10 films to (re)watch during the Coronavirus lockdown

By Marie Philippe, Apr 3, 2020

Staying at home can be good – here is a list of films that will lift spirits or make you travel when you cannot 

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12 minute read

You have probably seen a billion of these lists go through social media or newspapers recently, but if my humble contribution could make any difference in a day of sorrow brought by this lockdown, I would feel as cheerful as the day I first watched one of the following films. 

These are heart-warming or funny takes on human relationships or human behaviour – films that make us remember how happy we will be when seeing one another after all this is over. There are also comedies, where the main intent is to make you try not to take everything so seriously. Whether it is because of their cinematography or the plot in itself, they make us wander in all corners of the planet – and the mind. They let us dream a little. Maybe you have never heard of them. Maybe you have seen them a dozen times. In any case, it is time to (re)watch them!

1. It’s a Wonderful Life (dir. Frank Capra, 1946)

One might say it is not the right time to watch this movie as it is set during Christmas time. Still, the title says it all. It’s a Wonderful Life is probably one of the most famous feel-good films of all time. George Bailey (James Stewart) is an honest man. He has spent his life helping others and making sacrifices, but it just led him to prison after Mr. Potter, a powerful businessman in town, wrongly accused him of stealing money. Desperate, he thinks about throwing himself in a river when his guardian angel comes at his rescue. Angel Clarence (Henry Travers) then proceeds to show him what life would have been like for his relatives if he had never existed. Some people might find this film a bit naïve or over-the-top – especially since it is a Hollywood motion picture – as the frontier between the good worker and the mean capitalist is clear-cut. Yet, the power lies in the angel. The presence of Clarence reminds us that this is a fiction, with an essential purpose – making us see the world differently, with brighter prospects, and ultimately feeling grateful for the people that surround us. This is Capra’s greatest tour de force.

2. OSS 117: Cairo – Nest of Spies (dir. Michel Hazanavicius, 2006)

When you are a big fan of action films à la James Bond, you might end up thinking this list needs such an action film – with a twist. A movie that would manage to put a smile on everyone’s face. Jean Dujardin’s Hubert Bonnisseur de La Bath (or OSS 117) is a parody of the eponymous character created by Jean Bruce in 1949. The film mocks the spy stereotype, while also criticising the 1950/60s franchouillard – OSS 117 is a chauvinistic patriot who thinks he knows it all and yet acts like a child. Hubert is sent to Cairo to investigate on the murder of his friend Jack. From there, he will have to find a way to blend in with the crowd and get used to the Egyptian customs. The humour here is very provocative and you will probably find yourself having guilty laughs. Nevertheless, this sense of self-mockery and awareness that past beliefs were not perfect is the reason why so many French people know some of OSS 117’s lines by heart. In the end, we like Hubert exactly because he is the epitome of excess, even when it is a synonym of flaw. The bigger the joke, the better.

3. The Big Lebowski (dir. Joel and Ethan Coen, 1998)

The Big Lebowski is not the first motion picture people would associate with the feel-good category. It is overall quite violent – which is the case in most of the Coen brothers’ filmography. The Dude (Jeff Bridges) is the perfect antihero, apparently good for nothing except bowling. What is it that makes The Big Lebowski uplifting then? Well, Jeffrey Lebowski is always keeping it calm. Even when he is mistaken for a heartless millionaire whose wife owes tons of money to porn producer Jackie Treehorn (Ben Gazzara), The Dude tries to disentangle the situation with composure. His quirky nature makes it all the more appealing and you slowly start to care about him and his bowling friends, Walter and Donny. Then, you come to the conclusion that this is what The Big Lebowski is about – friendship, and all its intricacies. This group of marginals ultimately seems like the most joyous and lively team of friends when the beauty of their relationship is exalted by the lens of the Coen brothers. If you are planning a video call movie night with your friends, I would highly recommend this one.

4. The Angel’s Share (dir. Ken Loach, 2012)

The Angel’s Share is one of the rare comedies by director Ken Loach. Yet, it deals with the serious subjects of unemployment, the complexity of taking care of a family, and coping with past mistakes. Robbie (Paul Brannigan) is sentenced to 300 hours of community service after having hit a young man while he was under the influence of cocaine. There, he meets Rhino, Albert and Mo, three colourful characters that bring a subtle touch of tenderness to this heavy plot – emphasised by their charming Glaswegian accent. Thanks to their instructor Harry, Robbie develops an interest for whisky tasting and identifying flavours. They will all depart on a journey to taste one of the most expensive whiskies ever produced, the Malt Mill. Together, they learn that the angel’s share is the part of whisky that evaporates in the cask during the ageing process. 2% of a little something that vanishes into thin air, but that will eventually serve as a key feature in the film to show gratitude to deserving friends. Ken Loach’s movie is an insightful coming-of-age story as well as an ode to the bonds that tie us together.

5. Journey to Italy (dir. Roberto Rossellini, 1954) 

The recent popularity of Marriage Story by Noah Baumbach made me think of a film that would comment on the difficulties of marriage, only with brighter prospects. This is not the most straight-forward feel-good film, but its contemplative aspect soothes the mind. Rossellini’s film is the story of a bored British couple going to Naples to deal with a matter of inheritance. Through this therapeutic journey to Italy, they will gather the pieces of what shattered their marriage. It offers a pure image of Naples and its surroundings where the characters explore their feelings and emotions. As is often the case in Rossellini’s movies, the camera never amplifies or distorts, but rather shows the raw and sheer reality of a relationship evolving in such a scenery. Changing environment often intensifies the cracks in a relationship, but also resolves them. There is no better tandem than Ingrid Bergman and George Sanders to represent onscreen the roller coaster ride that is marriage and the introspective journey that goes with it. An endearing serenade to Italy and love. 

6. Moonrise Kingdom (dir. Wes Anderson, 2012)

Kids have high hopes. Sam and Suzy fell in love at first sight and dream big together. They share a troublesome or absent relationship with their parents and are not satisfied with the life they have been leading so far. They carefully plan to elope a year after meeting each other, but when they finally do, their relatives start looking for them. Wes Anderson is particularly famous for putting a great care in the structure of every single one of his shots, which (one would think) could alter the experience of such a poetic story. Here, the camera accompanies their dreamlike journey, and does not hesitate to be intrusive. In the household or on a scout camp, most adult characters are meticulously shaped by the children’s relationship as the tale is told. As I said previously, kids have high hopes, and adults do not. On this playground-like island, the roles seem reversed. Sam, Suzy, and the young scouts are in control. The film celebrates the ability adventurous children have to reinvent their lives with stories and sceneries. It helps Sam and Suzy evade their routine, and we do the same by following them. Moonrise Kingdom is a captivating tale on catching up with our own dreams and child expectations. 

7. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (dir. Ben Stiller, 2013)

Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) is a dreamer. There is rarely an hour that passes by without him zoning out of a conversation. He is a photo-processor for Life Magazine, of which the motto is “To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, draw closer, to find each other, and to feel. That is the purpose of Life” and yet, Walter has never travelled anywhere – except Phoenix. The only adventures he lives are through his wild imagination, until he has to find a missing negative that will lead him on an odyssey. Mitty’s boss (Adam Scott) repeatedly tells him “Ground control to Major Tom” to get him out of his daydreaming. But David Bowie never created Major Tom to be someplace expected, and this film praises the power of chance and spontaneity. Sometimes life strikes you with moments of utter beauty and, thanks to the wondrous cinematography of Stuart Dryburgh, I think there is something of this kind in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Taking risks has never seemed so alluring. 

8. The Band Wagon (dir. Vincente Minelli, 1953)

Hollywood films and musicals were very self-reflective in the early 1950s – take Sunset Boulevard in 1950 or Singin’ in the Rain in 1952. This one is no exception. In fact, various features in the storyline of The Band Wagon are very similar to Singin’ in the Rain. But it goes further in the development of its main character, Tony Hunter (Fred Astaire), who is a grumpy actor, fed up with people saying he has done his time in the industry. He ends up being part of the cast of a modern rendition of Faust on Broadway with Gabrielle Gerard (Cyd Charisse). What makes The Band Wagon so enticing is the emphasis it puts on gathering people through art. “I’ll go my way by myself, like walking under a cloud” Astaire sings. But then, on a cool night in New York City, under a lamppost in the park, people all dance together, and Cyd Charisse and Fred Astaire execute a romantic pas de deux, holding hands until the end of the final show. A joyful love letter to entertainment and art. 

9. The Sound of Music (dir. Robert Wise, 1965)

In 1938, Maria is training to be a nun but keeps failing because she lacks discipline. The reverend mother thus decides to send her to take care of the seven Von Trapp children in the hopes she will better her behaviour. Maria bonds with the children and their father through singing. Released at the heart of the Roadshow Era, it focuses on religion and moral righteousness as many a film did during this period. But The Sound of Music celebrates positivity at a time of emerging conflict between Austria and Germany. Here, singing serves as an escape – sometimes quite literally – from the difficult moments in life and unites the characters in the heart of Salzburg. The film offers the most beautiful establishing shots on the Austrian hills, “alive with the sound of music” and standing tall against oppression. If you are looking for some good family time, this film is made for you.

10. Monty Python: Life of Brian (dir. Terry Jones, 1979)

Remembering the great Terry Jones, this motion picture had to be on the list. Some classics never get old, and Monty Python: Life of Brian is its quintessential example. This film stands between a parody and a satire of fanatism and human stupidity, but most of all, it is “all a show”. From the beginning, Brian is mistaken for Jesus of Nazareth by the three wise men, and then follows… Brian’s story. Telling you more than this would spoil all the fun you will get from it. However, the plot was considered too blasphemous at the time and almost never saw the light of day. George Harrison – the Beatle, yes – decided to co-produce it because he wanted to see Life of Brian onscreen. So, thank you George, for paying for “the most expensive cinema ticket ever issued” and allowing us to see this gem. And thank you, Terry Jones, for it was a jolly didactic ride. Through absurd humour, you have showed us that what really is absurd is human behaviour – baffling example recently with people stockpiling toilet paper. But it does not matter, just keep having fun and “always look on the bright side of life”.