Indie Film Release Guide: April 3rd [An ONTD Original]
Believe it or not, April 2020 marks the two year anniversary of these weekly indie posts. They were started in the before times, when we could still go to movie theaters (here's the very first entry), but I’m grateful that there are still many indies to showcase available for home viewing. I originally thought I’d make a new header for every month, but I only ever made one for April and then defaulted to a generic one for the rest of the months. So enjoy!!
The films listed are from studios other than the “Big Six” - Paramount, Warner Brothers, 20th Century, Universal, Columbia/Sony and Disney. Check out the posts from the past few weeks for more movies that may have already come to VOD: March 27th, March 20th, and March 13th.
The Other Lamb
Click to viewStars: Michiel Huisman, Raffey Cassidy, Denise Gough, Eve Connolly
Writer: C.S. McMullen
Director: Malgorzata Szumowska
Genre: Drama, Horror
Plot: A girl born into an all-female cult led by a man in their compound begins to question his teachings and her own reality.
What you should know: Premiered at TIFF 2019.
Streams on: Available VOD on April 3rd
Clover
Stars: Mark Webber, Nicole Elizabeth Berger, Jon Abrahams, Erika Christensen
Writer: Michael Testone
Director: Jon Abrahams
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Thriller
Plot: Two brothers owe money to the wrong guy at the wrong time. While they go on the run trying to pull together the money they become burdened with a teenage girl and hunted by assassins they don't know are following their every move.
What you should know: This is the star/director’s second feature film, but he has been much more prolific as an actor.
Streams on: Available VOD on April 3rd
Almost Love
Stars: Scott Evans, Augustus Prew, Michelle Buteau, Colin Donnell
Writer/Director: Mike Doyle
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Plot: An ensemble comedy about romance in the smartphone era.
What you should know: Formerly known as Sell By.
Streams on: Available VOD on April 3rd
Never Rarely Sometimes Always
Stars: Sidney Flanagan, Talia Ryder, Théodore Pellerin, Sharon Van Etten
Writer/Director: Eliza Hittman
Genre: Drama
Plot: A pair of teenage girls in rural Pennsylvania travel to New York City to seek out medical help after an unintended pregnancy.
What you should know: This had the misfortune to be released in theaters the weekend the US got serious about coronavirus, so you may not have heard much about it.
Streams on: Available VOD on April 3rd
Uncorked
Stars: Mamoudou Athie, Sasha Compère, Courtney B. Vance, Niecy Nash
Writer/Director: Prentice Penny
Genre: Drama
Plot: Elijah must balance his dream of becoming a master sommelier with his father's expectations that he carry on the family's Memphis BBQ joint.
What you should know: Writer/director Prentice Penny has written and/or produced on shows like Happy Endings, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Insecure.
Streams on: Netflix
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Stars: Noémie Merlant, Adèle Haenel, Luàna Bajrami, Valeria Golino
Writer/Director: Céline Sciamma
Genre: Drama, Romance
Plot: On an isolated island in Brittany at the end of the eighteenth century, a female painter is obliged to paint a wedding portrait of a young woman.
What you should know: It’s in French, so you’re probably gonna have to put that phone down while you watch this beautiful film.
Streams on: Hulu
The Florida Project (2017)
Stars: Brooklynn Prince, Bria Vinaite, Willem Dafoe, Valeria Cotto
Writer: Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch
Director: Sean Baker
Genre: Drama
Plot: Set over one summer, the film follows precocious six-year-old Moonee as she courts mischief and adventure with her ragtag playmates and bonds with her rebellious but caring mother, all while living in the shadows of Walt Disney World.
What you should know: Willem Dafoe was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the 2018 Academy Awards.
Streams on: Netflix, beginning Monday, April 6th
Bend it Like Beckham (2002)
Stars: Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Archie Panjabi
Writer: Gurinder Chadha, Guljit Bindra, Paul Mayeda Berges
Director: Gurinder Chadha
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Plot: The daughter of orthodox Sikh rebels against her parents' traditionalism and joins a football team.
What you should know: Nominated for Best Comedy or Musical at the 2004 Golden Globes.
Streams on: Hulu
Asako I & II (2018)
Stars: Erika Karata, Masahiro Higashide, Sairi Itô, Kôji Nakamoto
Writer: Sachiko Tanaka, Ryûsuke Hamaguchi
Director: Ryûsuke Hamaguchi
Genre: Drama, Romance
Plot: Asako lives in Osaka. She falls in love with Baku, a free-spirit. One day, Baku suddenly disappears. Two years later, Asako now lives in Tokyo and meets Ryohei. He looks just like Baku, but has a completely different personality.
What you should know: Based on the novel by Tomoka Shibasaki, it’s in Japanese.
Streams on: Kanopy (free via many library memberships)
Invisible Life (2019)
Stars: Julia Stockler, Carol Duarte, Flávia Gusmão, António Fonseca
Writer: Murilo Hauser, Inés Bortagaray, Karim Aïnouz
Director: Karim Aïnouz
Genre: Drama
Plot: Kept apart by a terrible lie and a conservative society, two sisters born in Rio de Janeiro make their way through life each believing the other is living out her dreams half a world away.
What you should know: Based on the book by Martha Batalha, it’s in Portuguese and Greek.
Streams on: Amazon Prime
Recent Digital Releases
Bad Boys For Life (Trailer)
The Current War: Director’s Cut (Trailer)
Sonic The Hedgehog (Trailer)
Impractical Jokers: The Movie (Trailer)
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What have you been watching lately, ONTD? Anything on deck for the weekend?