Living (2022) is a British drama film directed by Oliver Parker and starring Bill Nighy, Aimee Lou Wood, and Alex Jennings. The film is a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1952 film Ikiru. It follows Rodney Williams (Nighy), a middle-aged civil servant who is diagnosed with terminal cancer. With only a short time to live, Rodney decides to make the most of his remaining days by pursuing his dream of building a children’s playground.
If you are looking for a film that will make you think, feel, and cry, then I highly recommend Living (2022). Here are a few movies like Living (2022) you might want to check out.
1. The Bucket List (2007)
“The Bucket List” stars Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman as two terminally ill cancer patients who escape the hospital to live out their remaining days fulfilling their bucket list of dreams. It follows the characters of Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) and Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman), two very different men who share a hospital room while undergoing chemotherapy treatment for their respective cancers. As they spend time together, they realize they have much in common despite their different backgrounds.
After learning they both have less than a year to live, they decide to break out of the hospital and embark on a journey to complete their bucket lists, a list of things they want to do before they “kick the bucket.” They travel the world, skydiving, driving race cars and even visiting the Great Wall of China.
However, as they tick off items from their bucket list, their friendship deepens and they begin to reflect on their lives, their families, and the things they will leave behind. Eventually, they both come to terms with their mortality and the importance of living life to the fullest, even with its inevitable end.
2. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)
Directed by Ben Stiller, the plot follows the life of Walter Mitty, a negative assets manager for the famous Life magazine. Walter is an introverted and daydreaming person who constantly escapes into elaborate fantasies to escape his mundane reality. He harbors a crush on his coworker Cheryl (Kristen Wiig), but is too afraid to ask her out.
When a crucial negative goes missing from world-renowned photographer Sean O’Connell’s (Sean Penn) collection, Walter embarks on a journey to find it, which takes him all over the world. Along the way, he experiences breathtaking landscapes, thrilling adventures, and meets unique characters, including a drunken helicopter pilot (played by the late-great actor, James Gandolfini). As Walter’s journey progresses, he begins to gain more confidence in himself and his abilities, ultimately leading to him seizing every opportunity that presents itself. His search for the missing negative becomes a quest for self-discovery and personal transformation.
3. The Long Excuse (2016)
“The Long Excuse” is a 2016 Japanese drama film directed by Miwa Nishikawa. The film stars Masahiro Motoki as Sachio Kinugasa, a self-centered novelist, and Pistol Takehara as Yoichi Omiya, a taxi driver whose wife dies in a bus accident.
The film begins with Sachio’s wife, Natsuko (Eri Fukatsu), asking for a divorce after he admits to having an affair with a younger woman. Shortly after, Sachio learns that Yoichi’s wife has died in the bus accident and volunteers to take care of Yoichi’s children while he mourns.
As Sachio reluctantly fulfills his obligations as a father figure, he begins to examine his own life and comes to realize how self-centered he has been. He begins to develop a friendship with Yoichi, and slowly finds himself transformed by his experiences with Yoichi and the family.
4. Last Orders (2001)
“Last Orders” tells the story of four friends who embark on a journey to carry out the last orders of their deceased friend, Jack Dodds (played by Michael Caine). Jack was a working-class butcher whose dying wish was to have his ashes scattered on the seaside town of Margate. His friends Ray (Bob Hoskins), Vic (Tom Courtenay), and Lenny (David Hemmings), along with his son Vince (Ray Winstone), set out on a road trip to fulfill Jack’s final request.
Along the way, they encounter various obstacles, including unexpected detours and personal conflicts. Through flashbacks, the film gradually reveals the complex relationships between the characters, including Jack’s complicated marriage to Amy (Helen Mirren) and his estranged relationship with his son Vince.
5. The Angriest Man in Brooklyn (2014)
Directed by Phil Alden Robinson. The film stars Robin Williams as Henry Altmann, a perpetually angry and cynical man who finds out he has only 90 minutes to live due to a misdiagnosis from his doctor, played by Mila Kunis. “The Angriest Man in Brooklyn” is a touching and humorous film that tackles heavy themes of anger, regret, and mortality with sensitivity and wit.
6. Madres paralelas (2021)
“Madres paralelas” is a 2021 Spanish drama film directed by the legendary filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar. The film explores the lives of two women, Janis and Ana, who are brought together through their shared experience of motherhood. As they navigate the challenges of raising children in modern-day Spain, they form a deep bond that transcends cultural and generational barriers.
Janis, played by Penélope Cruz, is a middle-aged woman who unexpectedly becomes pregnant while her own mother is dying of cancer. Ana, played by Milena Smit, is a young girl who becomes pregnant after a one-night stand with a man she barely knows. Despite their differences in age and life experience, Janis and Ana find solace in each other’s company as they grapple with the complexities of motherhood.
The film is notable for its unflinching portrayal of the struggles faced by women in contemporary society. Almodóvar doesn’t shy away from exploring taboo topics such as abortion, sexuality, and the expectations imposed upon women by traditional gender roles. Through his distinctive blend of humor and pathos, he crafts a poignant and thought-provoking meditation on the challenges of motherhood and the resilience of women in the face of adversity.
7. Minari (2020)
Directed by Lee Isaac Chung. The film tells the story of a Korean-American family who move from California to Arkansas in search of their own “American dream”. As they attempt to start a farm and settle into their new life, they must confront the challenges of assimilation, cultural identity, and familial relationships.
“Minari” centers around Jacob, played by Steven Yeun, who dreams of becoming a successful farmer and providing a better life for his family. His wife Monica, played by Han Ye-ri, is initially skeptical of the move, longing for the familiar comforts of their former life. Together with their two young children, David and Anne, they navigate the uncertainties of their new surroundings.
“Minari” has received widespread critical acclaim, including numerous awards and nominations at various prestigious film festivals, such as the Sundance Film Festival and the Oscars. It has been praised for its authentic portrayal of the immigrant experience in America, as well as the nuanced exploration of the tensions and joys of cross-cultural relationships.