Because of the COVID-19 virus, most of us are staying at home, and we may be at home for quite a while. What to do while self-quarantined?
A University of Sussex study found that reading only a few minutes each day has been shown to reduce stress levels by sixty-eight percent. Listening to music is another way of relaxing.
Films can also be a good way of spending time and dealing with stress during this “stay-at-home” phase. We first think of comedies and “feel-good” documentaries. There’s another category of film that is good to watch, too. This type of film has at its heart a problem that the characters struggle to solve, and a positive outcome to the struggle can be very satisfying to us, the viewers. I'm calling these "problem-solved" films.
This annotated list includes all three types of film: comedy, documentary, and problem-solved films. All are available on Kanopy or Netflix. Kanopy is a free streaming service through your local public library.
[K] = Kanopy
[N] = Netflix
A University of Sussex study found that reading only a few minutes each day has been shown to reduce stress levels by sixty-eight percent. Listening to music is another way of relaxing.
Films can also be a good way of spending time and dealing with stress during this “stay-at-home” phase. We first think of comedies and “feel-good” documentaries. There’s another category of film that is good to watch, too. This type of film has at its heart a problem that the characters struggle to solve, and a positive outcome to the struggle can be very satisfying to us, the viewers. I'm calling these "problem-solved" films.
This annotated list includes all three types of film: comedy, documentary, and problem-solved films. All are available on Kanopy or Netflix. Kanopy is a free streaming service through your local public library.
[K] = Kanopy
[N] = Netflix
[K]. Faces Places (2017): France. A sweet, lively documentary that follows famous French artist Agnes Varda in her 88th year and young French photographer JR as they travel around France taking photos of faces and places. French with English subtitles Charming!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKbjnLpxv70
[N] Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society (2018): Great Britain
A writer meets with a group of readers on the Isle of Guernsey. All are attempting to recover and heal from Nazi occupation in World War II. Includes a romance between the writer and a Guernsey farmer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP9eDmX0ow0
[K] Hunt for the Wilderpeople. (2016) New Zealand. A thirteen year old boy lost in the foster-care system connects with an anti-social curmudgeon and together, they embark on a great adventure. One of my all-time favorites, this film has everything – comedy, drama, sweet moments, sad moments, and gorgeous New Zealand scenery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tICv8QH3oM0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKbjnLpxv70
[N] Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society (2018): Great Britain
A writer meets with a group of readers on the Isle of Guernsey. All are attempting to recover and heal from Nazi occupation in World War II. Includes a romance between the writer and a Guernsey farmer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP9eDmX0ow0
[K] Hunt for the Wilderpeople. (2016) New Zealand. A thirteen year old boy lost in the foster-care system connects with an anti-social curmudgeon and together, they embark on a great adventure. One of my all-time favorites, this film has everything – comedy, drama, sweet moments, sad moments, and gorgeous New Zealand scenery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tICv8QH3oM0
[K] Lost in Paris (2017) France-Belgium. Canadian Fiona goes to Paris to assist her elderly aunt Martha. There she meets Dom, a homeless man. What ensues is a wacky, whimsical and very charming romantic comedy reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin films. English and French with English subtitles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NXqwh_76sk
[N] Midnight Diner-Tokyo Stories (2014, 2017).
Japanese. Japanese with English subtitles.
Sweet, thoughtful stories about diners who congregate at a diner to eat and share stories. Two seasons of 10 episodes each. Each episode is only about 25 minutes long.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCGDVHjPX0c
[N] Okja (2017). South Korea-U.S. English and Korean with English subtitles.
A combination of action-adventure and sci-fi fantasy with political overtones. This is a story about the excesses of capitalism, and the philosophical issue of how we humans treat other sentient beings. Very unique and thought-provoking. The director is Bong Joon Ho who won four Oscars in 2020, including Best Picture, for Parasite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjCebKn4iic
[N] Silver Linings Playbook (2012); U.S., English
A romantic comedy-drama addressing the problem of mental illness. Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence – great acting!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj5_FhLaaQQ
[N] Strictly Ballroom (1992). Australian
Two things going on here: a wacky, over-the-top comedy combined with the story of a young artist trying to define his art for himself. And there’s a romance, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxprz6gOmpg
Feel free to add your own titles in the Comments section.
A combination of action-adventure and sci-fi fantasy with political overtones. This is a story about the excesses of capitalism, and the philosophical issue of how we humans treat other sentient beings. Very unique and thought-provoking. The director is Bong Joon Ho who won four Oscars in 2020, including Best Picture, for Parasite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjCebKn4iic
[N] Silver Linings Playbook (2012); U.S., English
A romantic comedy-drama addressing the problem of mental illness. Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence – great acting!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj5_FhLaaQQ
[N] Strictly Ballroom (1992). Australian
Two things going on here: a wacky, over-the-top comedy combined with the story of a young artist trying to define his art for himself. And there’s a romance, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxprz6gOmpg
Feel free to add your own titles in the Comments section.
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