2020 Films You Probably Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out)

Culture
2020 Films You Probably Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out)
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In over 100 years of cinema, nothing has been quite as disruptive to the medium as 2020. World events have caused a raft of big releases to move to 2021, and those that remained were forced to find other ways of distribution, as cinemas have been closed for large portions of the year. Though many films found a viewership through the recent boom in streaming services, there are still a number of movies that we feel deserve a bigger audience than they got from cinema or on-demand releases. Here’s our list of 2020’s hidden gems from around the world…

By Victoria Luxford

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Culture
2020 Films You Probably Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Babyteeth – This low-budget Aussie drama isn’t just a hidden gem: it’s one of the best films of the year. Ben Mendelsohn (Ready Player One) and Essie Davis (The Babadook) play the parents of terminally ill young woman Milla (Eliza Scanlen). When Milla falls for a shady young man named Moses (Toby Wallace), they are torn between protecting their child from potential harm, and allowing her to enjoy a rare spark of happiness. Heart-wrenching and beautiful, there are few films more affecting, thanks to career-best performances from the cast – and a story that will stay with you for weeks afterwards.

1/20
Culture
2020 Films You Probably Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Mogul Mowgli – Riz Ahmed (Rogue One) writes and stars in this story of British-Pakistani rapper Zed who returns home to London on the cusp of his big break, only to discover he has a debilitating illness. Ahmed and director Bassam Tariq explore what it is to be torn between identities, as Zed is pulled between the traditions of his family and the culture of the country in which he grew up. Powerfully acted and thoughtfully executed, the film provides a showcase for the potential of this talented star.

2/20
Culture
2020 Films You Probably Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Miss Juneteenth – Nicole Beharie stars as Turquoise, a single mother in Texas who, in her youth, won Miss Juneteenth – a pageant that offers Black girls a chance at a scholarship to a prestigious college – but never quite lived up to her potential. Turquoise prepares her teenage daughter, Kai (Alexis Chikaeze), for the current pageant, but Kai has other ambitions. With this unique look at parenthood and institutional racism in America, filmmaker Channing Godfrey Peoples creates a tale where racism is an ever-present backdrop to a very personal journey.

3/20
Culture
2020 Films You Probably Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Summer of 85 (Original: Été 85) – Celebrated French director François Ozon’s latest follows itinerant high schooler Alexis (Felix Lefebvre) as he becomes infatuated with free-spirited local David (Benjamin Voisin) during one long summer in a French coastal town. However, heartbreak and tragedy will soon shatter this young man’s world. It’s difficult not to become enraptured with this sun-soaked coming-of-age story that embraces both the limitless possibilities of youth and the tough lessons of growing up. Those missing the freedom of travel this year will also enjoy the sumptuous backdrop that feels like a vacation in itself.

4/20
Culture
2020 Films You Probably Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Pixie – This engaging Irish comedy Pixie, stars Olivia Cooke as a resourceful young woman who exacts revenge on a cartel of corrupt priests as vengeance for the death of her mother. Taking inspiration from a number of crime classics, it’s a madcap 90 minutes that’s more about enjoying the ride than working out what’s going on – with a big heart at the centre of all the off-beat comedy.

5/20
Culture
2020 Films You Probably Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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The Painter and the Thief – How do we forgive those who have wronged us? That’s the question at the core of this documentary from Norway, about a Czech artist named Barbora who befriends Karl Bertil, the man who stole her paintings. As he wrestles with his harrowing past and addiction problems, we see how Barbora becomes consumed by her own dark side, with each person’s fortunes differing as time passes. Documentaries are at their best when they teach us something about ourselves, and The Painter and the Thief’s biggest strength lies in showing us the dangers of making assumptions. Even the most troubled lives are capable of redemption.

6/20
Culture
2020 Films You Probably Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Lucky Grandma – Tsai Chin may not be as famous in the West as she is in her native China, however the veteran singer-actor has appeared in a number of hit Hollywood movies, including roles in two Bond films and a lead in ‘90s drama The Joy Luck Club. Now, the 83-year-old star steals the show as Grandma, a grumpy resident of New York’s Chinatown who falls foul of a group of gangsters when she steals money. Hilarious and heart-warming, Tsai Chin proves age is no barrier to telling nuanced stories that will bring a smile to your face – although you may think twice before your next visit to a casino!

7/20
Culture
2020 Films You Probably Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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The Eight Hundred – It’s the highest-grossing movie of 2020, yet most people outside of its home country may not have even heard of it! The Eight Hundred became a rare blockbuster hit in September when it surpassed Tenet in box office receipts, making most of its money from its domestic release in China. The deeply patriotic film is based on the true story of a group of Chinese soldiers who bravely defend their country from a four-day attack by Japanese invaders in 1937. Grossing around $464 million, it’s a war epic on a gigantic scale, offering big effects and big emotional impact.

8/20
Culture
2020 Films You Probably Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Circus Of Books – Even in the crowded market of documentary films, the premise behind Circus of Books is unique. It introduces us to Karen and Barry Mason, an elderly straight couple who have spent the last 35 years running Circus of Books, a gay adult store in Los Angeles. Despite having no interest in the genre, the couple and the store became a focal point for LGBTQ+ culture in America, and this film reveals the people behind the legend as well as the inner turmoil within their own family. An uplifting story of acceptance and liberation, this should definitely be on your ‘to watch’ list!

9/20
Culture
2020 Films You Probably Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Rocks – In this film which got a brief cinematic release this summer, Sarah Gavron (Suffragette) focuses her lens on East London and a teenage girl named Olushola, nicknamed ‘Rocks’ (Bukky Bakray), who turns to her friends to help her support her young brother after their mother abandoned them. Touching and superbly acted, Rocks becomes a testament to sisterhood, to the resilience of those faced with poverty, and to the challenges that cause some children to become adults before their time. A film that deserves to be absorbed by audiences young and old.

10/20
Culture
2020 Films You Probably Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Beastie Boys Story – Directed by regular collaborator Spike Jonze, Beastie Boys Mike Diamond and Adam Horovitz tell their story alongside a wealth of archived footage and performance material. It’s a personal look at the creative forces behind a music legend, which will appeal to lifelong fans and newcomers alike. One of the first truly unique movies made by streaming platform Apple TV+, the only downside of this entertaining walk through history is that third Beasty Boys member Adam Yauch, who died in 2012, is not here to share in the fun.

11/20
Culture
2020 Films You Probably Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Perfect 10 – Teenage star Frankie Box becomes a name to watch out for as the star of this British drama in which she plays Leigh, an aspiring gymnast whose dreams are hampered by parental neglect and poverty. Things change with the arrival of Joe (Alfie Deegan), a half-brother she never knew she had. Joe’s shady connections and boyish charm offer Leigh a chance at family, but they also draw her into a situation for which she’s unprepared. Director Eva Riley handles difficult subjects sensitively, resulting in a small film that leaves a big impression.

12/20
Culture
2020 Films You Probably Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Monsoon – Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding is superb as Kit, a Vietnamese man raised in Britain who returns to the country of his birth for the first time since childhood. There, Kit feels connected to the places he visits despite having only the faintest memories. It’s a fascinating examination of national identity, particularly for children who have emigrated. Contemplations of politics, sexuality and family intertwine with views of gorgeous cityscapes, feeling like a drama and travelogue rolled into one.

13/20
Culture
2020 Films You Probably Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Les Misérables – A dramatisation of recent French history that looks at the struggles of those on the fringes of society. What starts with a police investigation into a theft by a teenager spirals out of control into a story of violence and prejudice. The success of the film was felt at the highest levels of French power, with President Emmanuel Macron moved to ask his government for plans of action for communities that are so often forgotten. While the story uses France’s 2018 World Cup win as a ‘unifying moment’, this film has been embraced by many in its home country, and should have a wider global audience as well.

14/20
Culture
2020 Films You Probably Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Ema – “When you know what I am doing, and why, you will be horrified.” This haunting line from director Pablo Larraín’s (Jackie, NO) new drama sums up the elegant unease of its characters. Mariana Di Girólamo and Gael García Bernal play parents dealing with the guilt of sending their adopted child back to an orphanage, a tragedy perhaps caused by his mother’s influence. Punctuated by heart-pounding dance sequences within the Chilean city of Valparaíso, Di Girólamo’s title character is a thrilling protagonist who defies most cinematic conventions.

15/20
Culture
2020 Films You Probably Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Little Joe – A horror film that’s more interested in creeping through your mind than making you jump. Emily Beecham stars as a botanist who develops a plant which can make its owner happy, but begins to change their personality. Filmed with a palette of stark, contrasting colours, everything about Jessica Hausner’s movie feels a little bit off (in the best way possible). Bond and Paddington actor Ben Whishaw co-stars, working brilliantly alongside Beecham as she begins to get to the bottom of this curious mystery. A must-see for those after something a little bit unusual.

16/20
Culture
2020 Films You Probably Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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This Is Paris – We know what you’re thinking: a documentary about Paris Hilton making into a ‘must-see’ list? She may not seem like the most cinematic of subjects, but this film offers a fascinating look into the life of someone who has greatly influenced pop culture in the 21st century. The ‘big reveal’ here is that the Paris we recognise from TV is a fabrication – her ditzy persona, interests, even her voice have been altered to create a character that gave rise to a global industry. It’s debatable whether the ‘real’ Paris is that much different from the construct, but this film’s investigation of her childhood trauma will change how you view the superstar forever.

17/20
Culture
2020 Films You Probably Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Summerland – We’re off to the dreamy English coastline for this wartime tale of an abrasive loner (Gemma Arterton) who develops an unlikely bond with an evacuee (Lucas Bond) who has been sent to live with her. Fascinating twists and turns surround a strong performance from Arterton, with an emotional impact that belies the cosy period setting. With support from Gugu Mbatha-Raw as a figure from Arterton’s past, it’s a pleasingly nuanced drama that slowly draws you in.

18/20
Culture
2020 Films You Probably Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Vivarium – After a story that will leave you puzzled and perplexed? Vivarium will be unlike almost anything you’ve seen before. Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots play a young couple who tour a seemingly ideal new home on a street lined with identical properties. When they try to leave, however, every road seems to take them back to where they started. A mixture of mind-bending sci-fi and unsettling social commentary, a film about two people trapped in their home may not seem like the most attractive prospect for many after this year. However, if you take the journey, you’re likely to be thinking about it for weeks to come.

19/20
Culture
2020 Films You Probably Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out).
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Da 5 Bloods – Our last film is perhaps one you won’t have missed, given it was produced by Netflix and distributed on the global streaming platform. However, this year saw the tragic and untimely death of Chadwick Boseman from cancer. We believe Spike Lee’s war drama, one of Boseman’s final screen performances, deserves to be viewed by as many people as possible. The story follows four Black American veterans returning to Vietnam to find their lost squadron leader (Boseman) and a buried fortune. This powerful story blows you away thanks to its cast of talented character actors (Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Giancarlo Esposito) and its unintentional status as a reminder of how versatile an actor Boseman was. Those who only know the late actor from his Marvel adventures owe it to themselves to discover this, and his other compelling performances.

20/20
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2020 Films You Probably Missed (But Should Definitely Check Out)

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