It’s that time of year again. The time were we start to reflect on the films we’ve seen this year and begin to form lists and rankings that encapsulate a year in cinema. This has been quite the year for film, and an even more daunting undertaking for myself with two festivals and a goal of seeing 300 new films in a single year. Shockingly, I’m trending to end the year at nearly one new film a day, something I didn’t think I would be able to do let alone live to tell the tale. That’s a whole lotta time at movies, and with that comes a number of films that don’t actually have a release date or even distribution in the US yet.
This is pretty common, as there are thousands of films made a year from indies to blockbusters to box office hits that never make their way over to America. The benefit of festivals and seeking out films outside of your country of origin is you get to experience quite a few of them. So instead of letting my favorites disappear into the shadows and vaults, never to be discussed again, I have chosen my top 10 films I saw in 2023 that have yet to be released in the US.
Keep in mind, some of these will eventually have a release date in 2024, some are released in multiple other countries already, and some of them will eventually make their way to streaming services that highlight foreign imports. These are simply films that, at the time of this writing, do not have any official release date or distribution in America only. My hope is that these wonderful films are given a platform to be seen by more people, because they are some of the best films of the year and deserve to be seen. With that, let’s get into the top 10 best films we saw in 2023 that don’t have a US release date yet!
10. Going Varsity in Mariachi
A Sundance premiere, this delightful documentary was one of my favorite docs from the festival. So often these festivals are packed with heavy films that can wear on you emotionally, and “Going Varsity in Mariachi” was shot of joy at the right time. It follows a high school in the poorer part of South Texas as they try to compete in the State Mariachi Championships. The school and students are green and hanging on by a shoestring budget, with some having never even picked up the instruments they’re assigned to play. What transpires is brilliant and hopeful look at a whole new world of music and competition, and does a great job in getting you invested in the students and want to root for them to succeed. I truly hope this finds some life somewhere when it completes its festival run, because I have a whole new appreciation for Mariachi and what it takes to create this unique form of music.
9. Days of Happiness
Often compared to last year’s “Tar” from festival goers, “Days of Happiness” also follows a highly competitive conductor on the verge of leveling up in her career. This is really the only similarity though, as the story it chooses to tell from here is vastly different. Emma (Sophie Desmarais) couldn’t be more different than Lydia Tar, and the conflict has much more to do with Emma’s family and her relationship with her father than her own egotistical hubris. It is much more introspective and quieter, more of a character study about control, abuse, and breaking free to be your own person with your own passions. “Days of Happiness” does take a while to find its footing and climb out from under the shadow of “Tar,” but once it finally stands on its own it dazzles and delivers a deeply emotionally resonant climax that stirs in the soul. “Days of Happiness” is really wonderful, and was a big surprise for me at TIFF. I’ve got a soft spot for French cinema too, and this one is checks all the boxes. This feels like something Mubi should pick up, so hopefully it makes its way to the states.
8. Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person
FÉLIX-ANTOINE BÉNARD “Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person”
You gotta love that mouthful of a title! It was actually the reason I put it on my TIFF list; with a title like “Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person” how you could you not want to check that out? The film holds true to its name, presenting a gothic horror dry comedy that actually has a lot of emotion beneath its quirky, deadpan delivery. It’s a sweet kind of romantic comedy with dark overtones of vampirism, and though it doesn’t quite perfectly balance its tone from scene to scene, succeeds more often than not. The two leads have terrific chemistry, and often asked to demonstrate that through silence and glances which they pull off effectively. I always enjoy weird, bold choices like this, even once that attempt to spin conventional stories with a unique twist, and “Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person” hits all the right beats. It is currently playing in Canada, so I would imagine it’ll make its way south to us eventually. Be on the look out for this one if it does!
7. Kill
I have no idea how streamers like Prime Video and Netflix didn’t get into a bidding war of this over the top, violent action flick. “Kill” was the first midnight madness film I saw at TIFF, and the crowd was absolutely electric and rowdy. “Kill” is a essentially “The Raid Redemption” meets “Die Hard” on a train in India, and if that isn’t enough to sell you then the absolutely insane kills should. What is so great about “Kill” is that first 40 minutes or so lean into the Bollywood love story tropes, leaving audiences to believe that its violence was oversold and won’t really be as crazy as advertised. That is until a major moment happens and the title card finally drops, and we are OFF to one of the most batshit crazy rides I’ve ever seen. Political undertones aside, “Kill” absolutely rules. If over the top action and limbs getting dismembered and heads literally rolling and one of the most gruesome kills I’ve seen with a fire extinguisher is your thing, then keep an eye for “Kill.” It also sports one of my favorite lines of 2023, where someone views the carnage and says out loud, “Who kills like that?” You know shit is crazy when even a villain in the movie has to draw attention to how gruesome it all is.
6. Kim’s Video
As a proponent of physical media and the value of cinema collection, “Kim’s Video” is a personal favorite of mine. Another Sundance premiere, the documentary is part physical media manifesto, part cinephile love letter, part heist film, and part restoration revival. It covers so much it’s hard to really even capture everything that it is about and what happens. “Kim’s Video” has elements that don’t even feel real, even when it reveals its embellishments its truth still feels like it was made up. It is a pure shot of nostalgia for cinephiles and cinema lovers, the kind that used to seek out the weirdness, strangest films that only that one video store ever carried and those that long for the days of physical media collections and discoveries. “Kim’s Video” is a special one for me, one that I’m sure newer generations won’t really understand but perfectly captures my love of movies through one of the most bizarre stories of VHS collections and the even stranger story of recovering and restoring that very collection.
5. Lost Ladies
My goodness, did I absolutely love this little comedy of errors love story. “Lost Ladies” is simply delightful, and beautiful import from India that injects humor and heart into a series of misadventures through marital and cultural traditions. “Lost Ladies” is such a sweet story of love and independence, one that reaches into your soul and really drives an emotional response. This was such an unexpected surprise from TIFF, one that wasn’t even on my radar as a backup and ended up cracking the top 20 of my favorites from the festival. “Lost Ladies” is just pure joy, and though it overstays its welcome with a somewhat padded runtime, its conclusion packs a wallop of emotion that I will admit got me and had me wiping away happy tears. This one isn’t set to release in its home country until March of next year, so unless Amazon Prime wants to add another feature to their growing Bollywood collection, “Lost Ladies” may not be stateside anytime soon. I hope it does find its way over here, though. I loved this film and I want more people to see it!
4. Seagrass
I don’t know what it is about this one that has stuck with me for so long, but “Seagrass” got ahold of me and never let go. It was one of the first films I saw at TIFF, and after some 55 screenings remained high on the list of favorites and affecting experiences. “Seagrass” tackles a whole range of topics; subtle prejudice and racism, a crumbling marriage, coming of age, the effect of tumultuous adults have on their children, and much more. It is amazing that a film so quiet and patient can pack such a punch, but “Seagrass” feels so personal and purposeful that it succeeds in conveying all of its themes to great effect. I was genuinely moved by the end despite it not having a definitive resolution, and its vulnerability and riveting family drama and dynamics is engrossing and captivating. 2023 has been a helluva year for first time directors, and Meredith Hama-Brown deserves to be praised for her efforts in “Seagrass” among the others that have garnered praise and recognition. This may be one that’s too small to find a home somewhere, but I hope some distributor takes a chance and brings it to wider audience.
3. Daddio
Look, you had me at Dakota Johnson and Sean Penn. I’m also a sucker for small films like this, and “Daddio” is an engrossing two hander that takes place almost entirely inside a taxi cab. Johnson and Penn are perfect together as we learn about their lives and worldviews through surprisingly earnest conversations. I’m already all in on Johnson, but this is the best Penn has been in a long time. It is a love letter to New York City, but also a testament to how powerful unlikely connections can be. “Daddio” keeps its cards close to its chest as the story unfolds, but it is masterfully crafted and hard not to become invested in. Gorgeously shot, superbly acted, and unassumingly intimate, “Daddio” cracked the top 5 favorite films from TIFF this year. And if it had a release date in 2023, it may have even cracked my top 10. I absolutely adored this film, and I hope more people get a chance to see it.
2. About Dry Grasses
Who knew a 3+ hour Turkish, dialogue heavy, snow covered character study would be so riveting? “About Dry Grasses” may sport one of the longest runtimes of the year for a film predominantly filmed with people sitting in rooms talking, but it never once stops being engaging. It is a film who’s protagonist is so selfish you can’t believe some of the choices he makes, but it also explores the deeper causes of feeling trapped and believing that a change scenery is the answer to the problems you yourself create. “About Dry Grasses” is about so many things, but more than anything it is about humanity and existence and what it means to be both of these things. It is about discovering your place in the world, and contemplating what you really want out of life and the consequences of the choices we make. “About Dry Grasses” took me a while to decide how I felt about it, forcing me to wrestle with its themes for a good two days before I could write down my thoughts on it. Any film that can transfer its own introspection onto myself and my own life is powerful, and “About Dry Grasses” may very well be a near masterpiece that deserves a US release. Yes it’s a commitment, but it so worth every second you spend with this film.
- How to Have Sex
I don’t think anyone should be surprised that “How to Have Sex” takes the number one spot here. It is one of the best films of the year, period. A film that has lived rent free in my head for nearly three months now and one that will continue to resonate with me for a very long time. Molly Manning Walker expertly tackles young party culture and the complexities of consent, one that changes how we talk about what consent is and what it means and how we should have better conversations surrounding sex among teens. It is difficult work and even more unsettling to see unfold, but “How to Have Sex” is so carefully crafted and purposeful in its approach that by the time you realize what Walker is trying to say, you have been disarmed by the strobe lights and club life that you can’t escape the harsher realities and darker undertones that exist. I can’t compliment “How to Have Sex” enough, and it’s pretty much releasing around the world before it ever comes stateside. I truly hope people sit down and watch this film. Hell, this is an educational piece you can and should watch with your teenagers. It is that powerful and honest, and is sure to spark some much needed discussions about its subject matter. It doesn’t get better than “How to Have Sex” and I highly recommend you put this one on your radar now so you’re ready for it whenever it finally releases in America.
So there you have it, the 10 best unreleased films in the US of 2023! Which one are you most excited to see?
