The best independent movie you have ever seen.

[Allromanticsmeetthesamefate]

I have never been a huge fan of high budget movies, I can appreciate the escapism, beautiful casts and thrill of them but I much prefer a movie where I can connect, occasionally relate and watch a plot or character unfold. For that reason I prefer smaller/independent movies and absolutely love when I find a gem.

Wondering for this reason if you could recommend me your favourite smaller or independent films.

Little Miss Sunshine

There is no "best." Ever.

However, here are some that come to mind that are excellent:

Lilies of the Field
The Wedding Banquet (1993)
Kiss Me Deadly
Shadow of the Raven
Little Fugitive
Matewan
Brother from Another Planet
Return of the Secaucus Seven
Blood Simple
Hester Street
Waitress
The Verdict (1946)
Positive ID
Combination Platter
Sling Blade
Winter’s Bone
Frozen River
Bicycle Thief

Coherence

Assuming this was meant to be Withnail and I?

I like documentaries.

Loved Baraka.

There was a film called ‘a life in a day’ I think, where people sent in you tube videos all made on the same day, and a selection were complied into a film. It’s brilliant.

Withnail and I…absolutely bloody brilliant low budget, independent film 💖

Thanks for pointing out the typo.

Another vote for Le Weekend and Submarine.

Marjorie Prime - sort of science fiction that isn't science fiction any more but really about loss and memory. Has Jon Hamm in it.

The Lives of Others - set in East Germany, everyone likes it.

I second The Station Agent - an absolutely beautiful film.

Aftersun - I don't know what it was about it but honestly i was completely blown away by it. I sat in the car outside the cinema for 20 minutes absolutely sobbing my heart out.

Other people have seen it and thought it was a bit meh.

It's absolutely beautiful. Almost every frame could be printed out and hung on your wall. Not much happens but what does happen happens so beautifully.

It reminded me a lot of The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford in terms of its lighting and style. The director is obviously a big Terence Malick fan.

The Lives of Others is fantastic.

The before sunrise trilogy;
Before sunrise, before sunset, before midnight....
You must watch them in order
Absolutely brilliant

Boyhood- again richard linlkater...really really good

As mentioned previously, truly madly deeply

It's a bit niche but I absolutely love the rock band documentary, Dig!

https://releasing.dogwoof.com/dig-xx

I thought Fish Tank was very good. So sad though.

And Manchester By The Sea is brilliant. But it is the saddest film I've ever seen.

Brian and Charles is lovely and funny - about an eccentric man who builds a robot friend.

Oh yes - The Lives of Others is maybe the best film ever.

And The Lives of Others reminds me - there is a beautiful German film called Barbara about a nurse in DDR trying to defect to the West. Massively underrated film.

The station agent

I Swear

Life of Brian

I dont know if it an independent film either.
But I love watching it.

I loved that film !

Once Were Warriors Lee Tamahori
Breaking the Waves Lars von Trier
The Red Squirrel (Spanish) Julio Medem

these are my favourites although they are old now
First two are gritty but I like that.

Now I’m thinking of loads. I love indie movies

Cache by Michael Haneke
Memento Chris Nolan before he was famous. God I love that movie. It is so clever

Delicatessen (Fr)
Toto Le Hero (Fr)
Proof (Aus, 1991)
and Hal Hartley films - Trust, The Unbelievable Truth (US)

(And also The Station Agent which im pleased to see others have mentioned.)