Indie Film Release Guide: March 5th [An ONTD Original]
Lots of theater-only releases again this week, which will likely become more of a trend as the US continues to reopen its theaters in the wake of COVID vaccines becoming more widely available. But because it’s likely that many ONTDers have not yet gotten vaccinated, the films available for home viewing will continue to top the post, with the theatrical exclusives listed separately at the bottom.
The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Six” - Paramount, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, Universal, Columbia/Sony and Disney. All films listed will be available at their respective sources on Friday unless otherwise noted. Check out the posts from the past few weeks for more movies that may have already come to VOD: February 26th, February 19th, and February 12th .
Stray
Click to viewWriter/Director: Elizabeth Lo
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Follows three strays - Zeytin, Nazar and Kartal - as they embark on inconspicuous journeys through Turkish society that allow us an unvarnished portrait of human life and their own canine culture. Zeytin, fiercely independent, embarks on adventures through the city at night; Nazar, nurturing and protective, easily befriends the humans around her; while Kartal, a shy puppy living on the outskirts of a construction site, finds companions in the security guards who care for her.
What you should know: Nominated for several awards, including a Film Independent Spirit Award.
Where to stream: Virtual cinemas
Moxie
Stars: Hadley Robinson, Lauren Tsai, Alycia Pascual-Pena, Nico Hiraga
Writer: Tamara Chestna, Dylan Meyer
Director: Amy Poehler
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music
Plot: Fed up with the sexist and toxic status quo at her high school, a shy 16-year-old finds inspiration from her mother's rebellious past and anonymously publishes a zine that sparks a school-wide, coming-of-rage revolution.
What you should know: Based on the novel by Jennifer Mathieu.
Where to stream: Netflix, available now
Sophie Jones
Stars: Chase Offerle, Sam Kamerman, Elle, Natalie Shershow
Writer/Director: Jessie Barr
Genre: Drama
Plot: After her mother's death sixteen-year-old Sophie Jones is trying everything she can to feel something again and make it through high school.
What you should know: This is writer/director Jessie Barr’s first feature film.
Where to stream: Virtual cinemas, and available VOD
Keep an Eye Out
Stars: Benoît Poelvoorde, Grégoire Ludig, Marc Fraize, Anaïs Demoustier
Writer/Director: Quentin Dupieux
Genre: Comedy
Plot: Police officers at a station must solve a murder case.
What you should know: It’s in French, and was released there a couple of years ago.
Where to stream: Virtual cinemas
My Salinger Year
Stars: Margaret Qualley, Sigourney Weaver, Douglas Booth, Seána Kerslake
Writer/Director: Philippe Falardeau
Genre: Drama
Plot: A college grad takes a clerical job working for the literary agent of the renowned, reclusive writer J.D. Salinger.
What you should know: Based on the novel by Joanna Smith Rakoff.
Where to stream: Available VOD
Adam
Stars: Lubna Azabal, Nisrin Erradi, Douae Belkhaouda, Aziz Hattab
Writer/Director: Maryam Touzani
Genre: Drama
Plot: Abla runs a modest local bakery from her home in Casablanca where she lives alone with her 8-year-old daughter, Warda. When Samia, a young pregnant woman knocks on their door, Abla is far from imagining that her life will change forever.
What you should know: It’s in Arabic.
Where to stream: Virtual cinemas
In Theaters Only
Boogie
Stars: Taylor Takahashi, Pamelyn Chee, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Pop Smoke
Writer/Director: Eddie Huang
Genre: Drama
Plot: Coming-of-age story of Alfred "Boogie" Chin, a basketball phenom living in Queens, New York, who dreams of one day playing in the NBA. While his parents pressure him to focus on earning a scholarship to an elite college, Boogie must find a way to navigate a new girlfriend, high school, on-court rivals and the burden of expectation.
What you should know: This is Pop Smoke’s only appearance in a film.
Where to watch: In theaters
The Canyonlands
Stars: Stephanie Barkley, Marqus Bobesich, Wayne Charles Baker, Ari Anderson
Writer/Director: Brendan Devane
Genre: Horror
Plot: After 5 people win a rafting trip down the Colorado in Utah, their adventure takes a deadly turn when they camp off the river for the night, and find out they aren't the only ones out in the remote rugged canyon lands.
What you should know: This is writer/director Brendan Devane’s first feature film.
Where to watch: In theaters; available VOD on March 9th
The Truffle Hunters
Writer/Director: Michael Dweck, Gregory Kershaw
Genre: Documentary
Plot: Deep in the forests of Piedmont, Italy, a handful of men, seventy or eighty years young, hunt for the rare and expensive white Alba truffle-which to date has resisted all of modern science's efforts at cultivation.
What you should know: This directing duo also tackled the 2018 film The Last Race.
Where to watch: In theaters
Chaos Walking
Stars: Tom Holland, Daisy Ridley, Mads Mikkelsen, Demián Bichir
Writer: Patrick Ness, Christopher Ford
Director: Doug Liman
Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi
Plot: In the not too distant future, Todd Hewitt discovers Viola, a mysterious girl who crash lands on his planet, where all the women have disappeared and the men are afflicted by “the Noise” - a force that puts all their thoughts on display. In this dangerous landscape, Viola’s life is threatened - and as Todd vows to protect her, he will have to discover his own inner power and unlock the planet’s dark secrets.
What you should know: Based on the book by Patrick Ness.
Where to watch: In theaters
More New Releases
Truth or Consequences (Trailer)
F.T.A. (Trailer) (1972, rerelease)
New to Streaming
Raya and the Last Dragon (Trailer) on Disney+
Ammonite (Trailer) on Hulu
Dogwashers (Trailer) on Netflix
The Walrus and the Whistleblower (Trailer) on Discovery+
Boss Level (Trailer) on Hulu
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What have you been watching lately, ONTD?