Films to stream when it's chilly outside
With the cold outside, what better way to spend your time than catching up on some seasonally appropriate films? From Bergman to Rohmer, as well as some experimental documentaries and some Disney, there’ll be something here for you to curl up with this winter.
The Grand Budapest Hotel
A delightfully snowy film is The Grand Budapest Hotel, directed by Wes Anderson. Loosely inspired by the writing of Austrian novelist Stefan Zweig, the film centres on a luxury hotel - which incidentally has its own TripAdvisor page - in the invented Republic of Zubrowka. With an all-star cast, Anderson’s famous aesthetic is in full force in this wintery romp.
Winter’s Bone
A cold and wintery landscape is also a perfect canvas against which to explore profound human emotion. Debra Branik’s 2010 film Winter’s Bone made a star of its lead, Jennifer Lawrence, as well as gaining plaudits both in the US and internationally. The film follows the life of seventeen-year-old Ree Dolly, who lives with her family in the Ozarks, Missouri, as she struggles with an ill mother, young siblings and a missing father. As she travels around the town in search of her father, the viewer gets to know the landscape through the stunning cinematography and subtle use of winter colour.
Winter Light
Swedish master Ingmar Bergman’s uses the cold and frosty setting of a rural Swedish town to explore existential dread. 1963’s Winter Light stars Bergman regular Gunnar Björnstrand, Max von Sydow and Ingrid Thulin in this tale of a priest and his flock. Though only a small town, its residents are in desperate need of spiritual guidance from their priest, who himself feels deserted by God.
The Shining
If you fancy a chilly scare, then the classic Stephen King adaptation, The Shining is perfect viewing. Starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall and directed by Stanley Kubrick, this famous tale of a writer’s descent into madness will cure you of your desire for a weekend getaway in an isolated and snowy landscape.
Beauty and Beast
Finally, for something a little lighter, 1991’s Beauty and Beast can provide you with a little wintery magic. The famous tale of the blossoming relationship between a beautiful young woman and a mysterious beast is set against a romantic and snowy castle landscape. With a whole host of songs and sweet characters, this is still one of Disney’s most beloved animated films.