Video Librarian’s inagural list of Best Narrative Films of 2022 ranks our best-reviewed films from the past year. This brand new list honors films that we have reviewed in 2022, having recently been released in theaters, Blu-Ray, or streaming. Carefully selected by our staff from our vast collection of reviews, these 15 films celebrate the ingenuity and dynamic performances of this year in filmmaking.
The educational value of narrative films can be under-appreciated in favor of documentaries, but this list recognizes how useful narrative films can be to learning. These titles would be welcome additions to a number of university or library programming events, covering topics like mental health, queer history, family dynamics, international stories, and more. Whether you are an educator or a casual film fan, these unique titles can open up viewers to unique perspectives from independent distributors and filmmakers.
This list of our 15 highest-rated narrative films can be an important resource to your library or university’s collection development.
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The Artist's Wife
Strand Releasing
"The Artist’s Wife confronts the gritty reality of dealing with eccentric, patronizing, and erratic conduct seemingly justified artistic exemption, which in this very context is only exacerbated by a tragic Alzheimer's diagnosis. The film is a poignant display of the struggles that Alzheimer's patients deal with on a regular basis: the misunderstandings, alienation, forgetting your loved ones, and the outstanding talent that made you special."
Read our review of The Artist's Wife
Broadcast Signal Intrusion
Dark Sky Films
"Broadcast Signal Intrusion is a neo-noir set in 1999 Illinois. Harry Shum Jr. plays James, a video archivist and camera enthusiast who is still grieving the recent disappearance of his girlfriend. It is brooding, dark, and dreamlike at times, portraying James’ nightmares with little warning and frightening clarity. This film is a superior choice for any horror film collection in a public library and is highly recommended."
Read our review of Broadcast Signal Intrusion
El Hombre Búfalo
IndiePix Films
"El Hombre Búfalo is a bizarre and somewhat haunting mockumentary that attempts to artistically address the dangers of journalism in Mexico. There are many moments of genuine beauty, exploration of the human condition, and outstanding cinematography."
Read our review of El Hombre Búfalo
Exposure 36
Gravitas Ventures
"Three days before a climate catastrophe which experts report will destroy humanity, aspiring photographer and prescription drug dealer Cam (Charles Ouda) goes about his life.This film exceeds expectations. Exposure 36 is a must-see for lovers of thrillers, dramas, and apocalyptic films alike."
Read our review of Exposure 36
Friend of the World
Charybdis Pictures
"Brian Patrick Butler’s Friend of the World is an evocative indie gem serving a little bit of science fiction, some dark comedy, and a healthy dose of body horror. Drawing inspiration from cult classics like The Thing and La Jetée, Butler contributes to the genre collection with this introspective and deceptively simple piece."
Read our review of Friend of the World
Hive
Kino Lorber
"The foreign film Hive departs from a familiar world for most and plunges into the aftermath of the Kosovo War of 1999 and the world of Fahrije (Yllka Gashi). The audience is placed in the middle of the story’s turmoil, as Fahrije must help her family survive, by starting a home-grown business making ajvar for a town supermarket."
Read our review of Hive
The Ladies Almanack
Planet Group Entertainment
"The Ladies Almanack is based on the 1928 self-published novel by Djuna Barnes, centering around the women in lesbian writer, Natalie Clifford Barney’s, literary salon in Paris.The film and its source of origin are an important reminder that lesbian culture has existed long before the gay liberation movement of the 1970s, and that the fascinating queer culture in the 1920s is deserving of recognition."
Read our review of The Ladies Almanack
Lotawana
Mammoth Media
"Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Trevor Hawkins transfers the ecological wonder of his nature documentaries to the drama Lotawana, his debut feature film, his debut feature film that he writes, directs, and edits. Lotawana is a bittersweet portrayal of mourning and wanderlust. It has a painterly elegance that is absolutely breathtaking."
Read our review of Lotawana
Miriam Lies
Pragda
"Intimate and Colorful, Miriam Lies is an adolescent drama with an intense focus on its subject, Miriam (Dulce Rodriguez). Set in the Dominican Republic, the story begins a few weeks out from Miriam’s quinceanera. Miriam Lies is highly recommended for coming of age film collections in public libraries."
Read our review of Miriam Lies
Nudo Mixteco
Pragda
"Though often slow and pastoral, Nudo Mixteco is a modern and dynamic drama about the return of three people to the town of their birth, San Mateo. The surprisingly dynamic camerawork and staging make this a must-see drama with striking color and intriguing dramatic elements. Nudo Mixteco is an excellent choice for drama and Spanish language collections in libraries."
Read our review of Nudo Mixteco
The Outpost
Screen Media Films
"Director Rod Lurie's Afghan war drama—based on Jake Tapper's nonfiction book The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor—should rank with another book/film property chronicling a recent military tragedy, Black Hawk Down, and that is high praise indeed. A highly recommended title that fell out of public view due to the lockdown of theaters during the COVID quarantines. A must-have for library collections specializing in war and history."
Read our review of The Outpost
Pelicano
Amerinda Films
"Pelicano is a story of a wife and mother in her sixties going rogue. What happens when an older adult desires adventures that put the unity of her family at stake? This satisfying story of twisted family dynamics is told in reverse, full of surprising twists and turns that will have you discussing it for days to come."
Read our review of Pelicano
Playground
Film Movement
"The cacophony of children playing (and yelling, and fighting) permeates Laura Wandel’s debut film, Playground—a stirring narrative drama about coming of age in Belgian primary school. Playground constructs one of the most affecting and sincere portrayals of childhood on the film scene today. A necessary addition for narrative drama collections, Wandel’s coming-of-age film comes highly recommended."
Read our review of Playground
Sweet Thing
Film Movement
"Sweet Thing follows Billie (Lana Rockwell) and Nico (Nico Rockwell), siblings from a broken household in coastal Massachusetts. It is a tough film to watch in many ways, but that is integral to its beauty and honesty. Sweet Thing is a bittersweet, heart-wrenching drama and is Highly Recommended."
Read our review of Sweet Thing
Uppercase Print
Big World Pictures
"There are dual narratives at play in the documentary Uppercase Print. One deals with the investigation of a graffiti artist who promoted democratic and pro-worker ideals in Botosani, Romania during the dictatorial rule of Nicolae Ceaușescu. The other details the onslaught of state-sanctioned educational and news propaganda of the same era. Uppercase Print forces viewers to dig deeper into how a country can trick the outside world, shielding its malevolence."
Read our review of Uppercase Print