Slice of life film suggestions / request

[mgray]

Hello friends,

I have asked this in a few specific threads, but I'm hoping by making a more general topic request I might find some more suggestions.

The number one type of film I've come to love finding here on the FLM forums are what I consider to be "slice of life" films which my personal definition would be:

-no villain, or a relatively benign villain that isn't the focus
-relatively low stakes plot
-an easy pace with the focus on the day to day life of the main character
-primarily told from the POV of a child main character. This is maybe isn't strictly slice of life, but more of a personal preference thing.

I could probably live with one or so of these not being filled, but I would greatly appreciate any recommendations that hit close.

My personal favorite examples, so far:

-Iris (2011) viewtopic.php?t=8323 2011 --> Story of Iris, a girl whose mom leaves her with her rural islander uncle while the mom travels to Paris. Much to Iris's dismay. Iris has spent her time growing up around mostly adults and living lavishly in the artsy crowds, not socializing enough with other children her own age, so it's a fish out of water story, but it does somewhat subvert expectations, in the fact that Iris acclimates pretty quickly and actively makes effort to make the best of her situation rather than hating it at first and slowly adjusting.

-The Secret Garden (1975) viewtopic.php?t=3113 ---> Story of Mary lennox going to live with her shut in, anti social uncle in North Yorkshire, England where she inherits a neglected overgrown garden, she then learns to love gardening, and in general brings life back to Misselthwaite manor. Also, sort of a fish out of water story, but sort of in reverse as it's more about Mary altering her worldview and the world around her rather than adjusting to the way things are. I choose the 1975 BBC version as it's the most book accurate and Mrs Medlock is incredibly exaggerated in the 93 version thus slightly breaking my villain rule(it's still my favorite, though.)

- Wilden Hühner, Die (2005) viewtopic.php?t=1836 to quote the thread:

The "Wild Chicks" are five girls aged between 11 and 12 who live on the edge of a city in North Germany and are inseparable best friends.

It's about a handful of prepubescent german girls trying to save some chickens from the butcher's block. What's not to love? The closest US equivalent, I think, would be those old Disney channel tv shows like Lizzie McGuire(I realize that's pretty out of date, but that's the one I remember seeing on a lot when I was younger.) Def fits the slice of life parameters I mentioned and feels a bit less childish than those Disney shows.

Obviously my overall favorite example is the Madicken tv series and films. I don't need to gush about that as I've already said endless amounts about it, and I obviously know it exists since it's my pfp, and of course the Bullerbyn films are quintessential examples slice of life films in that it's very literally just scenes of kids' day to day lives in their village with very little narrative structure.

disclaimer: I realize there is a pretty big overlap with coming of age stories, and while I do think there is a distinction, I will happily take those suggestions too if they mostly hit my parameters above.

[Night457]

Katie Morag

https://www.first-loves.com/forums/view ... hp?t=15000

TV series that fulfills all your requirements.

Read the entire thread before you download anything, there are only a few posts ...

[mgray]

Thanks Night i actually remember looking at that thread with interest, but at some point I forgot about it. That def sounds like what I'm looking for. Maybe I need to make a spreadsheet of titles im interested in as I come across them

[Night457]

Spreadsheet? Just start downloading! You don't have to download everything all at once, just enough to try something if it is a series. If you like it, you will remember to download more.

Or you could put Post It notes on your computer.

[mgray]

What annoys me is I'd download something and it would sit in my DL folder for 6months to a year unless it REALLY piqued my interest. I think I'd had Die Wilden Huhner for close to that long and then I finally watched it and realized I loved it. Obviously, I know there's nothing you can do about my own scatterbrain problems so I guess I'm just venting.

[Night457]

Hmmm, this might explain why *I* am so annoyed so often ... Only ONE year?

Have you gone on to the other Wild Hens movies?

[mgray]

Not yet. Did you? Do you recommend them? I am a little sad that Mel, the tall blonde, is recast in the third film.

[Night457]

Sequels are almost never quite as good but I enjoyed them. The 2nd is better than the 3rd.

[mgray]

Felt bad for not mentioning Hugo och Josephine as it is another favorite I have found here and watched quite a few times. I especially like the final scene of the film and the story Gudmarson tells to the children. Very touching.


[Image]
Hugo & Josephine take a selfie together, how sweet <3

Roger Ebert actually has a nice review of the film:

Dinner is served: hard-boiled eggs. He puts a whole one in his mouth. So does Hugo. Then Josefin does, and the way she breaks into giggles with a whole hard-boiled egg in her mouth is worth perhaps six dozen hours of the summer's Hollywood releases. Then dusk falls, and the gardener lights an oil lamp. There they all are in the middle of the empty country road, and there we are, confronted with the way a movie can win our hearts.

Edit: I've started watching Katie Morag, very cute so far!

[mgray]

I was watching clips of the Brady Bunch the other day. It's a good bit before my time, but dang, Jan was very adorable in the early series. All 3 of the girls were, really, but Jan is def my favorite. It was always a "if absolutely nothing else is on" type of show, but now that I'm older I can kind of appreciate what they were going for with the good old family values themes.

janbrady2000.png

The website I snagged this from was making fun of her outfit, but I think it is cute.