Five Favorite Winter Films

It’s cold, it’s wet. The sun sets earlier and earlier, whether the snow has fallen yet or not. Unless you enjoy winter sports, there’s very little reason to go outside unless absolutely necessary. Hibernation doesn’t only have to be for woodland creatures, and Winter is the best time to take on those longer films that may have been delayed to the bottom of your list. Here are a few suggestions for burrowing into the warm darkness.

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Amadeus (1984)

Starting out strong, Amadeus is my favorite film. Full stop. Its sumptuous scenery and multi-layered costuming is as chilling as its high drama, filmed in what is now the Czech Republic to represent eighteenth century Vienna at the height and decline of W.A. Mozart’s career. Although there is some debate amongst devotees, I recommend the Director’s Cut instead of the Theatrical. At three hours, the viewer receives a more comprehensive understanding of the characters’ interior struggles and strained interactions. Plus, each scene is so lush there is no reason “any educated [person]” wouldn’t want more of this film. I could go on, but we don’t have all Winter.

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The Red Shoes(1948)/Black Swan (2010)

Perfect for a double feature during a snowstorm, each of these compelling, gorgeous films are journeys within themselves. Following the crushing pressure faced by two prima ballerinas who just want to dance, each of their stories are told in distinct ways that prioritise the female perspective despite being directed by three renowned male directors. If you’ve already seen The Nutcracker this season, didn’t buy tickets in time, or have quite frankly seen it enough, these will also satisfy your ballet craving. 

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The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Set in the alpine region of a fictional central European country, The Grand Budapest Hotel has all of the harsh opulence one would expect from a film heavily influenced by Stephan Zweig and his writing. Like most of Wes Anderson’s films, its symmetrical lightness belies a nasty mess concealed by his directorial Air de Panache. However, like most colognes, even the brightest color schemes fade. As its exquisite main character Gustav H. says, “There are still faint glimmers of civilization left in this barbaric slaughterhouse that was once known as humanity.” All we can do is try.

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Phantom Thread (2017)

This is not a film about fashion. It’s about the balance of power between a famous, fussy couturier and his cunning, live-in muse. Set during the 1950s, Phantom Thread will nonetheless delight any clothing lover with its painstaking depiction of what it takes to create such a level of garments. With clipped, piercing dialogue, some of the best scenes in this film are almost silent, carried by brilliant performances fueled by desire. The question Phantom Thread asks the viewer is, the desire for what?

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Oliver! (1968)

Acting as a palette cleanser to this somber list, Oliver! is a favorite household musical with rousing songs and excellent dance numbers. Because my basic brain associates anything Dickensian with Christmas, this film acts as an extension to any and every version of A Christmas Carol that you may prefer. Musicals of this scale are rarely produced anymore, and audiences seem less and less able to let themselves be absorbed by a world dotted with musical interludes. If this is not the case for you, enjoy skipping through a thoroughly scrubbed East End with Oliver and the various miscreants he meets along the way.

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Bonus: Downton Abbey (2010 - 2015, 2019)

Everyone loves a binge watch. The first series of Downton Abbey came to me during a sick Winter weekend after its premiere and nursed me back to health with its period setting and soap opera dramatics. The show has its detractors for various reasons, yet with five seasons there are few better series to help one turn off the old brain. Anticipating the Christmas episode became part of my family’s holiday season, and we’re waiting to watch the film that premiered earlier this year. Like anticipating the visit an old friend, I hope at least one thing will feel right and make sense as this decade comes to a close. 

All images provided by Posteritati.

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Zoë G. Burnett is a writer, menswear stylist, and film enthusiast based in Boston, Massachusetts. A born and raised New England Yankee, she feels equally at home in the 7th arrondissement. She is currently editing her first novel. You can read her personal blog here.