Debuting on Streaming: Vermiglio, Mickey 17, The Legend of Ochi, The Black Sea, and More

      Every week, we showcase remarkable titles that have recently become available on streaming services in the United States. Take a look at this week's picks below and check out previous round-ups here.

      The Black Sea (Crystal Moselle and Derrick B. Harden)

      Throughout much of its duration, Crystal Moselle and Derrick B. Harden’s offbeat non-fiction film The Black Sea teeters on the brink of being overly charming. However, Harden serves as the key element—his interactions with both actors and non-actors maintain a delicate balance between intuition and creativity. This balance has long fueled Moselle’s unique cinematic approach to telling the tales of outsiders. A notable strength in her career has been her ability to identify not just the right stories, but the ideal storytellers to convey them. – Michael S. (full review)

      Where to Stream: Metrograph at Home

      Cidade Campo (Juliana Rojas)

      This intriguingly symmetrical film weaves together two narratives of migration, delving into the marvels and dangers of city and rural life. With the steady perspective of a field researcher coupled with flights of fantasy, Rojas depicts daily injustices alongside mysterious ghostly moments, emphasizing that in a place like Brazil, trauma is ever-present. Despite a relatively minimal plot, the vivid imagery makes a lasting impression, providing an intimate understanding of the bond between the characters and their surroundings. A captivating, gritty, and surreal exploration of faces and places. – Zhuo-Ning Su

      Where to Stream: VOD

      Kim’s Video (David Redmon and Ashley Sabin)

      In an expansive documentary by David Redmon and Ashley Sabin, Kim’s Video adopts a personal, man-on-the-street approach reminiscent of their earlier films Mardi Gras: Made in China and Girl Model. With Redmon primarily behind the camera, engaging the subjects with his questions, the film meanders through the narrative, transitioning from the East Village's cool counterculture to a heist story with mafia ties. Haunted by the legacy of cinema, Youngman Kim’s collection beckons to David, who ultimately rescues and returns it to Lower Manhattan. Its happy conclusion is known, featuring over 55,000 rare VHS tapes and DVDs from the flagship store Mondo Kim’s now available for rent at the Alamo Drafthouse in lower Manhattan, led by Nick Prueher from the Found Footage Festival, who is responsible for preserving and cataloging the titles. Redmon and Sabin’s Kim’s Video details this intriguing journey. – John F. (full review)

      Where to Stream: Tubi

      The Last Showgirl (Gia Coppola)

      Pamela Anderson takes on a once-in-a-lifetime role in Gia Coppola’s engaging (though simplistic) character study The Last Showgirl, portraying a glamorous showgirl who needs to plan her future when her show unexpectedly ends after 30 years. Christopher Schobert noted in his TIFF review, “‘I’m older––I’m not old,’ says Shelley, the longest-serving performer in a fading Las Vegas revue, played by Pamela Anderson, an international icon who has never had a role like this before. Shelley, at 57, struggles financially, is estranged from her daughter, and is deeply vulnerable. Clearly, we are a long way from the beaches of Baywatch or the action-packed Barb Wire. Anderson's performance is a significant reason why Gia Coppola’s The Last Showgirl stands out as a remarkable film. This is not merely stunt casting but a genuine performance, and Shelley is one of the more unforgettable characters in recent Vegas film portrayals.”

      Where to Stream: Hulu

      The Legend of Ochi (Isaiah Saxon)

      Written and directed by Isaiah Saxon, The Legend of Ochi is a beautifully imaginative adventure film. It feels as though it has the potential to endure for quite some time. With minimal dialogue yet rich in visual style, it depicts a small community on the island of Carpathia, where its inhabitants fear the Ochi, an apparently fearsome primate that lurks in the nearby woods. Willem Dafoe portrays Maxim, a warrior elder tasked with training the village’s children to confront the dreaded creatures. Amongst them are Petro (Finn Wolfhard) and Maxim’s daughter Yuri (Helena Zengel). When Yuri discovers an injured baby Ochi, she chooses to nurture it and return it to its home, requiring her to evade Maxim and his militaristic approach. – Dan M. (full review)

      Where to Stream: VOD

      Mickey 17 (Bong Joon Ho)

      Is Mark Ruffalo channeling a Trump impression? Early in Bong Joon Ho’s Mickey 17, the actor strides onto the scene in a plush blazer, accompanied by his wife Ylfa (Toni Collette), basking in the applause of a crowd as if he were a messianic figure