What should you watch?

Mia Ashby

Even if you are not as invested in films as me, you probably saw tweets or news articles published five minutes after each round of nominations were announced.

Awards season for the world’s films is one of the most exciting times of the year, as it’s a curated collection of film critics, casual enjoyers and performers who unite and appreciate one another’s work. Many people like myself have found ourselves at odds with the chosen winners and nominees throughout the past, especially considering Hollywood’s limited choices when it comes to displaying a diverse array of stories. However, there has been a breakthrough in international representation and appreciation this past year. The films that were nominated and won were diverse and the lineup was the best it has been in decades. If you’re looking for some distinctive films to add to your watchlist, here are some of the best: Unsurprisingly, I have to mention Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan’s film “Everything Everywhere All At Once.” It’s a surreal masterpiece in filmmaking and an example of originality that will stand as a classic for future generations of actors and upcoming filmmakers. It’s outstandingly original and masterfully crafted.

Without spoiling this fantastic film, it’s a story about the multiverse and a mind-bending experience a family undergoes during an tax audit consultation for her laundromat business. The plot doesn’t sound all that extraordinary, but the movie takes a turn for the beautifully absurd, with hot-dog fingers and sentient rocks. I don’t want to give away all the colorful craziness here, so if that even slightly interests you, I recommend experiencing the film for yourself. Each cast member is immensely talented and delivers a wacky but wholesome experience that’s one in a lifetime, one that you can experience on any of those streaming services.

Another film that features a harrowing story on family relationships is the dramatic coming-of-age film “Aftersun.”

This film follows a father-daughter relationship, specifically, the daughter looking back on a family vacation from her youth before her and her father’s relationship became estranged. The film is devastatingly gorgeous. The angles and shots throughout the film are tight and long, making scenes drag for minutes as the actors awkwardly try to work through their relationship. The beauty is that it’s all done on purpose. The film creates a viewing experience you can put yourself into and empathize with everything the characters are dealing with. This movie is available on Amazon Prime and Apple TV for rent, but it’s not streaming just yet.

The final film I recommend is one that only received a few awards compared to the first two I mentioned. Specifically, this film wasn’t even mentioned in the recent Oscar nominations or at the Academy Awards. The film is called “Eo.” It’s a quaint little Polish film that follows a gray donkey named Eo as he travels throughout Poland and experiences life’s wonders: joy, pain and drama. It’s an outlier to most Hollywood flicks this year, but it did receive accolades for being a bright indie film that breaks into new territory where most films don’t go. Without spoiling the film, this one was certainly swept under everyone’s noses. It’s a delight to watch and a very peculiar piece of art that needs to be seen by more eyes.

In light of the 2023 awards season, give these films a watch so you can prepare for the works of art soon to be showcased.

Mia Ashby is a junior studying Journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. Do you agree? Tell Mia by emailing her at ma237419@ohio.edu.