THEME EXPLORATION

artistic competition

44 films · 2 directors

Tracing the thread…

FILMS THAT EXPLORE THIS
Reprise
Reprise
2006 · Joachim Trier
Ryuichi Sakamoto: CODA
Ryuichi Sakamoto: CODA
2018 · Stephen Nomura Schible
Primavera
Primavera
2026 · Damiano Michieletto
Eisenstein in Guanajuato
Eisenstein in Guanajuato
2015 · Peter Greenaway
Vincent the Dutchman
Vincent the Dutchman
1972 · Mai Zetterling
Murderock – uccide a passo di danza
Murderock – uccide a passo di danza
1984 · Lucio Fulci
Singin' in the Rain
Singin' in the Rain
1952 · Stanley Donen & Gene Kelly
Blue Is the Warmest Color
Blue Is the Warmest Color
2013 · Abdellatif Kechiche
Black Swan
Black Swan
2010 · Darren Aronofsky
Man on Wire
Man on Wire
2008 · James Marsh
Goya: Or the Hard Way to Enlightenment
Goya: Or the Hard Way to Enlightenment
1971 · Konrad Wolf
Poussières d’amour
Poussières d’amour
1996 · Werner Schroeter
Andrei Rublev
Andrei Rublev
1966 · Andrei Tarkovsky
Close-Up
Close-Up
1990 · Abbas Kiarostami
Cold War
Cold War
2018 · Paweł Pawlikowski
Raise the Red Lantern
Raise the Red Lantern
1991 · Zhang Yimou
Day for Night
Day for Night
1973 · François Truffaut
Hour of the Wolf
Hour of the Wolf
1968 · Ingmar Bergman
Strawberry and Chocolate
Strawberry and Chocolate
1993 · Tomás Gutiérrez Alea
Turkish Delight
Turkish Delight
1973 · Paul Verhoeven
2017
2017
2017 · Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Jim Ritchie Sculptor
Jim Ritchie Sculptor
1971 · David Cronenberg
Pain and Glory
Pain and Glory
2019 · Pedro Almodóvar
Rat Mouse Thief
Rat Mouse Thief
1999 · Sebastián Cordero
8 ½
8 ½
1963 · Federico Fellini
Don't Look Back
Don't Look Back
1967 · D.A. Pennebaker
Five Fingers of Death
Five Fingers of Death
1972 · Cheng Chang Ho
Gunnm
Gunnm
2000 · —
Gypsy
Gypsy
2011 · Rachel Leah Jones
My Nikifor
My Nikifor
2005 · Krzysztof Krauze
Injustice
Injustice
2025 · Max Boekbinder & Jim Batt
Salesman
Salesman
1969 · Maysles Brothers
Year of the Devil
Year of the Devil
2002 · Petr Zelenka
Sick of Myself
Sick of Myself
2022 · Kristoffer Borgli
2026 TXT Moa Con in Japan: Live Viewing
2026 TXT Moa Con in Japan: Live Viewing
2026
2DIE4
2DIE4
2026 · André Abdala
Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)
Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)
2026 · James Cameron
A Tapestry of a Legendary Land
A Tapestry of a Legendary Land
2024 · Zhou Liya
Daughter of Nectar
Daughter of Nectar
2026 · Lin Chun-ni
Indian Institute of Zombies
Indian Institute of Zombies
2026 · Gaganjeet Singh
Doubles Match
Doubles Match
2026 · Hung Po-hao
Power Ballad
Power Ballad
2026 · John Carney
Mollywood Times
Mollywood Times
2026 · Abhinav Sunder Nayak
The Long Walk
The Long Walk
2025 · Francis Lawrence
DIRECTORS WHO EXPLORE THIS
Damien Chazelle USA

His films like *Whiplash* and *La La Land* intensely explore the psychological toll of artistic ambition and the ruthless pursuit of perfection in competitive creative environments.

 Darren Aronofsky USA

*Black Swan* and *The Wrestler* dissect the destructive nature of artistic competition, obsession, and the sacrifices demanded by the pursuit of excellence.