If you are a quieter person and enjoys meditative movies, exploring new cultures and enjoy spectacular visual aesthetics, these are my top-picks for you !!
(1) Spirited Away
Perhaps the best-known Hayazo Miyazaki movie, Spirited Away is about a young girl Chihiro, who accidentally “crosses over” into a spirit-realm, and finds work in a traditional Japanese bath-house where the Kami (Shinto deities) come for a bath. The film has deeply meditative tone, with themes of personal moderation, child-like wonder and environmental protection.
Region – Japan
Year – 2001
Imdb – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245429/
(2) Nocturna
Tim, who lives in an orphanage, is afraid of the dark, but soon discovers Nocturna – the office of the Night, which has departments in charge of keeping the stars alight, ensuring the cats howl, making sure the hair of sleepers get messed up and all other occurrences of the night. However, when his guardian star fades and is in danger of dying out, he must overtake an epic adventure to restore the night functions and keep stars safe.
Region – Spain
Year – 2007
Imdb – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0836682/
(3) The Secret of Kells
Set in medieval Ireland, during Viking expansion, Brendan, a young apprentice-monk acquires the help of a Fae (fairy) Aisling to help in illuminating the Bible, while keeping clear of invading Vikings. This movie is a homage to the Book of Kells – and all parts of Irish history, from Catholic monks, to Pre-Christian entities like Crom Croch and Faeries.
Region – Ireland
Year – 2009
Imdb – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0485601/
(4) I Lost My Body
A severed hand escapes the lab it is being held in and begins a harrowing journey back to its body, belonging to a young man, Naoufel. As a boy, Naoufel aspired to be both a pianist and an astronaut, and enjoyed recording his day-to-day life on a tape recorder. However, after he loses both of his parents in a car accident, he is forced to live with his emotionally distant uncle and his crude cousin. (from wiki)
Region – France
Year – 2019
Imdb – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9806192/
(5) The Song of the Sea
A young boy – Ben – discovers his little sister Saoirse is a Selkie and has the powers to heal the Faeries (fairies) now turned to stone. However, the children are taken by their Granny to live in the big city. Defying her, Saoirse and her brother escape into the woods during Samhain (Halloween) to re-connect with the Old Spirits of Irish folklore.
Region – Ireland
Year – 2014
Imdb – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1865505/
(6) Ernest & Celestine
This tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a mouse and a bear, who each, have to overcome the prejudices against big and little animals and navigate through a biased legal system to save each other.
Region – Belgium
Year – 2012
Imdb – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9806192/
(7) My Neighbor Totoro
A single father and his kids move into the Japanese country and make friends with house-spiriits who take the form of dust-balls, a cute spirit of wilderness called Totoro, and a magical Cat-Bus, while enjoying the charms of nature.
Region – Japan
Year – 1989
Imdb – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096283/
Do you have any recommendations to add to the list? Which movies inspired your creativity, taught you about a new culture, or had a profound meditative effect on you?