Indie Film Weekly [EP 15]: The Ballad of Wallis Island (2025) & My Beautiful Laundrette (1985)
Hey there! Welcome to Indie Film Weekly, your insider guide to new independent film releases. I’m Glen Reynolds of Circus Road Films, where we specialize in helping indie filmmakers get their stories to film festivals and indie film distributors.
Each week, we spotlight new indie films hitting theaters. For these films, I suggest searching for them on Fandango or Google to see if they are showing in your city. And if you have to travel a bit, please do. It's important to support indie films by getting to the theater.
In addition, we highlight recent standout indie films that you can rent or download on platforms like Amazon, AppleTV, YouTube Movies, and Fandango at Home. Supporting indie films on these platforms is crucial, as not every indie film gets a Netflix deal.
Finally, we focus on one classic indie film that you can stream or rent, celebrating the timelessness of independent cinema.
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New in Theaters
First up is The Ballad of Wallis Island, directed by James Griffiths. This British comedy premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this year, and has been charming audiences ever since. The story follows Charles, an eccentric lottery winner living alone on a remote island, who dreams of reuniting his favorite musicians, McGwyer Mortimer—a duo comprised of former lovers Herb McGwyer and Nell Mortimer. Charles invites them to perform a private show at his home on Wallis Island, leading to a series of comedic and heartfelt events as old tensions resurface. Fun fact: The film is based on Griffiths' 2007 BAFTA-nominated short film, The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island, reuniting the original creators for this feature-length adaptation. Additionally, Carey Mulligan, who plays Nell Mortimer, filmed her scenes while caring for her newborn daughter on set, adding a unique behind-the-scenes dynamic to the production.
Next up is Being Maria, directed by Jessica Palud. This French biographical drama delves into the life of actress Maria Schneider, best known for her role in Last Tango in Paris. The film explores Schneider's experiences during and after the controversial production, highlighting her struggles within the film industry. Anamaria Vartolomei portrays Maria Schneider, while Matt Dillon takes on the role of Marlon Brando, offering a nuanced performance that captures the complexities of the iconic actor. Fun fact: The screenplay is adapted from Vanessa Schneider's 2018 memoir, My Cousin Maria Schneider, providing an intimate look into the actress's life. The film has been praised for centering Maria's perspective, offering a sensitive and unsparing reconstruction of her experiences.
Rounding out this week’s theatrical releases is Viet and Nam, directed by Truong Minh Quy. This Vietnamese drama follows the intertwined lives of two individuals, Viet and Nam, as they navigate personal and societal challenges in contemporary Vietnam. The film offers a poignant exploration of identity, tradition, and modernity, set against the backdrop of Vietnam's rapidly changing landscape. Quy's direction provides a contemplative and visually stunning narrative that has resonated with audiences worldwide. The film was banned in Vietnam due to its sensitive portrayal of a same-sex relationship, yet it garnered international acclaim, premiering in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and being nominated for the Queer Palm.
Films to Rent or Download
Now available on TVOD is In a Violent Nature, directed by Chris Nash. This one premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and quickly became a must-see for horror fans. What sets it apart? Well, it’s a slasher film told almost entirely from the killer’s perspective. Instead of following terrified victims, we follow the undead woodsman, Johnny, as he stalks a group of unsuspecting campers deep in the remote Canadian wilderness. There’s almost no dialogue—just the quiet, methodical movements of Johnny through the trees as he calmly, relentlessly goes about his business. It’s been described as Terrence Malick meets Friday the 13th, and honestly, that’s a pretty accurate vibe.
Fun fact: Director Chris Nash wanted to deconstruct the traditional slasher movie by stripping it down to its most primal elements. He storyboarded the film meticulously to avoid falling into standard horror tropes, focusing instead on long, slow takes that build an unsettling sense of inevitability. Another cool detail—the film was shot on location in northern Ontario, and almost all of the gore effects were done practically, not digitally. It’s a throwback to old-school horror craftsmanship, and for fans of the genre, it’s a real treat.
If you’re in the mood for something eerie, violent, and completely different from your typical horror flick, In a Violent Nature is one to watch.
Indie Classic
This week’s spotlight classic is My Beautiful Laundrette, celebrating its 40th anniversary with a special re-release in select theaters. Originally released in 1985, this groundbreaking British film was directed by Stephen Frears, based on his own original story. Set in Thatcher-era London, it tells the story of Omar, a young British-Pakistani man, and Johnny, a white working-class punk played by a then-rising Daniel Day-Lewis, who rekindle a childhood friendship—and romance—while renovating a run-down laundrette into a thriving business.
What makes My Beautiful Laundrette stand out—especially for its time—is how it weaves together themes of race, class, capitalism, and sexuality without ever feeling preachy. It was one of the first British films to portray a gay relationship in a natural, non-sensationalized way, and it did so at a time when both homophobia and racial tensions were high in the UK. Kureishi’s sharp, witty script brought these issues front and center, but through personal, relatable characters rather than overt messaging.
A couple of fun facts: The film was initially commissioned as a low-budget TV movie for Channel 4, but after it premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival, it got picked up for an international theatrical release—and the rest is history. Daniel Day-Lewis’s performance as Johnny helped launch his career, and in the same year, he also starred in A Room with a View, playing a character that couldn’t be more different. Another little gem: the laundrette in the film was an actual working laundromat in London, which became a kind of cult landmark for fans after the film’s success.
My Beautiful Laundrette remains a vital piece of British cinema history. Whether you’re seeing it for the first time or revisiting it, this 40th-anniversary restoration is a great excuse to experience it on the big screen.
And that’s a wrap for this episode of Indie Film Weekly! Thanks for spending some time with me as we explore the world of independent cinema. You can also read about these films in our weekly email newsletter, which you can sign up for at theindieigniter.com.
If a film we discussed caught your interest, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review—it’s a great way to support the indie film community. Until next week, keep watching, keep supporting indie film, and I’ll see you back here soon!