Minimalist film is related to the art and philosophy of minimalism with films.
Background In film, minimalism usually is associated with filmmakers such as Robert Bresson, Chantal Akerman, Carl Theodor Dreyer, and Yasujirō Ozu. Their films typically tell a simple story with straightforward camera usage and minimal use of score. Paul Schrader named their kind of cinema: "transcendental cinema".
Currently a commitment to minimalist filmmaking can be seen in film movements such as Dogme 95, mumblecore, and the Romanian New Wave. Abbas Kiarostami, Elia Suleiman, and Kelly Reichardt are also considered minimalist filmmakers.
Notable filmmakers
This type of film includes the works of directors like:
List of notable minimalist films
1920-1949 Year Film Director1928The Passion of Joan of Arc10 Great Minimalist Films That Are Worth Your Time - Taste of Cinema - Page 2 - Taste of CinemaCarl Theodor Dreyer1940DotsNorman McLaren1946PaisanPaisan (1946) - filmsite.orgRoberto Rossellini1948RopeBest Minimalist Movies|12 Top Minimalism Films Ever - CinemaholicAlfred Hitchcock1949I Shot Jesse JamesThe Crimson Kimono - Trailers From HellSamuel Fuller1949Begone Dull CareBegone Dull Care – Senses of CinemaEvelyn Lambart and Norman McLaren
1950-1959 Year Film Director1951Gerald McBoing Boing100 Greatest Animated Shorts / Gerald McBoing Boing / Robert Cannon - Skwigly Animation MagazineRobert Cannon1953Monsieur Hulot's HolidayMonsieur Hulot's Holiday (1953) - filmsite.orgJacques TatiThe Tell Tale HeartWhen Magoo Flew - Google Books (pg.106)Ted ParmeleeTokyo StoryAn exploration of foreign films: Unique cinematography and minimalist themes distinguish 'Tokyo Story'|The Stanford DailyYasujirō Ozu1954Billy BoyTex Avery Screwball Classics Volume 3 - Trailers From HellTex Avery1955The Big ComboThe Naked Prey - Trailers From HellJoseph H. LewisOrdetReview|This '50s Danish flick will keep you on your toes - The Crimson WhiteCarl Theodore Dreyer1956A Man EscapedRobert BressonThe Red BalloonThe Red Balloon (1956, Fr.) (aka Le Ballon Rouge) - filmsite.orgAlbert Lamorisse195712 Angry Men10 Great Minimalist Films That Are Worth Your Time - Taste of Cinema - Page 2 - Taste of CinemaSidney Lumet1958Elevator to the GallowsElevator to the Gallows - Criterion Collection - IGNLouis MalleShadowsJohn Cassavetes1959Plan 9 from Outer SpaceIs this the worst film ever made? - BBC CultureEd WoodPickpocketRobert Bresson
1960-1969 Year Film Director1961The Do-It-Yourself Cartoon KitUnderstanding Animation – Google Books (pg.245)Bob GodfreySurogatVisitors from the Arkana Galaxy - Trailers from HellDušan Vukotić1962An Autumn AfternoonYasujiro Ozu: like Austen, he tells the same satisfying story again and again|Movies|The GuardianYasujirō OzuEegahEegah - Trailers From HellArch Hall Sr.1963Winter Light10 Great Movies Featuring Minimalist Storytelling - Taste of CinemaIngmar Bergman1964Diamonds of the NightDiamonds of the Night (1964) - filmsite.orgJan NěmecFail SafeFail Safe - Trailers From HellSidney LumetThe Pink PhinkThe Pink Panther: A Complete History – Google Books (pg.46)Friz FrelengRed DesertIndustrial Arts: Michelangelo Antonioni's Red Desert and Minimalism and Land Art - National Gallery of ArtMichelangelo Antonioni1966Au hasard BalthazarBest Minimalist Movies|12 Top Minimalism Films Ever - Cinemaholic Robert Bresson1967Mouchette10 Great Minimalist Films That Are Worth Your Time - Taste of CinemaWavelengthThe Complete Works of Influential Experimental Filmmaker Michael Snow Come to New York - HyperallergicArtist of the week 20: Michael Snow|Culture|The GuardianMichael Snow1968The FlyAnimafest Zagreb's Reanimation of Aleksandar Marks (GoCritic! Review)|Zippy FramesVladimir Jutrisa and Aleksandar Marks2001: A Space OdysseyEvery Stanley Kubrick Movie, Ranked By Rewatchability - Screen RantStanley KubrickSurface TensionIn Hollis Frampton's 'Surface Tension', a Stroll Through 1968 New York, in 160 Seconds - The New York TimesHollis Frampton1969Bambi Meets GodzillaSpike & Mike's Animation Fest Is Back - The Santa Barbara Independent Marv NewlandLemonScott MacDonald on Hollis Frampton - Artfourm InternationalHollis Frampton
1970-1979 Year Film Director1970Serene VelocityErnie Gehr's 'Serene Velocity', 'The Red Shoes', 'Dog House' and more: Beyond the Multiplex - oregonlive.comErnie Gehr1971DuelDuel at 50: Steven Spielberg's debut remains a ferocious thriller|Steven Spielberg|The GuardianSteven SpielbergTwo-Lane BlacktopBrief Descriptions and Expanded Essays of Titles at National Film RegistryMonte Hellman1972Silent Running20 Minimalist Movies Which Redefined Film-Making - StorypickDouglas Trumbull1973Fantastic PlanetFantastic Planet - Trailers From HellRene Laloux1974The ConversationThe 1970s – The Best Era In Cinema History?Francis Ford CoppolaDark StarJohn CarpenterSisyphusEXCLUSIVE: WATCH A RESTORED CULT ANIMATED SHORT FROM MARCELL JANKOVICS|Austin Film Society10 Best Movies About Philosophy, Ranked - Screen RantMarcell Jankovics1975Grey GardensGrey Gardens: Honest, Minimalist Cinema - The Cornell Daily SunAlbert and David MayslesHedgehog in the Fog«Ежик в тумане» и «Длинный мост в нужную сторону» как русский постмодернизм в мультипликацииYuri NorsteinJeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 BruxellesBest Minimalist Movies|12 Top Minimalism Films Ever - CinemaholicChantal Akerman1976Assault on Precinct 13Assault on Precinct 13 — John Carpenter|In Review OnlineJohn CarpenterTaxi DriverThe 10 Most Cinematic Movies With Minimalist Plot — Page 2 — Taste of CinemaMartin Scorsese1977DavidPaul DriessenSuspiria10 Great Minimalist Films That Are Worth Your Time - Taste of Cinema - Page 2 - Taste of CinemaDario ArgentoMiminoSound and Space: ECM Records and BeyondGeorgiy Daneliya1978Days of HeavenA Century of Inspiration - The American CinematographerTerrence MalickThe DriverDRIVER, THE (4K UHD REVIEW) - The Digital BitsWalter HillHalloweenJohn Carpenter1979Mad Max10 Movies That Did Wonders With a Budget of Under $1 Million|ColliderGeorge Miller
1980-1989 Year Film Director1981My Dinner with AndreRepast is prologue - Los Angeles TimesLouis Malle1982Liquid SkyAndrogyny and aliens in eighties cult film 'Liquid Sky' on Amazon Prime Video - Stream On DemandSlava Tsukerman1983Koyaanisqatsi'Koyaanisqatsi' renews emotion in minimalist film - Deseret NewsGodfrey Reggio1984CharadeCharade: Lessons in Creative Vision from a 1984 College Student - The AtlanticJon MinnisSecret Honor20 Minimalist Movies Which Redefined Film-Making - StorypickRobert AltmanStop Making Sense39 Years Later, Gen-Z Is Making One Perfect Rock Movie Into A Smash Hit - FatherlyJonathan DemmeStranger Than Paradise10 Great Movies Featuring Minimalist Storytelling - Taste of CinemaJim Jarmusch1986Down by Law10 Great Minimalist Films That Are Worth Your Time - Taste of CinemaJim JarmuschLuxo Jr.Luxo Jr. Pencil Test: Emotional storytelling in wire frames|The Kids Should See ThisJohn LasseterKin-dza-dza!The 100 Best Sci-Fi Movies of All Time - Slant MagazineGeorgiy Daneliya1987Full Metal JacketEvery Stanley Kubrick Movie, Ranked By Rewatchability - Screen RantStanley KubrickSwimming to CambodiaJonathan Demme1988Alice10 Great Minimalist Films That Are Worth Your Time - Taste of Cinema - Page 2 - Taste of CinemaJan SvankmajerIt's Impossible to Learn to Plow by Reading BooksThe Cinema of Richard Linklater - Google Books (pg.20)Richard Linklater1989Leningrad Cowboys Go America10 Essential Aki Kaurismaki Films - High On FilmsAki KaurismakiThe Seventh ContinentBest Minimalist Movies|12 Top Minimalism Films Ever - CinemaholicMichael Haneke
1990-1999 Year Film Director1990The Match Factory Girl10 Essential Aki Kaurismaki Films - High On FilmsAki KaurismäkiMetropolitanWhit Stillman In Person - MetrographWhit Stillman1993BlueDerek Jarman1994Chungking ExpressThe 10 Most Cinematic Movies With Minimalist Plot — Taste of CinemaWong Kar-waiClerksClerks: 10 Ways It Established Kevin Smith's Style|ScreenRantKevin Smith1995Before SunriseBest Minimalist Movies|12 Top Minimalism Films Ever - Cinemaholic Richard LinklaterSafeSafe: Nowhere to Hide|Current|The Criterion Collection"It's a Pretty Unambiguous Condemnation of a New Age Answer to Life's Problems": Writer/Director Todd Haynes on Safe|Filmmaker MagazineTodd Haynes1997GattacaLook of the Week: the sleek futuristic minimalism of Gattaca|SYFY WIREAndrew NiccolLittle Dieter Needs to FlyMinimalism Takes Flight : Hyperallergic Werner HerzogA Taste of CherryTASTE OF CHERRY|Cleveland Institute of Art Abbas Kiarostami1998Festen Thomas Vinterberg1999American BeautySam MendesThe Blair Witch ProjectDaniel Myrick and Eduardo SánchezThe Wind Will Carry UsBest Minimalist Movies|12 Top Minimalism Films Ever - CinemaholicAbbas Kiarostami
2000-2009 Year Film Director2000Cast Away20 Minimalist Movies Which Redefined Film-Making - StorypickRobert ZemeckisGeorge WashingtonDavid Gordon GreenIn the Mood for Love10 Great Movies Featuring Minimalist Storytelling - Taste of CinemaWong Kar-wai2001Y tu mamá tambiénThe 10 Most Cinematic Movies With Minimalist Plot — Page 2 — Taste of CinemaAlfonso CuarónTape20 Minimalist Movies Which Redefined Film-Making - StorypickRichard Linklater2002GerryGerry|NW Film Center Gus van SantTenAbbas Kiarostami: sophisticated, self-possessed master of cinematic poetry|Abbas Kiarostami|The GuardianAbbas Kiarostami2003DogvilleLars von TrierOpen Water10 Minimalist Horror Movies|The Young FolksChris KentisThe Triplets of BellevilleWhen Comedy Films Are Scary - arts, ink.Sylvain Chomet2004Before SunsetBest Minimalist Movies|12 Top Minimalism Films Ever - CinemaholicRichard Linklater2005BrickBrick: How Rian Johnson Used Film Noir to Depict High School - MovieWebRian JohnsonThe Death of Mr. LazarescuCristi PuiuHard Candy20 Minimalist Movies Which Redefined Film-Making - StorypickDavid Slade2006Old JoyA Brief Introduction to the Remarkable Films of Kelly Reichardt|AnOther MagazineKelly ReichardtElectromaDaft Punk2007I'm Not ThereTodd Haynes's Out-of-Time City Symphony "Wonderstruck" Lives Up to Its Name - The Village VoiceTodd HaynesOnceBest Minimalist Movies|12 Top Minimalism Films Ever - CinemaholicJohn Carney2008BagheadBaghead - CINEMABLENDBaghead - PasteJay and Mark DuplassWALL-E10 Films That Prove That Silence Is Golden|ColliderAndrew StantonWendy and LucyA Brief Introduction to the Remarkable Films of Kelly Reichardt|AnOther MagazineKelly Reichardt2009Moon20 Minimalist Movies Which Redefined Film-Making - StorypickDuncan Jones
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