As we continue to self-quarantine to keep ourselves and our communities safe during the coronavirus pandemic, for the vast majority of us, that means spending more time on our couches than ever before.
Perhaps you've been mesmerized by the bizarre story of Joe Exotic on Tiger King or gotten swept away by dramatic heavy hitters like Unorthodox, Ozark, and Westworld. But if you, like many, have already exhausted your streaming episodic repertoire, switch tracks and consider watching one of the true story films below. Based on real-life events and released within the last four months, they're brilliant takes on fascinating stories and cover everything from true crime to war heroism to love at its most heart-wrenching.
Lost Girls
Based on the 2013 book Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery by award-winning investigative reporter Robert Kolker, Lost Girls reexamines a string of unsolved murders committed on Long Island in 2010, targeting young female sex workers. In the movie, available on Netflix, Amy Ryan plays Mari Gilbert, a mother who fights to uncover the truth about what happened to her missing daughter after realizing the police's negligence with the case.
The Last Full Measure
U.S. Air Force pararescueman William H. Pitsenbarger personally saved more than 60 men during the Vietnam War before losing his own life while aiding a unit of soldiers under an enemy assault. Starring Christopher Plummer as Pitsenbarger, as well as Sebastian Stan, William Hurt, Ed Harris, and Samuel L. Jackson, The Last Full Measure spotlights the hero's immense bravery and wartime contributions, and chronicles the 34-year battle following his death for him to be awarded the Medal of Honor. You can stream the war drama on Amazon Prime and YouTube.
Sergio
Narco fans, rejoice. Wagner Moura, who you'll remember for his portrayal as drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, is back, this time depicting Brazilian-born United Nations diplomat Sérgio Vieira de Mello in Sergio. Directed by Greg Barker, the biopic follows de Mello from Cambodia to East Timor to Indonesia and then, finally, to Iraq, where he works as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and United Nations Special Representative for Iraq. Hinging on the 2003 bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, which left de Mello buried under the rubble, the film chronicles the efforts made to save his life. The Netflix film also stars Ana de Armas.
I Still Believe
Starring Riverdale heartthrob KJ Apa, I Still Believe tells the true story of Christian singer-songwriter Jeremy Camp and his wife, Melissa Lynn Henning-Camp (Britt Robertson), who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer shortly before their wedding. Based on Jeremy Camp's memoir of the same name, the tear-jerking film—which you can stream on Google Play, YouTube, and Amazon Prime—also boasts appearances by Gary Sinise, Shania Twain, and Melissa Roxburgh.
Resistance
Written and directed by Jonathan Jakubowicz, Resistance centers on the story of Marcel Marceau (Jesse Eisenberg), who joins the French Resistance during WWII to help save thousands of children orphaned by the Nazis. Clémence Poésy and Matthias Schweighöfer also appear in the film, which is currently available to watch on Google Play, YouTube, and Amazon Prime.
Ariana Marsh is Harper Bazaar’s senior features editor. Working across print and digital, she covers the arts, culture, fashion, literature, and entertainment—and a bit of everything in between.
