List

Movies You Can Watch in 100 Minutes or Less

By Sharon Weinberg

Enjoy these viewing suggestions.

Cold War
2019
Nominated for three Oscars, Cold War mesmerizes with its black-and-white cinematography. Filmmaker Pawel Pawlikowski loosely based this post-war story on his parents' lives. The movie follows two lovers "condemned" to be together for better or worse. I also recommend Pawlikowski's 2014, 80-minute drama Ida, which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. In Polish, with English subtitles.

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The Desert Bride
2018
From Argentina, this is Cecilia Atán and Valeria Pivato's feature film debut. Acclaimed Chilean actor Pauline Garcia plays a maid named Teresa, whose long-time employer unexpectedly lets her go, with a reference to work for another family in a distant town. There is much grace and thoughtfulness in Garcia's performance, as a reluctant Teresa hits the road and navigates her way to a new beginning. In Spanish, with English subtitles. Also available to stream on Kanopy.

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Les Glaneurs et la Glaneuse: The Gleaners and I
2002
Agnes Varda interviews those who pick up what others leave behind or discard. Here is a look at various types of gleaning, from already reaped fields in the French countryside to the dumpsters in the city and everything in between. This doc is effortlessly charming and informative, not to mention as relevant as ever. In French, with English subtitles.

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In the Mood for Love
2002
It's 1962 in Hong Kong, and Chow and Su realize that their respective spouses are having an affair. To ease the pain of betrayal and loneliness, they begin an association that becomes intensely personal. The cinematography is outstanding, the soundtrack is lovely, and the story is hauntingly passionate. It is certainly one of the best from filmmaker Wong Kar-wai. In Cantonese and Shanghainese, with English subtitles.

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My Neighbor Totoro
2010
One of my all-time favorites, this 1988 classic anime from Hayao Miyazaki clocks in under 90 minutes. It's perfect for family viewing and anyone who needs a Totoro to help them through a rough patch.

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93Queen
2018
Let’s talk about making noise and breaking that glass ceiling. This doc follows a group of determined Hasidic women who took the patriarchy to task and created the first all-female volunteer ambulance corp in Borough Park, Brooklyn. Filmmaker Paula Eiselt had insider access to the community and did a fantastic job showing the who, why, and how. Their accomplishments captured my interest until the very last scene. Also available to stream on Kanopy.

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Once
2007
Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova (singers-songwriters in real life) play two musicians who meet on the streets of Dublin and spend one week together, creating music that mirrors their growing closeness. The song Falling Slowly won the Oscar for Best Original Song and then the movie was adapted into a Tony-winning play. This romantic tale with its melodic soundtrack remains one of my favorites for reflection and comfort.

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To Be Takei
2014
Many recognize him as Sulu from the original Star Trek TV series and movies. However, documentarian Jennifer M. Kroot lets us know that there is a lot more to the witty, hardworking George Takei. Topics include his internment during WWII (be sure to check out Takei’s 2019 graphic novel They Called Us Enemy), his groundbreaking career as an Asian American actor, his long-term relationship with husband Brad, as well as his activism for LGBTQ rights. Also available to stream on Kanopy.

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Tomboy
2012
Ten-year-old Laure is new in town. Laure takes a new name, Mickäel. During the summer weeks before school starts, all the kids treat Laure as Mickäel, one of the boys. Of course, secrets are hard to maintain, especially for one so young. A beautiful story from filmmaker Céline Sciamma that is sure to touch your heart. In French, with English subtitles. Also available to stream on Kanopy.

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21 Bridges
2020
Chadwick Boseman stars in this thriller that fans liked a lot more than the critics. I have to say that he gets a lot done in 100 minutes, considering there is a 1970's style conspiracy at play. With eight cops dead in the middle of the night, NYPD Detective Davis shuts down all the bridges in and out of Manhattan. As always, Boseman is excellent, and he did double duty as one of the film's producers.

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