Video Librarian celebrates the second year of ranking our best-reviewed narrative films. Our list recognizes films reviewed in 2023, whether they've recently hit theaters, arrived on Blu-Ray, or become available through streaming services. Handpicked from our extensive reviews throughout the year, these titles exemplify the diverse and innovative storytelling prevalent in this year's narrative filmmaking.
By integrating these films into your collection, you're presenting audiences with a broad spectrum of perspectives and subjects. Ranging from biographies of extraordinary individuals and explorations of queer romance to adaptations of Greek stories, adventure films set against breathtaking landscapes, and gripping horror tales, these films provide come highly recommended by our team of expert reviewers. These films showcase a diverse array of filmmakers, each bringing forth unique and creative visions from various corners of the world.
Video Librarian strongly recommends these films to public and academic librarians seeking to enhance their collections, educators eager to incorporate cinematic experiences into their classroom syllabi, and community leaders aiming to engage their communities through public film screenings.
This year's list encompasses eight films across various genres and subjects, including the following:
Whether you're in search of intellectually stimulating content for educational purposes or diverse stories for entertainment, the best narrative films of 2023 endorsed by Video Librarian would be noteworthy additions to your film collection. Allow this list to serve as a valuable guide in refining your film collection for the upcoming year.
Film Movement
Chess Story
Directed by Philipp Stölzl | Film Movement | 112 mins
The Gestapo is already on their way to his home and they catch him in the act. Josef is cloistered away in a former luxury hotel occupied by the Gestapo. In isolation and under further psychological torture, he finds solace in his sole companion, a chess manual.
Chess Story is an incredible thriller with outstanding psychological elements. The film is beautifully shot from beginning to end, and the opening sequence is experimental and haunting. Some scenes and shots seem almost Hitchcockian in composition which will captivate thriller fans throughout the film. I didn’t want to look away from Chess Story once: Its story, mystery, and subtle visual effects make this German-language psychological thriller a must-see for any fans of the genre or lovers of mystery. Highly Recommended. Editor’s Choice.
Read our full review of Chess Story
Prime Video
Mickey Hardaway
Directed by Marcellus Cox | Indie Rights | 104 mins
Bouncing between the past and present, Mickey Hardaway follows the life of the titular character, Mickey (Rashad Hunter), as he seeks therapy for his increasingly challenging mental issues and past trauma.
In his therapy sessions with Dr. Harden (Stephen Cofield Jr.), we get long glimpses into Mickey’s childhood and his first years as a young adult. His father’s physical and verbal abuse hardens the boy into a man, but they rob him of his childhood and nearly take his hope.
The camera work and lighting almost transform Mickey Hardaway into a neo-noir. Those looking for an intense and surprisingly sensitive drama with excellent cinematography and a plot firmly based in Black culture should look no further than Mickey Hardaway. Highly Recommended.
Read our full review of Mickey Hardaway
Cinephobia Releasing
Sublime
Directed by Mariano Biasin | Cinephobia Releasing | 100 mins
16-year-old Manuel (Martín Miller) is the son of a renowned guitar builder and musician. Manuel’s best friend since childhood, Felipe (Teo Inama Chiabrando), plays guitar and sings. The two have an old bond and an easy friendship, and being bandmates comes easily to them. But their bond may be deeper than that.
This Argentinian teen drama is skillfully produced and incredibly well-acted.The thing that stood out most about Sublime is the casual realism of the entire film, drawing viewers into an authentic and relatable world. This makes Sublime a standout choice for those appreciating genuine storytelling and musical passion.
Read our full review of Sublime
LEDA LLC
Leda
MVD Entertainment Group
LEDA is a modern retelling of the ancient Greek Legend. In myth, Leda is a young queen who becomes the wife of Tyndareus, king of Lacedaemon. On their wedding night, Zeus is overcome with lust for the beautiful woman and assaults her in the form of a swan. She goes on to birth quadruplets who play major roles in Greek mythology. This telling follows a similar plot and begins with an already pregnant Leda (Adeline Thery) dealing with the severe morning sickness that accompanies the late months of pregnancy. Through her discomfort, she relives the memories of her life.
LEDA is a highly experimental film. There is a bizarre timelessness to the setting that makes one feel simultaneously uneasy and at ease: Things are familiar, but they shouldn’t be. The early 19th-century dress and lack of dialogue make the film feel like a modern silent movie. LEDA is visceral, cerebral, and—perhaps most importantly—beautiful. Every shot is memorable, and there is a lot of experimentation with camera movement portraying emotion. Highly Recommended.
Read our full review of LEDA
Dark Star Pictures
Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle
Directed by Arthur Harari | Dark Star Pictures | 167 mins
Clocking at nearly three hours, director Arthur Harari's strange-but-true feature is adapted from published memoirs of a famous Japanese WWII holdout soldier who remained in the Pacific jungles as an active (if severely marginalized) combatant from 1944 to 1974.
Onoda - 10,000 Nights In The Jungle is an extraordinary cinematic achievement that tells a gripping tale of misguided patriotism and resilience in the face of adversity. With unexpected twists and turns, this 165-minute adventure keeps us on the edge of our seats and culminates in a memorably moving denouement that will leave a lasting impact. This film is a testament to the power of storytelling and a must-see for anyone who loves great cinema.
Read our full review of Onoda - 10,000 Nights In The Jungle
Quiver Films
Becky
Directed by Cary Murnion, Jonathan Milott | Quiver Films | 93 mins
Life has been rough on Becky (Lulu Wilson) for the past few years. After losing her mother to cancer, she does what many kids in similar situations do: She blames her father (Joel McHale) for her mother’s death and begins shutting out the world. One day, her father checks her out from school, and—despite her best efforts—she is excited to learn they are going to stay at the family vacation home her mother loved so much.
Her joy turns to ash when she realizes it’s a trick to make her bond with her father’s new girlfriend (Amanda Brugel) and her son, Ty (Isaiah Rockcliffe). Simultaneously, a group of Aryan Brotherhood felons orchestrates a well-planned escape attempt from a nearby penitentiary. Led by the dominating Dominick (Kevin James), the small group of escaped convicts hijacks and kills their way toward Becky’s family summer home.
Indican Pictures
When Men Were Men
Directed by Izzi Rojas and Aidan Dick | Indican Pictures | 96 mins
When Men Were Men offers a fresh and compelling take on the coming-of-age genre. The story revolves around Kieran (Izzi Rojas), a transgender teen who faces bullying at school and pressure from his religious mother to conform to traditional gender roles. However, the theater becomes Kieran's sanctuary, where he is respected and valued as a talented actor, typically cast as a male lead.
Everything changes when Egan (Aidan Dick), a new boy in town, enters Kieran's life. Unbeknownst to Egan, Kieran falls in love with him while grappling with his own identity. This poses a significant challenge, as Kieran has not disclosed his transgender status to Egan. As Kieran and Egan's relationship begins to grow, Kieran must confront his fears and explore his feelings for Egan while staying true to himself.
Overall, When Men Were Men is a thought-provoking film that challenges traditional norms and sheds light on the complexities of gender and identity. It tackles important themes with sensitivity and grace, providing a powerful and relatable story for audiences of all backgrounds. Ultimately, it reminds us of the importance of self-acceptance, understanding, and love in a world that often struggles with embracing differences.
Altered Innocence
Brother’s Keeper
Directed by Ferit Karahan | Altered Innocence | 85 mins
Yusuf takes it upon himself to care for his friend Memo as one would a brother, but uncaring adults, a broken school bureaucracy, and anti-Kurdish sentiment make it difficult for the young boy. When deep snow causes the over-taxed heating system to malfunction, these issues coalesce into a life-or-death struggle to help treat Memo’s mysterious illness.
This tragic drama is well-shot, acted, and edited. Brother’s Keeper does an outstanding job of making the viewer feel as small and powerless as Yusuf as the camera follows him and often becomes his gaze. The story itself is very straightforward until a twist is revealed in the film’s final moments. While certainly not a mystery movie, Brother’s Keeper has an element of a whodunnit in the presence of Memo’s unknown ailment and a school staff that is more concerned with placing blame than helping Memo.