Top Films I watched in 2021

by Jasmine Perkins

The world is only halfway through January, not even a month into 2022,and there have already been a whole host of successful, hollywood and indie titles hitting cinemas and streaming services worldwide. With the seemingly endless output of film & video content it is rare for movies to catch your attention or stay with you for more than a few weeks. So when you watch a piece that connects with your current mindset, experiences, makes subversive steps in unexplored directions or just puts a smile on your face it’s definitely fun to reflect on what made them so memorable.

Quick disclaimer: although these films didn’t all come out last year, I ex

perienced them for the first time in 2021 and so they have made the list.

Bo Burnham: Inside

The 31-year-old comedian’s fifth comedy special is unlike any of his previous content and unlike any other movie I have watched due to the unique circumstances of it's conception. Burnham wrote, shot, directed and edited the special entirely by himself over the period leading up to the creator’s 30th birthday in the midst of lockdown. The one man show cracks open Burnham’s psyche and offers an extremely affecting look at society in the 21st century. I finished Inside with a full playlist of hilariously sad songs and a fresh perspective upon the ‘’state of things’’, which while bleak and slightly claustrophobic provided a well-needed sense of catharsis. I think any film that encourages such personal revelation is 100% worth the watch.

I Lost My Body

Directed by French filmmaker Jeremy Clapin, I Lost My Body is a dark yet beautiful animated movie that centres around a teen boy named Naoufel and a severed hand as they both traverse Paris in search of something lost. Every element in the production of this piece blends together seamlessly: the eerie score, unique visuals and emotional character arcs that end in an open yet satisfying ending result in a beyond poignant look at childhood trauma, coming of age and self-discovery. This is one of those films that practically requires you to stare at the wall while the credits roll, brimming with awe.

Isle of Dogs

Wes Anderson is famous for his striking visuals, quirky colour grading, symmetry and dry humour and although stop-motion, Isle of Dogs doesn’t sacrifice even a drop of the director's signature charm. Through the hugely creative animation style, Anderson tells the story of a Japanese city which exiles all dogs to an island after an outbreak of the ‘canine flu’. The unfortunate animal exiles then go on an adventure with the dictator’s son in order to find his long lost dog. The plot is deceivingly wholesome and Anderson uses it as a vehicle to explore themes of companionship, neglect, propaganda and alienation. For me, a stop-motion enjoyer, this film was extremely engaging and I had so much fun watching.