<![CDATA[Other Realist/bleak movies]]>Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Lilya 4-Ever

besty1 — 18 years ago(January 13, 2008 05:20 AM)

Just watched this, I don't know what more I can say that hasn't been said, but I'd have to say its one of the best things I've watched.
I'm looking for similar films, but not just "deep/depressing movies". It was the style, landscapes and brutal realism of Lilja which really drew me to the movie. The perpetually despondent setting in particular. Are there any other films which operate in a similar style with similar settings?
Also, it would be great if someone could tell me the name of the song that is playing in the car when Lilja is being driven by the pimp to her first client in Sweden.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/topic/235780/other-realist-bleak-moviesRSS for NodeFri, 15 May 2026 01:23:03 GMTMon, 04 May 2026 00:48:03 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Other Realist/bleak movies on Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:57 GMT]]>Zombie55 — 16 years ago(April 13, 2009 12:40 PM)

Anyone mentioned Ulrich Seidl's
Import/Export
(2007) yet?

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973459https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973459Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Other Realist/bleak movies on Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:56 GMT]]>tremolo475 — 16 years ago(April 07, 2009 10:33 AM)

i agree. 'children underground' is a very well done and startling documentary. definitely a harsh dose of reality, but well worth checking out.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973458https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973458Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Other Realist/bleak movies on Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:55 GMT]]>gtsstl — 17 years ago(March 26, 2009 10:18 PM)

Lots of excellent films mentioned above. I recommend another bleak film, a documentary actually, called Children Underground. It's another one of those films which is so horribly true it makes you want to rescue the people you are watching and then, failing that, never see the film again.
By the way, this seems to be one of the better, non-polluted threads I've read on IMDB lately.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973457https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973457Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Other Realist/bleak movies on Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:54 GMT]]>IMDb User

This message has been deleted.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973456https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973456Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Other Realist/bleak movies on Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:53 GMT]]>HuGore — 17 years ago(March 21, 2009 12:17 PM)

Thanx!!! I thought the first reply to my suggestion would be a murder note

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973455https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973455Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Other Realist/bleak movies on Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:52 GMT]]>IMDb User

This message has been deleted.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973454https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973454Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Other Realist/bleak movies on Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:50 GMT]]>HuGore — 17 years ago(March 18, 2009 04:16 PM)

Let The Right One In IS a great "bleaky" movie and I must say (most of you may wanna kill me for mentioning it) "The Wrestler" is also a very sad movieit may not have a really profound theme but it sad
All About Lily Chou-Chou is a must see

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973453https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973453Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Other Realist/bleak movies on Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:49 GMT]]>IMDb User

This message has been deleted.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973452https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973452Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Other Realist/bleak movies on Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:48 GMT]]>cheshirecat-8 — 17 years ago(January 19, 2009 09:43 AM)

Yeah, Kaurismki! Also, check into danish dogma film ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogma_95 )
Probably easier to find are some more or less classic Hollywood films, like "Boys don't cry" (with Hilary Swank as transexual Brandon Teena in a hostile white trash environment) and "The Basketball Diaries", with Leonardo DiCaprio as a heroine addict (surprisingly good and gritty, very much prostitution and misery in that one).

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973451https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973451Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Other Realist/bleak movies on Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:47 GMT]]>dalifemme-77 — 17 years ago(January 17, 2009 09:55 PM)

La Vie de bohme,
The Match Factory Girl
The Man Without a Past
Look into Aki Kaurismaki.
Aw, your buns smell like lox, honey! I can smell them. From here!

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973450https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973450Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Other Realist/bleak movies on Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:46 GMT]]>flowery_meerkat — 17 years ago(January 16, 2009 03:11 PM)

Anything by Ken Loach is pretty grim.As are films by Catherine Breillat,but she more deals with adolescents and sexual perception and awareness.
Never happen, Cherry. You survive the Nam, you get to live forever, man.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973449https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973449Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Other Realist/bleak movies on Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:45 GMT]]>Le-Revenant — 17 years ago(March 04, 2009 07:47 AM)

Agreed. Great film.
Also check out Anjos do Sol (2006) http://www.imdb.com/board/10847154/. Both Lilja 4ever and that has very similar content.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973448https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973448Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Other Realist/bleak movies on Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:44 GMT]]>tremolo475 — 17 years ago(January 09, 2009 05:38 PM)

check out 'the dreamlife of angels' if you can track it down. very realistic/depressing french film with stunning performances from both female leads. one of my all time favorites.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973447https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973447Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Other Realist/bleak movies on Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:43 GMT]]>skateking64 — 17 years ago(March 16, 2009 11:10 PM)

To me, Oldboy was more beep up than depressing.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973446https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973446Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Other Realist/bleak movies on Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:41 GMT]]>IMDb User

This message has been deleted.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973445https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973445Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Other Realist/bleak movies on Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:40 GMT]]>Nova_UB313 — 17 years ago(December 22, 2008 06:35 PM)

I heart depressing, gritty films! Here's just a few favorites off the the top of my head.
Sue
http://www.imdb.com/board/10125522/
Fiona
http://www.imdb.com/board/10168787/
Idi i Smotri aka Come and See
http://www.imdb.com/board/10091251/
Amantes
http://www.imdb.com/board/10101317/
Tokyo Decadence
http://www.imdb.com/board/10105622/
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover
http://www.imdb.com/board/10097108/
Salo
http://www.imdb.com/board/10073650/
Maitresse
http://www.imdb.com/board/10074883/
Kids
http://www.imdb.com/board/10113540/
Gummo
http://www.imdb.com/board/10119237/
Ken Park
http://www.imdb.com/board/10209077/
Damage
http://www.imdb.com/board/10104237/
Betty Blue
http://www.imdb.com/board/10090563/
OldBoy
http://www.imdb.com/board/10364569/
Vagabond
http://www.imdb.com/board/10089960/
Festen
http://www.imdb.com/board/10154420/
Breaking the Waves
http://www.imdb.com/board/10115751/
Irreversible
http://www.imdb.com/board/10290673/
I Stand Alone
http://www.imdb.com/board/10157016/
Christiane F
http://www.imdb.com/board/10082176/
Romance
http://www.imdb.com/board/10194314/
Princesa
http://www.imdb.com/board/10281094/
Princesas (different film than above)
http://www.imdb.com/board/10434292/
Working Girls
http://www.imdb.com/board/10092238/
The Piano Teacher
http://www.imdb.com/board/10254686/
More science, less fiction.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973444https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973444Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Other Realist/bleak movies on Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:39 GMT]]>Nova_UB313 — 17 years ago(January 17, 2009 12:40 PM)

Other than that All About Lily Chou-Chou
I've just ordered this, looking forward.
More science, less fiction.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973443https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973443Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Other Realist/bleak movies on Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:38 GMT]]>Nephilim-6 — 17 years ago(November 23, 2008 07:06 PM)

Shiki-Jitsu.
Other than that All About Lily Chou-Chou, Christiane F., Show Me Love, Festen, Grave Of the Fireflies, The Edukators, Bounce Ko-Gals, Nobody Knows, Der Untergang, Tokyo Sora, Su-Ki-Da, Gegen Die Wand.
Did you ever notice that people who believe in creationism look really un-evolved? - Bill Hicks

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973442https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973442Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Other Realist/bleak movies on Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:37 GMT]]>CitrusWithFuschiaTrim — 16 years ago(June 26, 2009 05:51 AM)

Yes!
Rosetta
would have been my nomination. Similar themes, and, well, the Dardenne brothers pretty much 'own' their chosen genre at present.

I suppose on a clear day you can see the class struggle from here.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973441https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973441Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Other Realist/bleak movies on Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:36 GMT]]>gucz — 17 years ago(October 22, 2008 07:01 AM)

One film that hasn't been mentioned is
Rosetta
. I liked Lilya, but Rosetta is a much more accomplished film imo. Has a similar plot (young girl trying to survive by herself - though does not tackle the same issues of Lilya) and a realistic style. The acting and directing are really great, the Dardenne brothers have a really unique style, that looks simple but takes great skill to pull off. I love it, thoroughly recommended.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973440https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973440Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Other Realist/bleak movies on Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:35 GMT]]>IMDb User

This message has been deleted.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973439https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973439Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Other Realist/bleak movies on Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:34 GMT]]>Jaye_Tyler — 17 years ago(October 09, 2008 06:58 PM)

One film this really reminded me of while watching was Kids. Very similar style and realism.
Also, I second Requiem for a Dream. A++ film.
I also second Boys Don't Cry.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973438https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973438Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Other Realist/bleak movies on Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:33 GMT]]>IMDb User

This message has been deleted.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973437https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973437Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Other Realist/bleak movies on Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:32 GMT]]>Tracey73 — 15 years ago(May 16, 2010 02:18 PM)

I'd forgotten about Holly & Trade - both are great films imo. Definitely recommended for those who liked Lilya-4Ever.
Committed at 22 just to get over you
My belly aches blue, Lorazepam flu

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973436https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1973436Mon, 04 May 2026 00:48:32 GMT