has undergone a motorcycle accident and is now covered in bandages, wants to reconcile with his brothers on a journey of self-discovery. He also hopes to find their mother Patricia, whom they have not seen in years. With the assistance of Brendan, his ...

Juno (2007) is a comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody. In Elk River, Minnesota, the sixteen year old high-schooler discovers she is pregnant by her friend and longtime admirer Paulie Bleeker. She initially considers an abortion, but then decides to visit a local women’s clinic where she encounters a schoolmate protesting against abortion. After discussing her options with the clinic staff, Juno ultimately chooses to give the baby up for adoption. With the help of her friend Leah, she searches for potential adoptive parents in the ...

Kinsey (2004) is a biographical drama film written and directed by Bill Condon, exploring the life of Alfred Charles Kinsey, a pioneer in the field of sexology. The movie follows Professor Kinsey as he discusses his sexual history, while also delving into flashbacks from his childhood and young adulthood. These flashbacks show the strict views of his father, a lay minister who believed modern inventions led to sin, and how this affected Kinsey’s upbringing. As a teenager, he faced humiliation for being exposed to cigarettes and later disappoints his father with his chosen career path. The adult Kinsey becomes a ...

Millions (2004) is a British comedy-drama film directed by Danny Boyle, following the story of Damian, a 9-year-old Catholic boy whose family relocates to Widnes after his mother’s passing. While playing near the train tracks, Damian discovers a bag of money thrown from a passing train. He confides in his brother Anthony, 12, and they discuss their options. While Anthony wants to keep the money for themselves, Damien, known for his kind and religious nature, is inspired by a lecture at school and decides to use his share of the money to help the less fortunate. Throughout the film, Damien carries out various acts ...

Woody Allen wrote and directed the American comedy film, Melinda and Melinda (2004), which first premiered at the San Sebastian International Film Festival in 2004. During a dinner conversation, four writers debate the nature of life – is it inherently comedic or tragic? One writer shares a true incident he heard about a woman named Melinda who causes chaos at a couple’s dinner party, leading to affairs and a suicide attempt. As two playwrights in the group tell their versions of the story, one focuses on humor while the other takes a darker approach. In the latter version, Melinda stays with her friends Lee ...

A film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s comedic play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1999), was written, produced, and directed by Michael Hoffman. Set in the 1890s in Monte Athena, a fictional Italian kingdom, the story follows the preparations for Duke Theseus and Hippolyta’s wedding banquet. During this time, Egeus, father of young Hermia, approaches the Duke to request his support in forcing his daughter to marry Demetrius. Egeus threatens that Hermia will die if she does not comply. In response, Theseus offers Hermia four days to decide between ...

The romantic drama film, Oscar and Lucinda (1997), directed by Gillian Armstrong, follows the lives of two individuals – Lucinda Leplastrier and Oscar. As a child growing up in Australia, Lucinda is captivated by a Prince Rupert’s Drop, which sparks her lifelong passion for glass. Sadly, her parents pass away and she inherits great wealth when her guardians sell off their family farmland. With her newfound riches, Lucinda purchases a glass factory and becomes involved in gambling after being introduced to it by her accountant. Meanwhile, Oscar is raised by his father as a Plymouth Brother but eventually ...

Two Girls and a Guy (1997) is a darkly comedic drama helmed by James Toback. While waiting outside a loft for their respective partners, two women, Carla and Lou, unexpectedly cross paths. But their interaction takes a shocking turn when they realize they have been deceived by the same man – promising actor Blake, who had been juggling relationships with both of them. Fueled by anger, they break into his loft and confront him upon his return, sparking a heated exchange of accusations and explanations.