Beyond the box office
The film industry is often known by the box office — famous films raking in millions, capturing global attention, and overpowering the audience. Although behind the flash and spectacle of commercial cinema, there exists another side that often goes unnoticed. The films on this spectrum may not always draw a huge sum in the industry or attract the same kind of enthusiastic audience, but their impact on the larger scenario is worth noticing.
Films of this sort often hold the power and potential to change the world, yet they might not get the kind of attention they deserve. Such films depict a distinct form of cinema, one that challenges the norms, pushes conventional ideas, and often speaks more directly to niche or experimental audiences. In this article, let us explore the legacy of independent films that initially went unnoticed in the wake of more popular culture films.
12 ANGRY MEN: DIRECTED BY SIDNEY LUMET (1957)
The American legal drama is based on the trial of a teenage boy convicted of the murder of his father. The film critically questions the basis of the American judicial system. The movie goes pretty smoothly before one of the twelve men who discuss the case refuses the common agreement of considering the boy guilty. Discussion follows, and the boy is pleaded not guilty towards the end. The film was a box-office disappointment. It is expected that the advent of colour on screen may have led to its failure. It was not until its first airing on television that the film was considered relatable by the audience.
SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION: DIRECTED BY FRANK DARABONT (1994)
Based on a novella by Stephen King, the once-flop film is one of the highest-rated films on IMDb. The film throws light on the story of banker Andy Dufresne. He is sentenced to life in Shawshank State Penitentiary for the murders of his wife and her lover, despite his claims of not having done anything. Tides turn when Andy escapes the prison without a hint to anyone. He, tired of all attempts to prove his innocence, finally escapes in the most unbelievable way possible. While still at the prison, he establishes a library for the inmates and serves as the accountant for the warden. This helps him establish his fake identity to slip into the free world. The film showcases a deep understanding of the psychology of prison inmates and the autocracy of the wardens, giving a wider lens to the audience.
FIGHT CLUB: DIRECTED BY DAVID FINCHER (1999)
Fight Club is an American film directed by David Fincher, and the protagonists are Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter. It stems from the 1996 novel ‘Fight Club’ by Chuck Palahniuk. Norton is a conventional white-collar individual who is discontent with his job. The narrator faces trouble with sleeping and discontentment with life. Just as his sleep issues worsen, he finds out that expressions of emotional vulnerability help him sleep. This leads him to join multiple groups for people facing emotionally distressing problems, despite his expressions being improper. The film was not liked by the studios but was still the most controversial and talked-about film of the 1990s. It also failed at the box office, lowering the expectations of the producers. When the film won the Oscars, it shut down critics who had doubted the credibility of the film.
DONNIE DARKO: DIRECTED BY RICHARD KELLY (2001)
Donnie Darko is a 2001 film in the genre of psychological science fiction. The film is set in the year 1988. It talks about an emotionally troubled teenager, Donnie Darko, who gets past a horrific accident by sleepwalking. Darko has visions of Frank, a mysterious figure in a rabbit costume who informs him that the world will perish in exactly 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds. The film was scarcely advertised as it featured the crash of a plane on 9/11. Rotten Tomatoes has given the film a rating of 7.9/10. The site’s critics have said, “Richard Kelly’s debut feature Donnie Darko is a daring, original vision, packed with jarring ideas, and intelligence and featuring a remarkable performance from Jake Gyllenhaal as the troubled title character.”
HUGO: DIRECTED BY MARTIN SCORSESE (2011)
Hugo is a 2011 film directed by Martin Scorsese and brought to the screen by John Logan. The narrative of the film is based on Brian Selznick’s 2007 book ‘The Invention of Hugo Cabret’. It is the story of a small boy who resides in Gare Montparnasse railway station in Paris in the 1930s, only to become involved in the unending, mysterious process of his late father’s automaton. It is the director’s first 3D film. He says, “I found 3D to be really interesting because the actors were more upfront emotionally. Their slightest move, their slightest intention is picked up much more precisely.”
