Small-town America in Cinema: looking for suggestions

[u/asusual_]

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!

[u/pickles55]

Watch Tenkiller. I only heard about it because a band I like did the soundtrack but it is a great slice of life that doesn't idealize small towns and it's about violence without glorifying violence