FilmsChinese PuzzleLike this

Films like Chinese Puzzle.

Chinese Puzzle (2013) reads as Neutral, kinetic, gentle comedy / drama, grounded in texture. Redemptive, intimate, 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.

Rocket Science (2007) poster
1. Rocket Science2007

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

Grandma (2015) poster
2. Grandma2015

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

Don't Think Twice (2016) poster
3. Don't Think Twice2016

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

Mr. Kaplan (2014) poster
4. Mr. Kaplan2014

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

The Kings of Summer (2013) poster
5. The Kings of Summer2013

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

2 Days in New York (2012) poster
6. 2 Days in New York2012

Keeps the heightened unreality and the grounded, familiar shape; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

Band Aid (2017) poster
7. Band Aid2017

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

American: The Bill Hicks Story (2010) poster
8. American: The Bill Hicks Story2010

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

All About Them (2015) poster
9. All About Them2015

Keeps the heightened unreality and the grounded, familiar shape; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

The Names of Love (2010) poster
10. The Names of Love2010

Keeps the heightened unreality and the grounded, familiar shape; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

Homo Novus (2018) poster
11. Homo Novus2018

Keeps the heightened unreality and the grounded, familiar shape — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Innocent (2022) poster
12. The Innocent2022

Keeps the heightened unreality and the grounded, familiar shape; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

These are Chinese Puzzle’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 →