We watch movies for many reasons. Sometimes, we need to be distracted from our everyday life and seek a bit of escapism. Other times, we look for a character who reminds us of ourselves – or the kind of person we’d like to be. And then there are those movies that elicit strong emotions, from comedies that cheer us up or horror flicks that are so scary that they make us forget about everything else around us. But there are also those times when we need some inspiration, which is why we made a list of movies praising brave human nature in terrifying circumstances.
The 5 films below are all indie movies: an indie, or independent movie, is usually made by independent filmmakers on their own. This means that the production isn’t backed by a major studio and the budget is therefore much lower. But some true gems are indie films, from acclaimed films like Lost in Translation, Before Sunset, Lady Bird, and the Oscar-winning Moonlight to lesser known releases like Shiva Baby and Nocturnal Animals. If you’re looking to discover more indie movies in diverse languages, you can check out UVOtv, which delivers free independent movies from around the world to viewers in North America. The 5 movies below are all available to watch there for free, as well as other streamers. Most of them are about war, which often sees ordinary people do incredibly brave acts. Enjoy!
1. Tunnelrat (2008)
Raf Reyntjens
Let’s start with a short movie from director Raf Reyntjens, which won a Special Mention award at the Tirana International Film Festival in 2008. Tunnelrat follows two enemy soldiers, John (Matthias Schoenaerts, of The Regime) and Heinrich (Roman Knizka, of Mein Bruder, der Vampir), who are stuck in a tunnel below the World War I front. Even though they’re supposed to be on opposite fronts of the world, they soon realize that they need each other to survive, which makes the stakes higher than ever. This German short is only 20 minutes long, and yet its tense scenes and compelling action will keep you engaged and waiting for another plot twist.
2. Two Women (1960)
Vittorio De Sica
Based on the 1957 novel “Two Women” by Alberto Moravia, this Vittorio De Sica classic revolves around the titular women: Cesira (Sophia Loren) and Rosetta (Eleonora Brown). As World War II rages on, our two protagonists are striving to escape Rome’s bombs and headed toward Cesira’s birth village. Two Women (La Ciociara) movie is remarkable for its cast, which includes Jean-Paul Belmondo, Eleonora Brown, Raf Vallone, and Sophia Loren, who won an Oscar for her performance, becoming the first performer to win an Academy Award in a foreign film. But it’s also a neorealist gem that manages to be both a gripping, heartbreaking tale about a mother and a daughter, and a harrowing history lesson. Not to be missed!
3. Run Boy Run (2013)
Pepe Danquart
Run Boy Run (Lauf Junge Lauf) follows the journey of its young protagonist, Srulik (Kamil Tkacz), as he finds various ways to survive both on his own and on the farm where he is taken in, baptized as a Christian, and renamed Jurek (Andrzej Tkacz). It’s a film that tackles complex questions, and mainly centers around the two battles that the boy has to take on, alongside his two names: that for his survival, and that for his Jewish identity. This multi-German Film Awards nominee is a haunting watch that you’ll find yourself thinking about over and over again.
4. Midnight Traveler (2019)
Hassan Fazili
This award-winning documentary from Hassan Fazili chronicles his own story. The Afghanistan-born, LA-based filmmaker is known for how involved he is in most aspects of production for his his films, which he usually writes, directs, and edits. Midnight Traveler, his most acclaimed movie to date, tells the story of when he was forced to flee his country with his family when the Taliban put a bounty on his head. The movie shows their 3-year journey from their home in Afghanistan to Europe looking for asylum, and it really can’t get any braver than this. Not only that, but the film is a must watch for the accurate way in which it depicts today’s refugee experience, which earned it a well-deserved News & Documentary Emmy Award for “Outstanding Current Affairs Documentary” in 2020.
5. Fanny’s Journey (2016)
Lola Doillon
Inspired by the autobiographical memoir “Le Journal de Fanny” by Fanny Ben-Ami, Fanny’s Journey (Le Voyage de Fanny) tells the story of the titular 12-year-old girl Jewish girl. When we first meet her, Fanny (Léonie Souchaud) lives in a hidden orphanage, having been separated from her parents out of her need to hide. Not only that, but Fanny is the oldest of three, so she’s also responsible for looking after her two younger sisters. One day, all of a sudden, it’s not safe for the girls anymore, and they are forced to flee. Fanny becomes the head of a group of eight children who embark on a dangerous journey to Switzerland across occupied France. It’s best to leave it at that to avoid ruining your experience of watching the movie, but you’re in for a treat.
The 5 movies listed above all testify to brave human nature, on top of being fantastic, harrowing watches that are bound to inspire you and make you think. Happy watching!
