Dirty Realism
by willieandlewis | created - 18 Nov 2017 | updated - 25 Jun 2020 | PublicAn ongoing list of short fictional films that incorporate the principle themes of Dirty Realism as described in the literary movement by journalist Bill Buford: "...The belly-side of contemporary life – a deserted husband, an unwed mother, a car thief, a pickpocket, a drug addict – but they write about it with a disturbing detachment, at times verging on comedy....Understated, ironic, sometimes savage, but insistently compassionate"
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1. Physical Pinball (1998)
21 min | Short
A character piece between a widower and his teenage daughter, as the father realizes his tomboy child is becoming a young woman.
Director: David Gordon Green | Stars: Candace Evanofski, Eddie Rouse, Robyn Pierce, Damian Lahey
Votes: 258
2. Snake Feed (1997)
Not Rated | 23 min | Short, Drama
Snake Feed is a glimpse into the lives of Irene and Rick, two people struggling with life-long addiction and marginal employment. The film follows a day in their lives at a time when Rick ... See full summary »
Director: Debra Granik | Stars: Corinne Stralka, Richard Lieske, Jerry Dean, Jesse Stralka
Votes: 82
3. Wasp (2003)
26 min | Short, Drama
A struggling single mother is determined not to let her four young children be an obstacle in the pursuit of starting a relationship with an old acquaintance.
Director: Andrea Arnold | Stars: Natalie Press, Danny Dyer, Jodie Mitchell, Molly Griffiths
Votes: 5,567
4. The Horse (1973)
Not Rated | 14 min | Short, Drama
A young black boy tends to a horse while four white men wait for the kid's dad to euthanize the horse.
Director: Charles Burnett | Stars: Gordon Houston, Maury Wright, Gary Morrin, Roger Collins
Votes: 422
5. The Honeyfields (2006)
34 min | Short, Drama, Family
The Honeyfields is the story of two brothers, Robbie and Benji growing up in a poor, rural California town. Raised only by their bitter grandmother, the boys create their perfect world in ... See full summary »
Director: Matthew Gordon | Stars: Tyler Goucher, Scout Taylor-Compton, Eugenia Care, Mitchell Presas
Votes: 35
6. Act Da Fool (2010)
4 min | Short, Drama
A series of hazy 8mm vignettes, accompanied by a soft, lilting voice over, in which girls skulk around schoolyards, spray graffiti, drink, smoke, pose and embrace, evoking the loneliness, confusion and overwhelming wonder of growing up.
Director: Harmony Korine | Stars: Michelrica Hughes, Miileah Morrison, Elizabeth Smith, Kiara Smith
Votes: 502
7. Boneshaker (2013)
12 min | Short, Adventure, Drama
An African family, lost in America, travels to a Louisiana church to cure its problem child.
Director: Nuotama Bodomo | Stars: Quvenzhané Wallis, Caroline Idakula, Pleasur'ne Rose Thomas, Moussa Koné
Votes: 124
8. The Dirty Ones (2009)
11 min | Short, Drama
Two girls, members of a Mennonite community in the USA Deep South, have a first encounter with the outside world, which the short movie lets you view through their innocent, alien eyes. "The dirty ones" may be their term for all outsiders.
Director: Brent Stewart | Stars: Raven Dunn, Rachel Korine, Zamvel Oyvetsky, John Ranieri
Votes: 74
9. Borom sarret (1963)
20 min | Short, Drama
Boron Sarret is arguably the first film made by a black African. It illustrates poverty in Senegal, particularly for the working man.
Director: Ousmane Sembene | Stars: Ly Abdoulay, Albourah
Votes: 1,521
10. Ode (1999)
48 min | Drama, Romance
"Tallahatchie Bridge": With those two simple words, the powerful images of a lost innocence, a murky river and a mysterious suicide spring to mind. Scorning the demands of her overbearing ... See full summary »
Director: Kelly Reichardt | Stars: Heather Gottlieb, Kevin Poole, Jon Wurster, Jim Wiley
Votes: 239
11. Devil's Damned to Try (2014)
23 min | Short, Crime, Drama
A Southern Tale of Lies Well Lived.
Director: Marshall Burnette | Stars: Laura Amond, Riley Anglen, Jake Arthur, Daniel de Armas
Votes: 12
12. Five Dollars (2010)
18 min | Short, Comedy
Kenny, 10, and his sister Lou Ann, 9, are paid five bucks to keep their mouths shut when their half-sister Erleen, 15, brings an older boy over to their trailer one afternoon, but when ... See full summary »
Director: Clay Jeter | Stars: Alexandra Huff, Jeff Miller, Haley Parker, Austin Vickers
13. Jellyfish (III) (2016)
2 min | Short, Drama, Family
Director: Sophie Littman | Star: Eloise Littman
14. Quiet as Kept (2007)
Not Rated | 6 min | Short, Drama
A teenager boy leaves a moment of boredom while his father works on his old car, and the mother wishes to go out for a stroll around the block. One more relocated family post Hurricane Katrina.
Director: Charles Burnett | Stars: Nathaniel Lee Sr., Sharial C. Lee, Daniel Curtis Lee
Votes: 169
15. Several Friends (1969)
Not Rated | 21 min | Short
An improvised late '60's short-subject student film, and debut movie of Director, Charles Burnett; done in the neo-realist, documentary film style. A day-in-the-life South Central L.A. tale... See full summary »
Director: Charles Burnett | Stars: Andy Burnett, Eugene Cherry, Charles Bracy, Cassandra Wright
Votes: 368
watch: http://dai.ly/x3gftl7
16. The Aluminum Fowl (2006)
13 min | Short
A glimpse of four brothers' daily obsessions with chickens, rap music, and aliens.
Director: James Clauer
Votes: 107
17. Jesus Fish (2013)
22 min | Short, Drama, Thriller
A Southern short film about a would-be religious con-artist and his adopted brother who are pitted against aquatic folk-lore incarnate.
Director: Bryce McGuire | Stars: Uland Cunningham, Tony McCuiston, Tomas Pais, Cheyenne Walker
Votes: 23
18. Jonah (II) (2013)
TV-G | 17 min | Short, Drama, Fantasy
Mbwana and his best friend Juma are two young men with big dreams. These dreams become reality when they photograph a gigantic fish leaping out of the sea and their small town blossoms into... See full summary »
Director: Kibwe Tavares | Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Malachi Kirby, Louis Mahoney
Votes: 402
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