Shubhabrata Dutta
Historical period dramas are monuments of cinematic journey. They weave intricate narratives that are set against the backdrop of eras gone by. From the majestic courts of ancient empires to the tumultuous upheavals of modern revolutions, these films beckon viewers repeatedly. Keeping that in mind, we bring you the list of period movies available on Hulu.
7. Boston Strangler (2023)
Directed by Matt Ruskin, this film explores the case of the Boston Strangler, a phrase used to address the murderer or murderers of 13 women between 1962 and 1964 in Greater Boston. The truth behind the series of murders is looked into via the eyes of Boston Record American reporter Loretta McLaughlin, who was the first journalist to point a finger at the case and force the Boston police to investigate the deaths. Keira Knightley plays the role of Loretta McLaughlin. The rest of the cast includes Carrie Coon, David Dastmalchian, Morgan Spector and Alessandro Nivola. You can watch it here.
6. Origin (2023)
Ava DuVernay’s biographical drama ‘Origin’ is based on the life of journalist/author Isabel Wilkerson (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor) and traces her journey as she writes the book ‘Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents’ while grappling with a personal tragedy. The film also showcases her travels to Germany and India, contributing to her research. Blending grief with history, ‘Origin’ does a great job of giving shape to Wilkerson’s book in a compelling, emotional, and authentic manner. Jon Bernthal plays Brett Hamilton, Isabel’s husband. It received three awards from the African-American Film Critics Association and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Direction. You can watch ‘Origin’ here.
5. The Promised Land (2023)
This Danish-German-Swedish co-production is based on the 2020 book ‘The Captain and Ann Barbara’ by Ida Jessen. Set in 18th-century Denmark, the film deals with a conflict of parcel, i.e., a plot of land, the very fabric of civilization as we know it. On the one hand, we have the hateful and merciless magistrate Frederik De Schinkel (Simon Bennebjerg), who wants to monetize the moorland and doesn’t intend to share it with anyone, much less sell it. On the other hand, we have retired German Army officer Ludvig Kahlen (Mads Mikkelsen), who wants to tame the moorland and establish a colony that will gain him a noble title. This difference results in multiple confrontations between the two men, and it is only a matter of time before one of them falls. Can Kahlen take a stand against the powerful Schinkel? ‘The Promised Land’ received high praise from both audiences and critics after its release. It went on to win numerous awards at the European Film Awards and Bodil Film Awards. It also competed for the Golden Lion at the 2023 Venice International Film Festival and was the Danish entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 2024 Academy Awards. You can watch it here.
4. The Last Duel (2021)
Ridley Scott’s ‘The Last Duel’ is set in 14th-century France and centers on one of the last judicial duels fought in France. It takes place between knights Jean de Carrouges, played by Matt Damon, and Jacques le Gris, played by Adam Driver. After le Gris assaults Carrouges’ wife, Marguerite (played by Jodie Comer), and denies Carrouges’ accusation, the latter reaches out to King Charles VI and requests a duel with le Gris to the death. The movie is based on Eric Jager’s book ‘The Last Duel: A True Story of Crime, Scandal, and Trial by Combat in Medieval France,’ and offers epic grandeur that is both grotesque and gorgeous, in true Ridley Scott fashion. You can watch ‘The Last Duel’ here.
3. Lee (2023)
Kate Winslet stars as World War II journalist Lee Miller in Ellen Kuras’ ‘Lee.’ Miller took on the role of a war correspondent for Vogue after gaining popularity as a fashion model, a striking switch. The film depicts the horrific times from Lee’s POV as she tries to cover various “angles” of the war, be it the Normandy landings or the Blitz. A rare depiction of the war, one underscored by professional non-emotionalism, makes ‘Lee’ a must-watch drama showcasing how the war blurred the line between the living and the dead. Winslet’s performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress. You can watch the film here.
2. Small Things Like These (2024)
Tim Mielants’s ‘Small Things Like These’ is set in 1985. It stars Cillian Murphy as Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and a family man whose silent demeanor is put to the test after he finds a teenage girl traumatized and locked in a shed. She is from the same local convent as his own daughter and wife, and seems to have been put there by the convent’s nuns. How Bill tackles the issue after discovering the horrors unfolding inside the convent while confronting his own past is what we find out in the quiet drama, which, like the traumatized girl herself, screams in silence. You can watch the events unfold right here.
1. Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
Directed by Rob Marshall, ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ is adapted from Arthur Golden’s novel and tells the story of a girl child named Chiyo Sakamoto (Zhang Ziyi), along with her sister, who is sold by her poor father and brought to a geisha district. The hardships she faces while being trained against her wishes make her dream of an escape. However, meeting a much older gentleman named Ken Iwamura (Ken Watanabe) brings about a change in her. She decides to become a geisha so that she can be a part of Iwamura’s life. However, things are easier said than done, and thanks to the politics of her profession and World War II, her dream appears far-fetched. A movie that stirred up controversy due to its depiction of a Chinese actress as a Japanese geisha, but won 3 Academy Awards, ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ is a gripping watch. It can be streamed here.
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