OCS offers very good series from the USA such as Game of Thrones, Chernobyl, Westworld or the most recent His Dark Materials. Yet to summarize it to the television works HBOesque would be a big mistake, as the platform offers good films from all horizons. The proof by 5.
1/ The Daughters of Dr. March (2019 and 1995)
A film that follows the life of a middle-class family during the American Civil War. This portrait, although it is necessary to enter into it not without difficulty at first, ends up bewitching us. We then take part in the life of this family and these 4 sisters in particular. Then, the mother, the servant, the neighbors and other men who gravitate around. And finally, the father, this famous Dr. March who is evoked throughout the film. In short, we integrate this cocoon, in which family life punctuates the story. And if that sounds simplistic, not so much. Indeed, by being really glued to the basques of the four young women, we get to know them and to dig into their personalities, very different. Then each represents in a way the stages of the evolution of the life of a teenager, who enters the adult world. Facets that intertwine thanks to their relationships and also through the prism of flashbacks. The latter are often used, so much so that they become a temporality in their own right. Mixing with the second, until sometimes no longer distinguishing the changes of a few years. Ultimately, take The Daughters of Dr. March as a coming-of-age tale for a young woman. A treat! Small bonus: on OCS you will have two for the price of one, with the addition of Gillian Armstrong's version released in 1995. With Winona Ryder, Susan Sarandon or the young Christian Bale.
2/ The red turtle
This "European-Ghiblian" co-production was a pleasant surprise at the time of its release. And it must be said that the result is rather convincing. Here we feel very well the mix of style, even if the famous Japanese studio is apparently not as involved as its European counterpart. It still adds this somewhat mystical aspect to the film. With this red turtle decidedly like no other. Also, the film plunges us into the daily life of a castaway who little by little will get used to his environment and begin to live in harmony with the nature that surrounds him. But we will not reveal more about this singular story, which will know while remaining silent from one end to the other (yes yes really), take you to lands that we do not necessarily expect at first sight from a shipwreck film.
3/ The army of 12 monkeys
It's Kitsch! So what? We love it! Punctuated by the soundtrack of the Bee Gees, without a doubt you will be parachuted directly to the seventies. A different era in terms of style… and a whole bunch of things actually. It is precisely this exotic side that makes the charm of this film possessing despite everything, a rather simple scenario. In which we follow Tony, a young New Yorker, from an unwell-off family of Italian origin. If during the week, his life is not hectic as a salesman in a small shop, on weekends on the other hand he becomes the king of the dancefloor. In his favorite nightclub, he lives his evenings thoroughly with his group of friends. Then, one day, he meets another dancer who for once, seems to resist him… Just for the intro scene on Stayin' Alive you have to even take a look. Whether for the first time or the tenth time.
5/ In the name of the earth
If stories about the life of a farm, and the agricultural world do not interest you at first. If you roll your eyes when reading the story of Pierre, who with his wife Claire, took over the family farm 20 years ago and begins to experience little by little, difficulties and other hard blows. Know that this was also our case. However, by embarking on viewing, these prejudices quickly disappeared. Indeed, this story will take you to the guts, so well it is narrated. So good are the characters at just being human. And if this is so well transcribed, it is certainly because the director, Édouard Bergeon, tells us his story. Finally more broadly that of his parents Pierre and Claire, his family, and his friends. Thus, over several decades, we follow the clan in its daily life, as the agricultural world evolves. A beautiful and gripping drama at the same time. This small selection of films will already delight you. And many more are available on OCS.
