FilmsThe CeremonyLike this

Films like The Ceremony.

The Ceremony (1971) reads as Heavy, measured, measured drama / japanese, inventive in texture. Nihilistic, mid-stakes, cold. 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.

The Servant (1963) poster
1. The Servant1963

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

Le Petit Soldat (1963) (1963) poster
2. Le Petit Soldat1963

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

Chinese Roulette (1976) poster
3. Chinese Roulette1976

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

Profound Desires of the Gods (1968) poster
4. Profound Desires of the Gods1968

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

Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion (1970) poster
5. Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion1970

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the unmistakable directorial hand; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Calcutta 71 (1972) poster
6. Calcutta 711972

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

The Reconstruction (1968) poster
7. The Reconstruction1968

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

Eros + Massacre (1969) poster
8. Eros + Massacre1969

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

Tristana (1970) (1970) poster
9. Tristana1970

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

Reason, Debate and a Story (1974) poster
10. Reason, Debate and a Story1974

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace; trades toward a chilly detachment.

Night and Fog in Japan (1960) poster
11. Night and Fog in Japan1960

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

In Search of Famine (1980) poster
12. In Search of Famine1980

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

These are The Ceremony’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.

Find my film for tonight — 60 sec →