Movies Similar to Lessons in Self-Defense

Bless Me Father(2017)

In a small Irish town where secrets are rare, a local man goes to church to confess his.

The Platelayer(1957)

A group of plate-layers are packing the stone-bed under the rail with their pickaxes. They swing their picks in a coordinated, rhythmic way, thereby creating a sequence of rings, when they hit the stones or the rail, which sounds almost as music. When a train passes by, they stand silent beside the rail for a while, and then start the rhythmic beats again.

In Orbit(2020)

The future, the space. Sonia is about to be transferred from her station to a newer one. Although everything seems to be going well, Sonia's mind is actually elsewhere, haunted by tragic events from the not too distant past.

Akashi(2018)

Kana, a young woman from Japan is pursuing her career in North America and has adapted to her new environment. However, her new lifestyle has made her emotionally distant and can't seem to sustain a long term relationship. Her mother calls informing Kana that grandma passed away. As Kana returns home to pay her respects, she begins to recall her most intimate conversation with grandma. In their talk, Grandma is proud of Kana for leaving Japan. Kana argues it's even harder to raise a family and sustain a marriage for a lifetime. Grandma tells Kana that their marriage was far from ideal, and to Kana's surprise, Grandma reveals a secret which changes Kana's attitudes on relationships. Memories and the funeral force Kana to look inside herself and examine her own life.

The Dead Girls(2019)

Two teenage girls forced to serve a violent drug cartel await the first snowfall at the desert surrounding a mountain called La Siberia.

Alfa(2016)

Alfa, a famous porn actor, must deal with his fears, insecurities and memories when he begins work on a new film without Yerry, his former partner in life and porn. On his first day of shooting without him, Alfa tries to act as in the past but can things be like before? Javier Ferreiro's short film reflects on the difficult decision of letting someone go to move forward. ALFA is framed in the context of gay porn cinema in Cuba where pornography is banned but, little by little, it's growing up an underground industry impulsed by foreign tourism.

Still Rolling(2021)

A rookie filmmaker on a TV production set tries to survive a constraining environment where people don't respect her boundaries. During the wrap party, she begins to process what she experienced.

Hollywood Lucifer(2014)

Stand Still(2019)

The darkness of postnatal depression threatens to overwhelm Susannah, but a chance encounter with Rupa might be the help she needs.

Our Sister(2019)

A teenage girl with autism and her sister try to come to terms with their grief after the death of their younger sister.

Something in The Closet(2019)

A queer teenager struggles with her sexuality, as desires manifest their way from the depths of her eerie closet into reality.

Nicky's Game(2005)

A down on his luck Brooklyn native parlays his Yale education into a job as a professional poker player.

Dying to Come Back(2019)

At 78 years old, Manuela buys a camera and AR glasses.

Creep Box(2022)

A scientist uses groundbreaking technology to communicate with the deceased but once he is through the looking glass, there is no turning back.

Reminder(2018)

The phenomenon that occurs in a room full of objects from the past allows Ulises to temporarily recover his memory.

Sweet Rabbit(2012)

Jeanet, an insecure middle-aged woman, discovers one day that rabbit ears are growing out of her head. Shocked and confused, she rushes to the doctor to get rid of her ailment. But the doctor turns out to be a poor listener. Jeanets relatives seem to have attention for her. Jeanet thinks she is on her own until she knocks on her husband's door.

Pepper(2014)

The painful awakening of a couple after an evening of fantasies ...

Sacrifice(2012)

Oli, his young girlfriend, and a scheming colleague are fleeing the Icelandic financial crises with a fortune in forbidden cash stuffed into a duffel bag. They head for Spain in their boat under cover of night. The seas rage and a horrible accident occurs. Marooned on a freezing outcrop of rock, the tension builds as the three violently disagree as they take drastic measures to survive.

Second Round(2021)

In a world where childbirth is state-regulated, a couple applies for a license to have a child. They pass the first round of the process, but have no idea what awaits them in the second round.

Tsunami Falls(2021)

Thomas wakes up to discover his end is near and must come to terms with the life he has and hasn't lived.