Magic realism in movies
Thursday, August 30, 2012
A few weeks ago, I suggested that my girlfriend watch The Fall (2006) with me, as I knew she would appreciate it and it had been awhile since I’d last seen Tarsem‘s masterpiece. She loved it so much that I was inspired to try to put together a list of some movies and TV shows from the past 15 years that feature magic realism, or at least surrealism. Here’s what I came up with. Many of these films are favorites of mine.
Magic realism movies from the past 15 years
- Amélie (2001) and other Jean-Pierre Jeunet films
- Being John Malkovich (1999), Adaptation. (2003) and other Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufman films
- Big Fish (2003)
- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
- The Fall (2006)
- The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009), Tideland (2006) and other Terry Gilliam films
- Midnight in Paris (2011)
- Millennium Actress (2001)
- Neverwas (2007)
- Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), The Devil’s Backbone (2001) and other Guillermo del Toro films
- Paprika (2007)
- Pleasantville (1998)
- The Science of Sleep (2006) and other Michel Gondry films
- Spirited Away (2001), Ponyo (2009) and other Hayao Miyazaki films
- Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2011)
Recent magic realism television shows
- Dead Like Me (2003-2004)
- Wonderfalls (2004)
- Pushing Daisies (2007-2009) and other Bryan Fuller shows
If you want more recommendations, Filmometer.com includes ratings and reviews of every film and TV show I’ve seen since 1997.
As for magic realism authors, here are a few: Jorge Luis Borges, Gabriel GarcÃa Márquez, Haruki Murakami, Aimee Bender, Jonathan Lethem and Richard Brautigan.
Lastly, I feel like mentioning Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer, even though I wouldn’t call the work magic realism.