The 2023 Sundance Film Festival has officially wrapped up, but now the fun begins in highlighting those films that really stood out. What titles should you be looking out for in theaters and on streaming in the coming days and months? Here are 10 Sundance 2023 films that we loved and would recommend.
Rye Lane
Why Watch: Raine Allen Miller’s rom-com is fresh and hilarious and full of great performances and music. It’s honestly one of the best directorial debuts we’ve watched at Sundance in recent years. The film, about two unlucky-in-love strangers who accidentally meet and wind up spending the day together, reminds us of a modern-day Before Sunrise. Its ‘90s influences also help add a refreshing POV that is playful and inventive in the way it tells a familiar meet-cute story.
The Persian Version
Why Watch: Another spectacular rom-com at Sundance this year is The Persian Version. Great writing & direction fuel a funny and heartwarming story about an Iranian-American woman caught between strict family traditions & the modern-day NYC dating scene. A love letter to family, warts and all.
Radical
Why Watch: We’re huge softies for inspiring teacher movies, and also big fans of Eugenio Derbez… especially roles in which Derbez plays an inspiring teacher (see: CODA). Radical is based on the real story of a teacher in Mexico who brought unconventional learning to kids living in a border town full of neglect and violence. It’s sweet, funny and a big tearjerker. We’ve seen stories like this before, but that doesn’t mean they don’t get to us each and every single time. Big recommend!
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
Why Watch: The Michael J. Fox doc at Sundance is fantastic. Director Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth) brilliantly weaves together existing footage, rare behind-the-scenes clips and re-enactments as Fox narrates his own life story. The film is powerful and nostalgic, as Fox tells the stories behind many of his biggest hits, from Back to the Future and Family Ties to Spin City.
Theater Camp
Why Watch: Theater Camp is a RIOT! A well-crafted mockumentary featuring outstanding performances (Ben Platt is MVP) and surprisingly good music, too. A must-see for any theater kid out there, but also a solid comedy that unabashedly adores musical theater. You will, too.
A Thousand and One
Why Watch: The Grand Jury winner at this year’s festival, A Thousand and One tells the story of a mother who kidnaps her son from foster care to raise him herself. Years later, that choice comes back to haunt them both. Beautifully written and directed by A.V. Rockwell, the drama features terrific performances across the board from multiple actors playing characters at different ages.
Kim’s Video
Why Watch: Among our favorite documentaries screening this year, Kim’s Video is part love letter to an iconic NYC video rental shop and part insane heist film. When the legendary Kim’s Video shuts down for good, its massive library of films is shipped off to a town in Italy whose leaders promise to take good care of the collection and properly showcase the films. Years later, one former video store member goes in search of the elusive collection. After learning it’s being mishandled, this film fan decides to take matters into his own hands. A really fun watch for movie lovers.
Cassandro
Why Watch: Gael Garcia Bernal turns in one of the best performances of his career as a real-life gay amateur wrestler who uses his unique talents to rise through the ranks of Mexican wrestling, ultimately becoming a household name. Equally comedic as it is dramatic and often heartbreaking, Cassandro is a thoroughly entertaining watch and will be a film to keep an eye on as we head towards awards season.
Polite Society
Why Watch: We have a soft spot for clever coming-of-age films and Polite Society is awesome! What starts as a quirky tale of a girl who’s desperate to break up her sister’s new relationship eventually becomes an all-out action movie. The music! The humor! The cast! A Sundance fav for sure.
You Hurt My Feelings
Why Watch: Cleverly written and featuring an outstanding performance from Julia Louie-Dreyfuss, You Hurt My Feelings is kind of like Marriage Therapy: The Movie. It tells the story of a married couple whose relationship begins to unravel as each begins to come to terms with the little white lies they tell each other on a daily basis. Is lying to your partner wrong if it makes you a more supportive partner? That’s the moral question at the heart of this very entertaining dramedy.
For more on the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, see which films scored the highest with critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
