Cinema fans, rejoice! Renowned arthouse and cult film streaming service MUBI have upped their offering. Now, instead of only having 30 curated films available for 30 days, they’re hosting a whole library of specially selected films. From critically acclaimed, to famously terrible cult classics – MUBI now boasts an impressive selection of films that can be hard to come by on standard streaming services. For £9.99 a month, you get access to their library and their 30-day curated selection, but if you’re not sure, there’s a 7-day free trial available (and it’s totally free for students). We’ve picked out 5 cinema classics to get you started – read on to find out what’s on offer…

Persona (1966) dir. Ingmar Bergman

Swedish director Ingmar Bergman’s 1966 masterpiece follows Elisabet, a famous actress in the throes of a nervous breakdown as she attempts to recover in a beach house with her nurse, Alma. Bergman explores personal identity with his inimitable and innovative touch – this is a psychological drama which maintains its relevance and cinematic importance even today.

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972) dir. Luis Buñuel

Spanish surrealist Luis Buñuel takes a crooked look at a group of upper middle class people attempting to dine together. The narrative is not straightforward – Buñuel plays tricks on both his characters and his audience, but you can’t help but be charmed by the absurdity. The film took home the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1973.

Suspiria (1977) dir. Dario Argento

If you haven’t seen the original Suspiria yet (it was remade in 2018 by director Luca Guadagnino), this is the perfect opportunity to catch up on a classic of Italian giallo (crime fiction). American dancer Suzy Bannion is faced with a colourful and disturbing Italian dance school – all horror film fans should make sure to see this one.

Mustang (2015) dir. Deniz Gamze Ergüven

Turkish-French film director Deniz Gamze Ergüven’s feature debut Mustangis set in a remote Turkish village, and looks at five independent young sisters as they come up against the restrictions of growing up in a conservative society. A highly impressive debut from the director, this is a film you’re not likely to come across anywhere else and is well worth a watch.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) dir. Céline Sciamma

It’s the film everyone’s talking about this year. Winner of the Queer Palm and Best Screenplay at Cannes last year, French director Céline Sciamma’s stunning period piece follows artist Marianne, who is commissioned to paint the wedding portrait of a young woman named Héloïse. Together on a remote island before Héloïse’s arranged marriage, the film depicts a beautiful – and necessarily bittersweet – love story.

Words:
Amy Callaghan
Published on:
Mon 25 May 2020