2020 will forever be marked as the year of the pandemic. While the majority of industries had to stop doing what they know best because of it, there were a few things that helped us survive these difficult times. Watching films was one of such things. Even though it became impossible to shoot new films, especially during the first few months of the pandemic, directors had a few tricks up their sleeve, as well as a few almost finished projects that got to see the light of day in 2020.
Even though cinemas around the world were closed, viewers were still able to enjoy watching films on various streaming platforms, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max and so on. No matter whether you are currently looking for inspiration as a director or a film student who does not want to pay to do my homework, here are a few excellent films that were released in 2020 to help get started. The directors of these movies know their craft very well which is the reason why you will find enough inspiration to either finish that film project you are currently working on, or simply get an idea for your next film. As a director, you need to watch a lot of films for many reasons. Yet, the most important one is that it helps you become better as a professional. So, here are some of the most impressive 2020 films from the best directors in the world.
Pieces of A Woman
Pieces of A Woman is a Canadian-American drama directed by a Hungarian director Kornél Mundruczó. Even if you think you have not heard of him, there is a very high chance that you have seen at least one of his films, especially if you enjoy going to film festivals. The screenplay for this film was written by Kata Wéber who is a Hungarian screenwriter.
The plot of the film focuses on a couple living in Boston who are expecting their first child. The couple decides to give birth at home. However, not everything goes according to plan which obviously creates conflict and a subsequent trauma. What is particularly fascinating about this film is the director’s stylistic choice to shoot the first thirty or so minutes of the film which are dedicated to the process of detailed home birth. Trauma of losing a child is at the centre of the film. This event influences not only the life of the main characters played by Vanessa Cirby and Shia LaBeouf, but also their relationship with the rest of their family members and friends. It’s a fascinating watch.
Horse Girl
Horse Girl is American psychological drama directed by Jeff Baena and starring Alison Brie as Sarah – the main character of the film. The film premiered at Sundance Film Festival and was released on Netflix a few weeks later. The movie tells the story of a shy and introverted girl Sarah who seems to live an ordinary life and has a huge fascination with horses. However, that’s only what you see on the surface. Once the plot progresses, you get to discover more and more about Sarah which either makes you question the sanity of Sarah or the world around us. After all, this film is a psychological drama for a reason. Lots of bizarre events occur in the film which makes the whole plot even more exciting. All in all, nothing will distract you in the process of watching this movie, that is for sure.
Tenet
Well, there is no need to explain why the release of this film has been so significant for the film industry during the pandemic. Christopher Nolan was one of the very few directors who was not afraid to release a huge and long-awaited film as soon as cinemas around the world started to reopen. And he was right in doing that as it is believed that Tenet played a huge role in helping save the industry and the world of cinema.
People slowly started to come back to the movie theaters, and Christopher Nolan showed that you can shake things up a lot if you have a truly quality product. Tenet is very hard to describe. It is that kind of film that you simply have to see to get it (or, perhaps, to watch it a few times to fully understand what’s going on). What you need to know is that Christopher Nolan focused on one of his favorite things in this movie – time and the perception of time. Tenet is a science fiction action film that will definitely keep you on the age of your seat during the whole screening. Highly recommended.
