Films like In the Intense Now.

In the Intense Now (2017) reads as Sombre, measured, measured documentary / essay, inventive in texture. Ambivalent, mid-stakes, measured. Every film below is ranked by distance across the same twelve hand-scored axes — with what it keeps, and where it walks away. Not a genre dump.

Never Look Away (2018) poster
1. Never Look Away2018

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Salt (2014, Sebastião Salgado) (2014) poster
2. Salt (2014, Sebastião Salgado)2014

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Salt of the Earth (2014) (2014) poster
3. The Salt of the Earth2014

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Escaping Riga (2016) poster
4. Escaping Riga2016

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

I Am Not Your Negro (2017) poster
5. I Am Not Your Negro2017

Keeps the patient, unhurried pace and the heightened unreality; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

Porcelain War (2024) poster
6. Porcelain War2024

Keeps the patient, unhurried pace and the heightened unreality — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (2022) poster
7. All the Beauty and the Bloodshed2022

Keeps the patient, unhurried pace and the heightened unreality; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

The Domain (2019) poster
8. The Domain2019

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

The Age of Disclosure (2025) poster
9. The Age of Disclosure2025

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Procession (2021) (2021) poster
10. Procession2021

Keeps the patient, unhurried pace and the heightened unreality — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Theory of Everything (2020) poster
11. Theory of Everything2020

Keeps the patient, unhurried pace and the heightened unreality; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

Barbara (2012) poster
12. Barbara2012

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

These are In the Intense Now’s neighbours — where are yours?

Rate five posters and the same twelve axes read you — then tonight’s pick comes from your own centre of taste.

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