Indie Film Release Guide: May 27th [An ONTD Original]

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Doctor Strange is set to lose his power at the box office this weekend, with the openings of Paramount’s Top Gun: Maverick and The Bob’s Burgers Movie from 20th Century Studios giving him some competition. Indie offerings are a bit light this week, likely due to the fact that it’s a warm-weather holiday weekend, but there are still plenty available.

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: May 20th, May 13th, and May 6th.

A Chiara

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Stars: Swamy Rotolo, Claudio Rotolo, Grecia Rotolo, Antonio Rotolo Uno
Writer/Director: Jonas Carpignano
Genre: Drama
Plot: Follows the story of 15-year-old Chiara whose close-knit family falls apart after her father abandons them in Calabria.
What you should know: Winner of the Cannes’ Directors' Fortnight Award; it’s in Italian.
Where to watch: In theaters



Dinner in America

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Stars: Kyle Gallner, Emily Skeggs, Hannah Marks, Lea Thompson
Writer/Director: Adam Rehmeier
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music
Plot: An on-the-lam punk rocker and a young woman obsessed with his band unexpectedly fall in love and go on an epic journey together through America's decaying Midwestern suburbs.
What you should know: This is writer and director Adam Rehmeier’s first directorial effort since 2013.
Where to watch: In theaters; available VOD June 7th

Playlist

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Stars: Sara Forestier, Laetitia Dosch, Bertrand Belin, Pierre Lottin
Writer: Nine Antico, Marc Syrigas
Director: Nine Antico
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music
Plot: Sophie lands a job with a comic book publisher despite being unqualified for the position. However, her newfound security is threatened when she breaks up with her boyfriend, the father of the child she is carrying.
What you should know: It’s in French.
Where to watch: In theaters

A Taste of Whale

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Writer/Director: Vincent Kelner
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: Every year, 700 pilot whales are slaughtered on the Faroe Islands despite the protests of animal rights activists.
What you should know: This is Vincent Kelner’s documentary feature directorial debut.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available on Amazon and Apple

18 1/2

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Stars: Willa Fitzgerald, John Magaro, Gina Kreiezmar, Richard Kind
Writer: Daniel Moya, Dan Mirvish
Director: Dan Mirvish
Genre: Comedy, Thriller
Plot: In 1974, a White House transcriber is thrust into the Watergate scandal when she obtains the only copy of the infamous 18½ minute gap in Nixon's tapes.
What you should know: Director Dan Mirvish’s last film was 2017’s Bernard and Huey.
Where to watch: In theaters

Zero Contact

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Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Adrian Holmes, Lilly Krug, Tuva Novotny
Writer: Cam Cannon
Director: Rick Dugdale
Genre: Thriller
Plot: Upon the death of Finley Hart, the eccentric genius behind a global data-mining program, five remote agents-including Finley’s son-are contacted by a mysterious AI entity to reactivate the initiative, which may enable time travel. As sinister events occur at each of their homes, they must decide whether entering their passwords will save the world-or destroy it.
What you should know: Produced in 17 different countries entirely virtually during the 2020 global pandemic.
Where to watch: In theaters, and available VOD

Fanny: The Right to Rock

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Writer/Director: Bobbi Jo Hart
Genre: Documentary
Storyline: The untold story of the Filipina American garage band that morphed into the ferocious rock group Fanny. Fighting barriers of race, gender and sexuality in the music industry, Fanny's groundbreaking impact in music was written out of history.
What you should know: Received some nominations and wins on the film festival circuit.
Where to watch: In theaters

There Are No Saints

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Stars: Tim Roth, Ron Perlman, Paz Vega, Neal McDonough
Writer: Paul Schrader
Director: Alfonso Pineda Ulloa
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
Plot: A man nicknamed "the Jesuit," is imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit. When his wife is murdered and his son kidnapped and taken to Mexico, he devises an elaborate and dangerous plan to rescue his son and avenge the murder.
What you should know: Paul Schrader wrote the film but did not direct it, which is unusual for him.
Where to watch: In theaters; available VOD on June 1st

The Tsugua Diaries

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Stars: Carloto Cotta, Crista Alfaiate, João Nunes Monteiro
Writer: Maureen Fazendeiro, Miguel Gomes, Mariana Ricardo
Director: Maureen Fazendeiro, Miguel Gomes
Genre: Drama
Plot: A daily journal that unfolds in revelatory reverse order, this playful rug-puller begins by surveying the mundane routines of three housemates living in rural peace during the COVID lockdown: impromptu dance parties, cleaning, building a backyard butterfly house. Soon, we discover that there’s more going on beyond the limits of the camera frame.
What you should know: Shot on 16mm.
Where to watch: In theaters

More New Releases

Top Gun: Maverick (Trailer) from Paramount
The Bob’s Burgers Movie (Trailer) from 20th Century Studios

New to Streaming

Look at Me: XXXTENTACION (Trailer) on Hulu

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What have you been watching lately, ONTD?