Four films, January 2025
an attempt at commitment and consistency
This year, I want to watch four films every month.
That’s right: four. But let me point out, four new films (rewatches not included). No specific genre, and I have a mental watchlist that I revisit from time to time, so it’s not impossible to find something to watch.
I thought about this while I was walking back to my hostel from an evening screening of A Real Pain, that I watched on a whim while spending the night in Bruges (Belgium) last week.
After rekindling my fascination for film when I moved to Berlin in 2022, I found that my viewing habits for the years 2023 and 2024 were too excessive and here I was, asking myself, did I have a goal to watch x amount of movies a year? Not really. In the end, I just want to discover films the same way I discover music: finding ones I love that I can always put on rotation every time I need a picker upper or to escape from life a little bit.
Also, I did the math—technically it’s one film a week, or four in a week if I wanted to do a marathon. I also want to carve out more time reading—my word of the year is balance, in many ways, this seemed apt too—maybe 2-3 books a month (atop of my already full work and life schedule, but eh, busy is a state of mind).
Here’s four films I watched in January, with a little context on where I watched, why I wanted to watch, and who I watched it with. I think these details make up for the context of whether or not I had a good viewing experience. Opinions are my own; and there may be some spoilers!
We Live in Time | ★★★
Where I watched: in my living room, on my birthday, with my laptop plugged to the big TV
Why I watched: Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh and A24
Who I watched it with: my fellow film nerd friend, Gabs
What I think: I was disappointed. Actually, Gabs and I had a really long debrief about this after the credits rolled, mostly because we couldn’t help but compare it to Past Lives. And even if the plot was entirely different, something about the shifting of timelines and supposed lack of information (i.e. you as the viewer have to be extra observant to see what timeline the scene is showing you, as it changes every now and then) left me just wanting to see how it ends.
Maybe it’s also coupled with the fact that I personally don’t want to have kids (I’d like to settle down and be with someone though) so I’m not as invested in the story. I also didn’t felt any empathy or fondness for the characters, even if I really wanted to care (even if films don’t reflect my personal values, I like to pretend I’m in their shoes). But I have to say, both actors were amazing (no notes), so that’s why it’s still 3 stars in my book.
Conclave | ★★★
Where I watched: in my airbnb in Antwerp, on my iPad Mini (I know, it was a bad idea)
Why I watched: this has been on my watchlist since the holidays and after much convincing I finally brought a copy of this (and Past Lives, I needed a palate cleanser okay) on my iPad to watch during my week off in Belgium
Who I watched it with: just me
What I think: First of all, I should have watched this on a bigger screen1 (Abbey?!?). That in itself was already the problem, because I was so distracted doing other things (messaging friends, journaling, etc.) that evening. It was also two full hours of having to follow the storyline which requires full attention, so I committed the age old crime of reading the plot summary on Wikipedia while the film is ongoing (I know, I know, I gave up!).
Either way, I also can’t unsee that this reminds me of Catholic school and I remember reading up about the papacy and how sacred it all is, and it’s such a breath of fresh air (damn, do people still use this metaphor in 2025?) to see what’s behind the curtain. Visually the film was a treat; those pops of red! The Vatican! Italy! Pasta! The tea (verbal, not herbal), though—that kept me going until the end. I wish I could watch this again on a bigger screen but I fear I am not too interested with the setting to aim for a rewatch.
A Real Pain | ★★★★
Where I watched: Cinema Lumière Brugge
Why I watched: this film finally made its way to Europe, I had nothing to do the Monday I arrived in Bruges, and it was the perfect opportunity to finally go watch this
Who I watched it with: just me
What I think: I honestly didn’t know what to think, coming into this movie. I just remember seeing the trailer a few months after Keisha and I spontaneously went to Gdańsk last summer, so I was like “ooo Poland!” and also “ooo Jesse Eisenberg!2” and it had been on my watchlist ever since.
The film revolves around the two main characters (they’re cousins) going on a heritage tour (as Jesse Eisenberg says in his interviews, tragedy tourism) to pay respect to their deceased grandmother. Apart from that, we meet a handful of characters with their own stories, set in the beautiful backdrop of Poland in the summer (the cinematography highlighting the Eastern Europe architecture was amazing). The writing was chef’s kiss (I’m not surprised the screenplay was nominated for an Oscar; I downloaded the screenplay so I can read it3) and Kieran Culkin was amazing! I’m saying this because I haven’t watched Succession so now I want to watch and see more amazing acting from him.
I loved this film; it was beautiful and painful and dark and funny and is just a mix of good and bad things and one that will linger in your thoughts after the 90 minute runtime. What is pain? How do we know it’s real? How does one perceive it? Something to think about.
Truly appreciated every single detail that was thought of in the making of this film, from the Chopin piece to the colors of their clothes and everything in between. Yes, you caught me—I’ve spent this past week watching all the Jesse Eisenberg interviews while working because I can listen to him talk all damn day (or I guess all week?!).
Perfect Days | ★★★★
Where I watched: Sara and Sander’s apartment, in their living room, with a computer monitor propped up on the coffee table while we all gathered in the couch for our evening screening
Why I watched: I had just arrived to Brussels from Bruges, and we all agreed on doing a little movie night. We couldn’t decide what to watch until Sander mentioned Perfect Days and our eyes just lit up and we instantly said YES let’s do it!
Who I watched it with: Sara and Sander
What I think: It was perfect (pun intended) to watch this film with friends who love these kinds of films. I’m saying these kinds of films here because this is a no plot, just vibes4 film and it’s very mundane (which I adore).
As we watched the credits roll on, the three of us had a collective little applause and couldn’t help but share our sentiments about this film and how it made us feel. “That was amazing,” I remember saying. What a refreshing piece of cinema, and what a life. I aspire to live that way, if I could choose to. Someday!
I could go on and on at how much this film now has a special place in my heart, so here’s what I wrote on my Letterboxd:
Huge appreciation for the mundane scenes and the everyday novelties—light shining through the trees, the slow pacing of daily life, among others—because that’s how I look at life sometimes and it feels so comforting to see it in a film.
When I reach Hirayama’s age, I, too, just want to read good books, listen to good music, and have zero screen time.
Also: his playlist is S-Tier
Overall, it was a good combination of films—nothing too heavy, nothing too stressful, and a lovely mix of genres still in my usual radar of cinema.
Not that it matters, but I watched all of these in a span of a week (I’m now curled up reading my second book of 2025) so I wanted to make sure I wasn’t overstimulated. Good start, not bad. *pats self on back*
I’m looking forward to find more films to watch as the year slowly unfolds. Leave me any recommendations in the comments—I’d love to know what’s on your radar. Let’s just say I prefer slice of life, coming of age, biopics (you best believe what’s on my four films this February)—anything thought provoking and mundane (plus points if the setting is historical or anything before the 2000s), just not much of a thriller/horror/action fan.
What films did you watch in January?
I just wanna share that I committed the same crime and watched Oppenheimer last year on the plane and that, too, was a very silly decision (but the 4D was 4D-ing with the turbulence NGL)
I’ve had the hugest crush on Jesse Eisenberg lol (something about his nerdiness + social awkwardness + him being very smart and relatable and open about his mental health) since The Social Network, and eventually loved his work even more at The End of the Tour (a very underrated film starring him and Jason Segel). Today I watched The Squid and the Whale and I have thoughts for Feb’s four films
The Internet is cool in a sense that, yes, you can download screenplays! Last year I read the Challengers screenplay and in a way I like replaying the scenes in my head (tell me you’re a visual person without telling me you’re a visual person)
This is more for books but generally for films it’s also applicable IMO. According to this website: No plot, just vibes (books, or in this case, films) focus on creating character driven narratives wrapped up in a light plot. Character insight and complex emotions are centred to create perfect reading vibes.
I love these mini-reviews! I am not a big movie buff, but my husband watches a movie almost every day, so I'm always looking for ones I might actually watch with him. This month we watched An American in Paris & Nickel Boys, and I enjoyed both.