THEME EXPLORATION

masculinity and competition

35 films · 3 directors

Tracing the thread…

FILMS THAT EXPLORE THIS
Glengarry Glen Ross
Glengarry Glen Ross
1992 · James Foley
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
2006 · Adam McKay
Pehlivan
Pehlivan
1964 · Maurice Pialat
Dillinger Is Dead
Dillinger Is Dead
1969 · Marco Ferreri
Beau travail
Beau travail
1999 · Claire Denis
The Company’s in Love
The Company’s in Love
1932 · Max Ophuls
Querelle
Querelle
1982 · Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Raise the Red Lantern
Raise the Red Lantern
1991 · Zhang Yimou
Force Majeure
Force Majeure
2014 · Ruben Östlund
Bullhead
Bullhead
2011 · Michaël R. Roskam
Five Fingers of Death
Five Fingers of Death
1972 · Cheng Chang Ho
Gunnm
Gunnm
2000 · —
Manodrome
Manodrome
2023 · John Trengove
Patrick
Patrick
2019 · Tim Mielants
Reprise
Reprise
2006 · Joachim Trier
Salesman
Salesman
1969 · Maysles Brothers
Undertow
Undertow
2009 · Javier Fuentes-León
The Almost Man
The Almost Man
2012 · Martin Lund
Indian Institute of Zombies
Indian Institute of Zombies
2026 · Gaganjeet Singh
2DIE4
2DIE4
2026 · André Abdala
Doubles Match
Doubles Match
2026 · Hung Po-hao
The Long Walk
The Long Walk
2025 · Francis Lawrence
The Plague
The Plague
2026 · Charlie Polinger
On the Road
On the Road
2026 · David Pablos
Umamusume: Pretty Derby - Beginning of a New Era
Umamusume: Pretty Derby - Beginning of a New Era
2026 · Ken Yamamoto
Children Galore
Children Galore
1955 · Terence Fisher
Dogboys
Dogboys
1998 · Ken Russell
Film For Guitar
Film For Guitar
1966 · Bruce Beresford
In the Mirror
In the Mirror
2011 · Paolo Sorrentino
Tauw
Tauw
1970 · Ousmane Sembène
The Saddest Music in the World
The Saddest Music in the World
2003 · Guy Maddin
The War Game
The War Game
1963 · Mai Zetterling
Walkower
Walkower
1965 · Jerzy Skolimowski
The Last Trick
The Last Trick
1964 · Jan Švankmajer
Mermaids for Love
Mermaids for Love
1968 · Yannis Dalianidis
DIRECTORS WHO EXPLORE THIS
David Fincher USA

His films like Fight Club and The Social Network dissect toxic masculinity and competitive obsession through morally ambiguous protagonists locked in psychological warfare.

 Clint Eastwood USA

His body of work from Dirty Harry to Gran Torino explores masculine identity, honor codes, and the destructive nature of competitive ego in a changing world.

 Akira Kurosawa Japan

Films like Rashomon and Ran examine masculine pride, competition, and honor through layered narratives that question the very nature of male ambition and power.