Films like The Square (Egypt 2013).

The Square (Egypt 2013) (2013) reads as Sombre, steady, extreme documentary, grounded in texture. Nihilistic, epic, 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.

Citizenfour (2014) poster
1. Citizenfour2014

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale - Part 2: The Rainbow Bridge (2011) poster
2. Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale - Part 2: The Rainbow Bridge2011

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the heightened unreality; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

13th (2016) poster
3. 13th2016

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Last Men in Aleppo (2017) (2017) poster
4. Last Men in Aleppo2017

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the heightened unreality; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

Navalny (2022) poster
5. Navalny2022

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale - Part 1: The Sun Flag (2011) poster
6. Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale - Part 1: The Sun Flag2011

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a relentless forward drive.

The Perfect Storm (2000) (2000) poster
7. The Perfect Storm2000

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Cut (2014) poster
8. The Cut2014

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Restrepo (2010) (2010) poster
9. Restrepo2010

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the heightened unreality; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

Army of Crime (2009) poster
10. Army of Crime2009

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the heightened unreality; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

For Sama (2019) poster
11. For Sama2019

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness and the heightened unreality; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

Marighella (2021) poster
12. Marighella2021

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

These are The Square (Egypt 2013)’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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