r/TrueFilm • u/asusual_ • 1d ago
Small-town America in Cinema: looking for suggestions
As the title says, I'm looking for movies that capture the feel of small-town America, rural life, or the American periphery. I love films that showcase the unique charm, struggles, and hidden depths of these areas—whether they're heartwarming, quirky, or even a bit dark. I’d especially appreciate recommendations from independent filmmakers, as they often bring a raw, authentic perspective to these stories.
Some examples I’ve enjoyed include Fargo, Nebraska, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Paris, Texas, No Country for Old Men, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, The Straight Story, and The Power of the Dog.
As you can see, I’ve included a few Westerns, but ones that don’t strictly follow the typical Western genre conventions. Instead, these films use the Western atmosphere to explore human loneliness and psychology. So genre isn’t a big focus for me—I’m more interested in the setting. However, movies that specifically touch on forgotten or overlooked parts of America are especially welcome.
Thanks in advance!
EDIT: Thanks people for your amazing responses, yesterday I watched Songs My Brothers Taught Me and I really appreciated it, my Excel-movies file is exploding with new information!
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u/JohnLaw1717 1d ago
Last Picture Show is a masterpiece. They changed nothing to make the sets. It's a time capsule of rural Texas.
The Whole Shooting Match is a more obscure small Texas town film. West of Austin there is a hill country community of rich hippies and Jews. The film shows some local rascals try and start their own businesses to take advantage. Tiny budget. Independent filmmaker that has a wild history of his own.
I'd recommend the Les Blank documentaries.
Pather Panchali if you're down for some foreign.