The year 2020 wasn’t the year for those who enjoy a night out at the theater, but that does not mean there weren’t any new binge-worthy movies and T.V. shows. 

Soul 

Hop on to your Disney+ account and press play on this one. 

This lighthearted and meaningful movie asks what makes you you? As Joe Gardner is working on growing his jazz career, he falls down a manhole and his soul ends up in “The Great Before.” He then must find a way to get another chance at life. Do not discount this film just because it is animated — the grapevine says this one will give you an existential crisis throughout. 

Miss Juneteenth 

This movie revolves around Turquoise Jones, a single mother who wants her rebellious daughter Kai to change her way of life to have a better future. Years before her daughter’s birth, Turquoise won the Miss Juneteenth pageant but was forced to abandon her education due to the birth of Kai. With a rating of 100 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes, it is a worthwhile film that shows how the past can be mended with our present actions and pave the way for a bright future. 

His House

This film follows Bol and Rial, a refugee couple from South Sudan, as they find their way in an English town for a fresh start. Bol and Rial’s grief from their escape shifts their views on reality.

What makes the film compelling are the experiences between the husband and wife as they transition into their new life, while being haunted by their past. The portrayal of their experience as survivors of war and asylum seekers gives a glimpse into a broken system that forces newcomers to believe they should be grateful for what they are given despite low-level accommodations and a lack of active communication.

Transplant

Move over Grey’s Anatomy, Canada is coming in hot with their very own medical drama series.

The show follows Bashir “Bash” Hamed, a Syrian doctor who came to Canada as a refugee who undergoes trials from a past he’s avoiding, as he adjusts to his new life. Forced to restart his residency, he shows colleagues — as well as viewers — his competence and passion in the field of medicine.

The D Cut

“My hair, my choice” is a message that is repeated often in this series. The story follows an “iconic queer hair salon” fighting against the unfair grip of gentrification to keep their shop open. 

Nothing hits amiss with this show — from the close-ups of the hairstyling process, to interesting characters and humorous one-liners. It also explores important topics such as self-expression, self-acceptance and finding relationships — a heartwarming show based on a real life story from Montreal, Canada.

Run Wolf, Run

This movie is written and directed by Carli Robertson from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. What makes this so impressive is not only the fact that it is locally made but also because it was almost entirely shot and edited by Robertson.

The storyline has an eerie vibe from the start with the way that it is filmed. It follows a woman who “masks her weakening sanity as she fails to recall her actions during frequent blackouts,” according to the movie’s synopsis. 

If this movie piques your interest, it is available for viewing on Amazon Prime.

Percy

In 1998, Monsanto Canada Inc. sued Saskatchewan farmer Percy Schmeiser for using its genetically modified and patented canola seeds without a license. 

The controversy between the conglomerate company versus a local farmer garnered attention across Canada — there was even another documentary based on this trial made in 2005 titled Seeds, by Annabel Soutar.

As people living in a prairie province that thrives on agriculture, this movie should be on your list.

Honourable mentions (that you can also read about)

The Queen’s Gambit 

The Social Dilemma

Emily in Paris 

La Révolution 

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Kristine Jones A. Del Socorro | Culture Editor

Photo: Instagram | @tourismmission