Indie Film Release Guide: November 21st [An ONTD Original]

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It’s a pretty light indie release week, no doubt due to the Thanksgiving holiday. But there are a couple of highly anticipated smaller films - The Favourite and Roma - opening today, alongside major studio fare like Ralph Breaks the Internet, Creed II and Robin Hood. This would be an excellent weekend to check the posts from the past few weeks to see what you’ve missed, and figure out what may have just opened near you this week. Happy Turkey Day!

The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Six” - Paramount, Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, Universal, Columbia 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: November 16th, November 9th, and November 2nd.

The Favourite

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Stars: Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz, Nicholas Hoult
Writer: Deborah Davis, Tony McNamera
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Historical
Plot: In early 18th century England, a frail Queen Anne occupies the throne and her close friend Lady Sarah governs the country in her stead. When a new servant Abigail arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah.
What you should know: Director Yorgos Lanthimos is doing Q&A’s in LA on Friday at Landmark and Arclight.
Opens in: NYC & LA, expanding to more cities next week



Roma

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Stars: Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Diego Cortina Autrey, Carlos Peralta
Written and directed: Alfonso Cuarón
Genre: Drama
Plot: A story that chronicles a year in the life of a middle-class family in Mexico City in the early 1970s.
What you should know: This is Cuarón’s first Spanish-language film since Y Tu Mamá También.
Opens in: NYC & LA

Shoplifters

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Stars: Lily Franky, Ando Sakura, Matsuoka Mayu, Kiki Kilin
Written and directed by: Kore-eda Hirokazu
Genre: Crime, Drama
Plot: A family of small-time crooks take in a child they find on the street.
What you should know: It’s in Japanese.
Opens in: Select cities

The World Before Your Feet

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Stars: Matt Green
Director: Jeremy Workman
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: For over six years, and for reasons he can't explain, Matt Green, 37, has been walking every block of every street in New York City - a journey of more than 8,000 miles. This film tells the story of one man's unusual personal quest and the unexpected journey of discovery, humanity, and wonder that ensues.
What you should know: Jesse Eisenberg was a producer on this project, and he, the director and the star are doing Q&A’s at NYC’s Quad Cinema all weekend.
Opens in: NYC & LA

Becoming Astrid

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Stars: Alba August, Trine Dyrholm, Maria Bonnevie, Björn Gustafsson
Writer: Kim Fupz Aakeson, Pernille Fischer Christensen
Director: Pernille Fischer Christensen
Genre: Biography, Drama
Plot: Biopic of Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren, the author of numerous children's books and creator of Pippi Longstocking.
What you should know: It’s in Danish and Swedish.
Opens in: NYC, LA and Minneapolis

The Great Buddha+

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Stars: Cres Chuang, Bamboo Chu-Sheng Chen, Leon Dai, Shao-Huai Chang
Written and directed by: Hsin-yao Huang
Genre: Drama
Plot: Pickle is a night security guard at a bronze statue factory. His colleague, Belly Bottom, works as a recycling collector during the day, and Pickle's biggest pleasure in life is flicking through the porn magazines Belly Bottom collects in the small hours in the security room. Having late night snacks and watching television are an integral part of their dull lives. One day when the television is broken, their lives are changed forever.
What you should know: It’s in Minnan Chinese.
Opens in: NYC

Write When You Get Work

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Stars: Finn Wittrock, Rachel Keller, Emily Mortimer, James Ransone
Written and directed by: Stacy Cochran
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Plot: Ruth Duffy is getting by on an assistant's salary at a pricey school for girls in Manhattan, managing to move beyond the trouble and loss of her teenage years. Jonny Collins is working local jobs near the Throgs Neck Bridge in the Bronx. When they cross paths after years apart, Jonny is as consumed with Ruth as he was in their high school days, and he infiltrates her life for love and profit.
Opens in: Select cities

8 Remains

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Stars: Kevin Leslie, Maja-Celine Probst, Isabelle Mann, Judith Hahn
Writer: Wolf-Peter Arand, Laura Sommer
Director: Juliane Block
Genre: Thriller
Plot: Preceding her death a young woman relives her life in a mirror world, giving her the chance to fight her killer.
What you should know: The director specializes in genre films.
Opens in: LA

Invisible Hands

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Director: Shraysi Tandon
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: The use of child labor and child trafficking within the supply chains of the world's largest corporations is exposed.
What you should know: A few corporations are called out by name, but many companies benefit from child labor at the base of their supply chain.
Opens in: NYC

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I'm traveling today, which is why I am putting this up so early. What have you seen lately? What are you planning to see over the weekend?