MUBI is a streaming service that I’ve always been very curious about. A catalogue filled with curated indie films that get switched out every now and then? Sign me up! Initially, I thought MUBI wasn’t available in Indonesia—just like Hulu—but it turns out some of my friends have subscribed to the service. And when I stumbled upon the promo on their digital ads a month ago, I was hooked and decided to try subscribing. From then on I was determined to watch as many films as I can—and this is a review of those films I’ve watched.
A little summary: I watched a total of 21 films in the last month or so—16 I actually finished and 5 I didn’t. There are various reasons for me not finishing these films, but mostly because I do not find the story any good—slow pace I can usually take, but stories that do not make sense are hard noes. Among these five, I would say Upstream Color and The Falling—despite starring big names like Florence Pugh and Maisie Williams—are the ones I couldn’t stand the most. Meanwhile, out of the 16 I did finish, here are the top 10 that I enjoy, divided into various categories.
MUBI is a streaming service that I’ve always been very curious about. A catalogue filled with curated indie films that get switched out every now and then? Sign me up! Initially, I thought MUBI wasn’t available in Indonesia—just like Hulu—but it turns out some of my friends have subscribed to the service. And when I stumbled upon the promo on their digital ads a month ago, I was hooked and decided to try subscribing. From then on I was determined to watch as many films as I can—and this is a review of those films I’ve watched.
A little summary: I watched a total of 21 films in the last month or so—16 I actually finished and 5 I didn’t. There are various reasons for me not finishing these films, but mostly because I do not find the story any good—slow pace I can usually take, but stories that do not make sense are hard noes. Among these five, I would say Upstream Color and The Falling—despite starring big names like Florence Pugh and Maisie Williams—are the ones I couldn’t stand the most. Meanwhile, out of the 16 I did finish, here are the top 10 that I enjoy, divided into various categories.
Favourite Indie Darlings
Films so captivating that I wish they'd last forever
The Lunchbox
dir. Ritesh Batra
There is a cultural element in modern day India, where people who work at offices can get lunch delivered to them through a courier system—either from a catering service or from their wives at home. It is a low-technology system that has worked so well for decades, utilising manpower and the public transport for the most part—including train—and it has proven to be foolproof. But what if it isn’t? What happens if it makes a grave error in its delivery?
The story follows a wife who cooks lunch to be delivered to her husband…but it turns out to be delivered to the wrong man. While she and the recipient soon realise the mistake, neither of them does anything to correct it and form a bond instead. They start to confide in each other about their life and hardship, until they grow to care for one another.
The Lunchbox
dir. Ritesh Batra
There is a cultural element in modern day India, where people who work at offices can get lunch delivered to them through a courier system—either from a catering service or from their wives at home. It is a low-technology system that has worked so well for decades, utilising manpower and the public transport for the most part—including train—and it has proven to be foolproof. But what if it isn’t? What happens if it makes a grave error in its delivery?
The story follows a wife who cooks lunch to be delivered to her husband…but it turns out to be delivered to the wrong man. While she and the recipient soon realise the mistake, neither of them does anything to correct it and form a bond instead. They start to confide in each other about their life and hardship, until they grow to care for one another.
Chungking Express
dir. Wong Kar Wai
For years, Agung and some of my friends have tried to make me watch this film, but—despite being interested—somehow I just never did. Once I got MUBI, I finally did it and I absolutely love it! This was my second Wong Kar Wai film—the first one being In the Mood for Love which I also watched on MUBI—but this one is my favourite so far.
The film is basically divided into two love stories. The first one tells the story of a man who meets a strange woman involved in a criminal activity gone wrong—and falls in love with her. The second one follows the romance between a young woman working at a deli and a police officer who just broke up with his stewardess girlfriend. It was so gripping, it’s giving me butterflies!
Chungking Express
dir. Wong Kar Wai
For years, Agung and some of my friends have tried to make me watch this film, but—despite being interested—somehow I just never did. Once I got MUBI, I finally did it and I absolutely love it! This was my second Wong Kar Wai film—the first one being In the Mood for Love which I also watched on MUBI—but this one is my favourite so far.
The film is basically divided into two love stories. The first one tells the story of a man who meets a strange woman involved in a criminal activity gone wrong—and falls in love with her. The second one follows the romance between a young woman working at a deli and a police officer who just broke up with his stewardess girlfriend. It was so gripping, it’s giving me butterflies!
Reprise
dir. Joachim Trier
It all starts when I stumbled upon Oslo, August 31st that will be taken off MUBI in 6 days. When I saw that it was directed by Joachim Trier, the man behind The Worst Person in the World, I just had to watch it before it goes away. Well, it turns out these three films form what is called the “Oslo Trilogy”—with Reprise being the first prequel. While I have no prior experience with Joachim Trier’s works, I was not disappointed. Reprise offers a storytelling that transcends time—utilising a lot of flashbacks, what-if scenarios and tidbits from the present in no chronological order. The editing and visual style oozes a certain 90s punk aesthetics to the film that depicts the characters’ struggles very well—not to mention the rockin’ songs of choice.
An epic story of friendship and finding oneself, the story follows best friends Erik and Phillip who both aspire to become authors. When Phillip’s book gets published, he soon gains national attention—yet things start to go downhill when he harms himself and ends up getting admitted to a mental hospital. The doctors say that his psychosis is triggered by his obsessive romance with his girlfriend Kari—and they advise her to stay away. Meanwhile, Erik keeps writing manuscript after manuscript in the hope of also getting published, as he takes care of Phillip following his release from the hospital. When he finally does, though, it is not everything he thought it would be and he is forced to face his chaotic reality.
Reprise
dir. Joachim Trier
It all starts when I stumbled upon Oslo, August 31st that will be taken off MUBI in 6 days. When I saw that it was directed by Joachim Trier, the man behind The Worst Person in the World, I just had to watch it before it goes away. Well, it turns out these three films form what is called the “Oslo Trilogy”—with Reprise being the first prequel. While I have no prior experience with Joachim Trier’s works, I was not disappointed. Reprise offers a storytelling that transcends time—utilising a lot of flashbacks, what-if scenarios and tidbits from the present in no chronological order. The editing and visual style oozes a certain 90s punk aesthetics to the film that depicts the characters’ struggles very well—not to mention the rockin’ songs of choice.
An epic story of friendship and finding oneself, the story follows best friends Erik and Phillip who both aspire to become authors. When Phillip’s book gets published, he soon gains national attention—yet things start to go downhill when he harms himself and ends up getting admitted to a mental hospital. The doctors say that his psychosis is triggered by his obsessive romance with his girlfriend Kari—and they advise her to stay away. Meanwhile, Erik keeps writing manuscript after manuscript in the hope of also getting published, as he takes care of Phillip following his release from the hospital. When he finally does, though, it is not everything he thought it would be and he is forced to face his chaotic reality.
Disturbing yet Fascinating
Films so unsettling yet profound you can't look away
Mysterious Skin
dir. Gregg Araki
Okay, before anything else, this film definitely requires trigger warning: it deals heavily and exclusively with sexual abuse—on a minor, for that matter. I kid you not, this film was really hard to watch. The flow and editing are really well done. Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s performance is spectacular—I didn’t know he could play someone so…disturbed, at such a young age. And the story feels so believable and grasping—which is why it is so hard to watch.
It tells the story of Brian who went missing for 5 hours when he was 8 years old, which led him to believe he was abducted by aliens. In the same town, another boy named Neil formed an inappropriate bond with his little league coach at around the same age. When they have both grown up, they realise that they share something that changes the way they perceive the world forever.
Mysterious Skin
dir. Gregg Araki
Okay, before anything else, this film definitely requires trigger warning: it deals heavily and exclusively with sexual abuse—on a minor, for that matter. I kid you not, this film was really hard to watch. The flow and editing are really well done. Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s performance is spectacular—I didn’t know he could play someone so…disturbed, at such a young age. And the story feels so believable and grasping—which is why it is so hard to watch.
It tells the story of Brian who went missing for 5 hours when he was 8 years old, which led him to believe he was abducted by aliens. In the same town, another boy named Neil formed an inappropriate bond with his little league coach at around the same age. When they have both grown up, they realise that they share something that changes the way they perceive the world forever.
Dogtooth
dir. Yorgos Lanthimos
When I found out that some of Yorgos Lanthimos’s films are available on MUBI, I was so excited. I have previously only watched one other film by him—The Lobster—and I enjoyed it very much. Knowing that, Agung recommended this film to me. However, I wasn’t ready for the level of disturbance from watching this film. Trigger warning: this film contains some incestuous acts and violence.
Ultimately, the story is a depiction of what it would be like when parents are determined to control every part of their children’s lives and refuse to let them get out of the house to grow up amongst society—but taken to a complete extreme. It follows the life of three siblings—two sisters and one brother—and their controlling parents at home. The siblings are often fed false information by their parents to keep them from learning certain things, leading them to experiment on their own beyond what is appropriate or safe.
Dogtooth
dir. Yorgos Lanthimos
When I found out that some of Yorgos Lanthimos’s films are available on MUBI, I was so excited. I have previously only watched one other film by him—The Lobster—and I enjoyed it very much. Knowing that, Agung recommended this film to me. However, I wasn’t ready for the level of disturbance from watching this film. Trigger warning: this film contains some incestuous acts and violence.
Ultimately, the story is a depiction of what it would be like when parents are determined to control every part of their children’s lives and refuse to let them get out of the house to grow up amongst society—but taken to a complete extreme. It follows the life of three siblings—two sisters and one brother—and their controlling parents at home. The siblings are often fed false information by their parents to keep them from learning certain things, leading them to experiment on their own beyond what is appropriate or safe.
Short but Sweet
Films so unique they're best told briefly
Becoming Male in the Middle Ages
dir. Pedro Neves Marques
Visually and style-wise, this film reminds me a lot of Scenes from a Marriage by Ingmar Bergman. The cinematography is so appealing. Each frame looks really aesthetically pleasing and evokes such emotions within me, yet the editing is more on the snappy side—the contrast feels almost comedic.
The film follows two couples who are trying for a baby—one couple is heterosexual, while the other one is gay. The heterosexual couple struggle with infertility issues, while the gay couple strive for natural pregnancy through hormone therapy. From the point of view of the woman, we get to see how modern couples explore the biological process of building a family today through the blurred line between the natural and the artificial.
All the Crows in the World
dir. Tang Yi
What an aesthetics! This film offers a visual that is truly unique—which lies somewhere between Wes Anderson and Edgar Wright. The visual comedy and snappy editing are so on point, it hooks me from the start. The story itself is undoubtedly quirky and it definitely went to places that I didn’t expect it to go. Although, I guess, trigger warning: there’s a scene with strobe lights—which I personally didn’t enjoy.
The story starts when Shengnan was called by her cousin to join her at a mysterious party with a bunch of (creepy) salarymen. Apparently, Shengnan’s presence brings good luck to the group. Shengnan feels very self-conscious about being around such men, especially since they are well aware of her sex appeal. Things only get wilder as they proceed to a host club for the men to pick up girls.
NIMIC
dir. Yorgos Lanthimos
While Dogtooth was traumatising, Yorgos Lanthimos really offers an interesting storytelling style through this short film. He has always been amazing at mixing cozy visuals with unsettling audio and camera works that make everything feel a little off. Although the film is short, you can clearly see Daphne Patakia’s chilling performance.
Matt Dillon plays a father and cellist who goes through the street of New York to get to work at the city orchestra—I guess it’s supposed to be the Philharmonic? On the subway, he encounters a stranger who asks him about the time. And just like that, the stranger becomes him and follows him home.
I don’t know what I expected from this film when I started to watch it, but it quickly became an unsettling psychological horror.
Hidden Gems
Films so valuable you can't miss out on them
The Scent of Green Papaya
dir. Trần Anh Hùng
This is the first Vietnamese film I’ve ever watched, so I didn’t know what to expect—but I ended up enjoying it. I’m not sure if it’s visually or just the similar setting, but the whole vibe just reminds me a lot of A Brighter Summer Day—which, as you know, is my all-time favourite film. Truth be told, the story starts out well, but goes downhill midway. The visual, however, is impeccable and uses details that may create a double meaning to the plot.
The story starts one night in the 1950s with the arrival of a 10-year-old girl at an affluent home, where she will start work as a servant. As she adapts to life as a servant and grows fond of the family, the girl bears witness to a number of conflicts the family has had to endure over the years. When she comes of age, the girl ends up leaving to work for a pianist she has admired since she was young.
The Scent of Green Papaya
dir. Trần Anh Hùng
This is the first Vietnamese film I’ve ever watched, so I didn’t know what to expect—but I ended up enjoying it. I’m not sure if it’s visually or just the similar setting, but the whole vibe just reminds me a lot of A Brighter Summer Day—which, as you know, is my all-time favourite film. Truth be told, the story starts out well, but goes downhill midway. The visual, however, is impeccable and uses details that may create a double meaning to the plot.
The story starts one night in the 1950s with the arrival of a 10-year-old girl at an affluent home, where she will start work as a servant. As she adapts to life as a servant and grows fond of the family, the girl bears witness to a number of conflicts the family has had to endure over the years. When she comes of age, the girl ends up leaving to work for a pianist she has admired since she was young.
Actual People
dir. Kit Zauhar
For a low-budget production, this film is actually rather good. Obviously, with a film of such small caliber, a lot of people may have varying opinions of it—but I personally enjoyed it immensely. Written, directed and starring the same woman, this film manages to encompass the middle-class female experience—specifically the Gen Z experience—fresh out of college. The cast is so diverse— dominated mainly by Asians—and consisting of amateurs and/or actors with minimal experience. Not going to lie: some of their performances may be subpar at best, but it just strengthens the indie vibe of the entire aesthetics. Personally, I could relate so well to the raw emotions being depicted throughout the story—and I believe that every woman can take something away from this film.
We follow the life of Riley, a Philosophy student at the local college who is about to graduate soon—and she is scared shitless of what comes next, especially since she just recently broke up with her long-term boyfriend. To distract herself from her heartbreak and thinking about the future, Riley goes to parties with her friends—where she meets a guy and hooks up with him. But, apparently, that only creates more conflict and issues in her life. Slowly but surely, we get to see just how self-destructive Riley’s coping mechanism is. Before long, she would have to face her reality and turn over a new leaf if she’s going to graduate.
When I started on this quest to watch as many indie films on MUBI as possible—aiming for at least 30 feature films—I didn’t factor in the fact that indie films tend to be heavier in nature. They tend to portray raw emotions and vulnerability in people that may not always be easy to watch—heck, a lot of films on this list was pretty hard to watch. As someone who tends to look for films as a stress relief after a long day at work, witnessing all those raw emotions and heartwrenching experiences may not be the best option. So, usually, I would opt for a comedy series on Netflix instead of tuning into MUBI.
That being said, I’m very, very happy with the selection of films available on MUBI. The diverse options of directors and stories open me up to a whole new world. Finally, I got the chance to watch films from directors I’ve only ever admired from afar—such as Wong Kar Wai and Yorgos Lanthimos—and legally too! On top of that, MUBI accommodates the cinephile community by adding engaging features, such as reviews, articles and lists. It’s almost like Letterboxd meets HBO Max—only so much better! The only thing that I’d improve upon is their UX design—specifically in displaying the whole library. I feel like a lot of the films actually available to watch on MUBI are hidden and slip through the cracks. Although, I guess, that’s part of the fun.
Are you subscribed to MUBI?
Recommend me the next indie film to watch!
Actual People
dir. Kit Zauhar
For a low-budget production, this film is actually rather good. Obviously, with a film of such small caliber, a lot of people may have varying opinions of it—but I personally enjoyed it immensely. Written, directed and starring the same woman, this film manages to encompass the middle-class female experience—specifically the Gen Z experience—fresh out of college. The cast is so diverse— dominated mainly by Asians—and consisting of amateurs and/or actors with minimal experience. Not going to lie: some of their performances may be subpar at best, but it just strengthens the indie vibe of the entire aesthetics. Personally, I could relate so well to the raw emotions being depicted throughout the story—and I believe that every woman can take something away from this film.
We follow the life of Riley, a Philosophy student at the local college who is about to graduate soon—and she is scared shitless of what comes next, especially since she just recently broke up with her long-term boyfriend. To distract herself from her heartbreak and thinking about the future, Riley goes to parties with her friends—where she meets a guy and hooks up with him. But, apparently, that only creates more conflict and issues in her life. Slowly but surely, we get to see just how self-destructive Riley’s coping mechanism is. Before long, she would have to face her reality and turn over a new leaf if she’s going to graduate.
When I started on this quest to watch as many indie films on MUBI as possible—aiming for at least 30 feature films—I didn’t factor in the fact that indie films tend to be heavier in nature. They tend to portray raw emotions and vulnerability in people that may not always be easy to watch—heck, a lot of films on this list was pretty hard to watch. As someone who tends to look for films as a stress relief after a long day at work, witnessing all those raw emotions and heartwrenching experiences may not be the best option. So, usually, I would opt for a comedy series on Netflix instead of tuning into MUBI.
That being said, I’m very, very happy with the selection of films available on MUBI. The diverse options of directors and stories open me up to a whole new world. Finally, I got the chance to watch films from directors I’ve only ever admired from afar—such as Wong Kar Wai and Yorgos Lanthimos—and legally too! On top of that, MUBI accommodates the cinephile community by adding engaging features, such as reviews, articles and lists. It’s almost like Letterboxd meets HBO Max—only so much better! The only thing that I’d improve upon is their UX design—specifically in displaying the whole library. I feel like a lot of the films actually available to watch on MUBI are hidden and slip through the cracks. Although, I guess, that’s part of the fun.
Are you subscribed to MUBI?
Recommend me the next indie film to watch!