I had a diverse year in films & series, with a mix of thrillers, politics, comedy, history, and crime. Seven titles stood out: a documentary, four films, and two series—each an absolute must-watch.
Honourable mentions that just missed the list but are definitely worth your time: Past Lives, Wild Life, The Bear season 3 (parts 1 and 2 were brilliant), Kinds of Kindness, Baby Reindeer, and The Outrun. The biggest disappointment of the year? Napoleon with Joaquin Phoenix. And Megalopolis? I’m still not sure what to think of it.
I love stories that offer new perspectives on historical events. The series Say Nothing is gripping, balanced, and based on true events. Absolutely top-notch. Corridors of Power is a fantastic documentary series about America’s often behind-the-scenes role in major conflicts of the last few decades.
The Zone of Interest brings the horrors of Auschwitz unnervingly close, without showing explicit violence. The story focuses on the family life of camp commandant Rudolf Höss. The film’s power lies in how its greatest horrors unfold against the backdrop of mundane domesticity — or, as Hannah Arendt put it, the banality of evil. Director Jonathan Glazer chose not to show the horror but to let us hear it — through a haunting soundtrack of barely audible screams and burning ovens. Deeply unsettling. Masterfully done.
Anora is a sad story but also has enough moments to make you laugh, sometimes bordering on slapstick. It won the Palme d’Or at Cannes.
Poor Things is pure cinematic art: absurdist, yet you feel sympathy for the characters. The performances are outstanding and delightfully eccentric.
Love, Lies, Bleeding is a wild cocktail of thriller, romance, horror, and road movie, with a touch of pulp. It’s a lot — maybe even too much — but that’s what makes it so intriguing. Ed Harris steals the show and easily wins the award for the hairstyle of the year!
Finally, Netflix’s black-and-white remake of Ripley left a lasting impression. The level of storytelling, acting, and cinematography is so high that I know one thing for sure: I’ll be rewatching this series.
PEPIJN VAN DIJK 