Indie Film Release Guide: January 28th [An ONTD Original]

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This weekend’s box office will be pretty bare bones, with no new wide releases from major studios and Spider-Man dominating the competition once again. Next week, we will finally see some bigger new releases after what has been a painfully slow January, but until then, check out this week's indie releases. Included are a couple of Netflix releases that were added last Friday after last week's post had been published.

The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Six” - Paramount, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Studios, Universal, Columbia/Sony and Disney. Note that some of the movies listed are in their first week or two of limited release in the USA, so it may take them a few more weeks (or months) to show up in your local arthouse theater or on VOD. Check out the posts from the past few weeks for more movies that may have just opened near you: January 21st, January 14th, and January 7th.

Sundown

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Stars: Tim Roth, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Iazua Larios, Henry Goodman
Writer/Director: Michel Franco
Genre: Drama
Plot: Neil and Alice Bennett are the core of a wealthy family on vacation in Mexico until a distant emergency cuts their trip short. When one relative disrupts the family's tight-knit order, simmering tensions rise to the fore.
What you should know: Golden Lion nominee at the 2021 Venice Film Festival.
Where to watch: In theaters



Compartment No. 6

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Stars: Yuriy Borisov, Seidi Haarla, Yuliya Aug, Polina Aug
Writer: Andris Feldmanis, Livia Ulman, Juho Kuosmanen, Ljuba Mulmenko
Director: Juho Kuosmanen
Genre: Drama, Romance
Plot: As a train weaves its way up to the arctic circle, two strangers share a journey that will change their perspective on life.
What you should know: Won the Grand Prix Award at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.
Where to watch: In theaters

Donkeyhead

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Stars: Agam Darshi, Kim Coates, Sandy Sidhu, Stephen Lobo
Writer/Director: Agam Darshi
Genre: Drama
Plot: Mona, a failed writer, carves out a life of isolation while caring for her ailing Sikh father. When he has a debilitating stroke, her three successful siblings show up on her doorstep determined to take control of the situation.
What you should know: This is actor/writer/director Agam Darshi’s directorial debut.
Where to watch: Netflix, available now

Gamestop: Rise of the Players

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Director: Jonah Tulis
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: The origin story of the Gamestop stock market phenomenon, featuring exclusive access to the original players who lit the fuse on a historic amateur investor uprising.
What you should know: Director Jonah Tulis also directed the 2020 documentary Console Wars
Where to watch: In theaters

Charlie XCX: Alone Together

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Director: Bradley Bell, Pablo Jones-Soler
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Global pop star Charli XCX enlists fans to help her produce the album how i'm feeling now while quarantined during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What you should know: Directors Bradley Bell and Pablo Jones-Soler have also directed videos for Lil Nas X, The Pussycat Dolls and Harry Styles.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD

The Conductor

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Director: Bernadette Wegenstein
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Leonard Bernstein's protege Marin Alsop reveals how she smashed the glass ceiling to become an internationally renowned conductor.
What you should know: Alsop became the music director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in 2007.
Where to watch: In theaters

Definition Please

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Stars: Sujata Day, Ritesh Rajan, Anna Khaja, Jake Choi
Writer/Director: Sujata Day
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Plot: A former Scribbs Spelling Bee champion must reconcile with her estranged brother when he returns home to help care for their sick mother.
What you should know: Won the Narrative Jury Award at CAAMfest 2020.
Where to watch: Netflix

They/Them/Us

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Stars: Joey Slotnick, Amy Hargreaves, Jack Steiner, Shanna Strong
Writer: Jon Sherman, Melissa Vogley Woods
Director: Jon Sherman
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Plot: Charlie and Lisa, two divorced parents in their 40's who find themselves at a midlife crossroads. Both are single parents and they have four complicated teenagers.
What you should know: Jon Sherman’s last feature film was 2002’s I’m With Lucy.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD

Clean

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Stars: Adrien Brody, Glenn Fleshler, Richie Merritt, Chandler DuPont
Writer: Adrien Brody, Paul Solet
Director: Paul Solet
Genre: Crime, Drama
Plot: Tormented by his past, a garbage man named Clean attempts a quiet life of redemption. But, soon finds himself forced to reconcile with the violence of his past.
What you should know: This is the only film in which Adrien Brody received a writing credit.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD

Futura

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Writer/Director: Pietro Marcello, Francesco Munzi, Alice Rohrwacher
Genre: Documentary
Plot: A portrait of Italy observed through the eyes of teenagers who talk about the places they live in and imagine themselves, torn between the opportunities that surround them, the dream of what they want to become, the fear of failing, the trials they hope to overcome.
What you should know: It’s in Italian.
Where to watch: In theaters

More New Releases

The Beatles Get Back: The Rooftop Concert (Trailer) in IMAX, from Disney
Rifkin’s Festival (Trailer)
Shortbus (Trailer) rerelease

New to Streaming

Home Team (Trailer) on Netflix

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What have you been watching lately, ONTD?