Best movies like Cal
Last updated March 2024
Looking for movies related to Cal? Share your expertise to help others find suitable tv series and films you've viewed already. Assist in growing the community that suggests videos to each other. We appreciate your contribution!
Plot Summary:
Cal, a young man on the fringes of the IRA, falls in love with Marcella, a Catholic woman whose husband, a Protestant policeman, was killed one year earlier by the IRA.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Thriller, Romance
Country: UK, Ireland
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: political, art house, tense, sincere, bleak, serious, realistic, contemplative
Best tv shows and movies like Cal (1984):
Similar in 85%
The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea (1976)
Plot Summary:
When a widowed mother falls in love with an American sailor, her troubled young son is pressured by the bullying leader of his clique to seek revenge.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Romance, Thriller
Country: UK
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: realistic, psychological, atmospheric, serious, suspenseful, controversial, disturbing, independent film, contemplative, gloomy
Similar in 84%
The Dawning (1988)
Plot Summary:
A young woman in her late teens is caught up in the political unrest of Southern Ireland in the 1920s in this drama that features an excellent cast. Nancy (Rebecca Pidgeon) befriends the pistol packing stranger she dubs Cassius (Anthony Hopkins) while he hides in a beach hut. He talks the naive Nancy into delivering a message to Dublin. There she meets Joe Mulhare (Mark O'Regan) and befriends the recipient of the message. Only when she witnesses the shooting deaths of 12 British officers does she realize the content of the lethal message. After the shootings, Nancy rushes to try and warn Cassius about the military police who are closing in on him. Trevor Howard is the old army officer and grandfather in his last screen role, with Jean Simmons as Aunt Mary. Watch for Hugh Grant as Harry, the stuffed shirt on whom Nancy has a huge crush.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 405
Genere: Drama, Romance, Thriller
Country: UK
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, emotional, realistic, sincere, factual, thought provoking, touching, independent film
Similar in 76%
Paradise Cruise (2013)
Plot Summary:
An impossible love story between Yossi, a former IDF soldier, and Dora, a mysterious French photographer visiting Israel, as they both struggle in vain to leave their pasts behind.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 94
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: Israel, France, Germany
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: tense, serious, captivating, realistic, non-linear
Similar in 78%
The Lacemaker (1977)
Plot Summary:
The internationally produced The Lacemaker (La Dentelliere) stars Isabelle Huppert as Pomme, a meek and mild French beautician whose life takes a fateful turn during a vacation to Normandy. Here Huppert becomes the lover of middle-class literature-student Francois (Yves Beneyton). The relationship sours when Francois takes her home to meet his parents, thanks in no small part to their differing social backgrounds. The Lacemaker was the film that solidified the stardom of Isabelle Huppert; she was showered with awards, most notably the British Film Academy.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Switzerland, France, West Germany
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: sad, art house, psychological, serious, realistic, contemplative, gloomy, intellectual
Similar in 82%
With or Without You (1999)
Plot Summary:
Rosie and Vincent know each other for ten years, and are married for five. She doesn't like her job, he isn't too pleased working with her dad. They're trying to have a baby. One morning Benoit, a Frenchman and former pen pal of Rosie, whom she never met, comes to visit. Did Rosie love him? Does she love him now?.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 882
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: UK
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: sincere, realistic, semi serious, sexual, independent film, erotic, sexy
Similar in 77%
The Railway Station Man (1992)
Plot Summary:
An Irish artist, widowed by an IRA bombing, gradually learns that the American man she has become involved with is not who he seems.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 238
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: UK
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: serious, emotional, realistic, gloomy
Similar in 88%
Fools of Fortune (1990)
Plot Summary:
A Protestant Irish family is caught up in a conflict between Irish Republicans and the British army.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 254
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: UK
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, independent film
Similar in 79%
Incendiary (2008)
Plot Summary:
An adulterous woman's life is torn apart when her husband and infant son are killed in a suicide bombing at a soccer match.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Drama, Romance, Thriller
Country: UK
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: psychological, serious, emotional, suspenseful, erotic, sexy, disturbing, realistic, gloomy
Similar in 86%
Sons & Lovers (2003)
Plot Summary:
Filmmaker Stephen Whittaker adapts author D.H. Lawrence's simmering tale of sex, love, and family. In the years leading up to World War I, the problems faced by many families were uncannily similar to the issues that mankind would still be struggling with nearly a century later. Human relationships remain as fragile as ever, and the only constant in life seems to be a humbling sense of uncertainty. Sarah Lancashire stars in a drama detailing the anguish of first love, and the awkward confusion of first sex.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 217
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: UK
Duration: 192 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, sincere, romantic, period drama
Similar in 75%
Gentlemen (2014)
Plot Summary:
Beaten up, bruised, and scared, a young writer hides in a Stockholm apartment, writing the story of its disappeared inhabitants: the flamboyant and charismatic Morgan brothers.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 965
Genere: Drama, Romance, Thriller
Country: Sweden, Norway
Duration: 141 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, tense, realistic
Similar in 79%
The Break (1997)
Plot Summary:
Dowd, an IRA prisoner in the H-blocks, is gloomily facing his sentence, until he joins a comrade in a risky escape. Dowd begins a new life in New York, but he might as well be in prison again - until he strikes up a friendship with co-worker Tulio and gets to know his close group of Guatemalan exiles.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 394
Genere: Drama, Romance, Thriller
Country: UK, Spain, Germany, Ireland, Japan
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, gloomy, independent film
Similar in 90%
Hussy (1980)
Plot Summary:
Beaty, a prostitute, and Emory, a lighting/sound technician, fall in love while working at the same London cabaret, but their relationship isn't easy.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 617
Genere: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: anime, independent film, rough, serious, neo noir, realistic, sexual, sexy
Similar in 84%
This Is the Sea (1997)
Plot Summary:
The film is set in Northern Ireland shortly after 1994 cease-fire. Hazel is a Protestant and Malachy a Catholic. Romance between them is threatened by Rohan (leader in militant underground and pal of Malachy's brother Padhar), who wants Malachy to be recruited and fight for the cause and by Hazel's brother Jef, who spies on her meetings.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 380
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Ireland
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: touching, bleak, serious, captivating, emotional, realistic, gloomy, independent film
Similar in 76%
Trapped (2008)
Plot Summary:
When Anton O'Neill returns home after five years at sea, he finds that 1970's Ireland is a radically different place to the one he left behind. Northern Ireland is in flames, and civil unrest has spilled south of the border to his beloved home in County Cavan. Blinded by hatred and misguided patriotism 'Anton' is led into an illicit world of violence and is forced to choose between his family and his country. Hunted and on the run, Anton is drawn into a battle of wills with the law and his former accomplices, ending in a showdown in which he must risk everything to protect the woman he loves.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 209
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, History, Romance, Thriller
Country: Ireland
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, bleak
Similar in 76%
Ghosted (2011)
Plot Summary:
‘GHOSTED’ tells a story of survival inside a British Prison. Jack a model prisoner, has kept his head down and done his time. After his wife confirms that she is leaving him, on the anniversary of their son’s death, the only thing that keeps him from going under is the new prisoner, Paul. Jack’s cell mate Ahmed, attempts to guide him on a path of salvation, a path that involves saving Paul from the clutches of the wing beast, Clay.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 660
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: UK
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: rough, suspenseful, serious, bleak, tense, realistic
Similar in 77%
Complicity (2000)
Plot Summary:
Local journalist, Cameron Colley writes articles that are idealistic, from the viewpoint of the underdog. A twisted serial killer seems to have some motives. His brutal murders are also committed on behalf of the underdog. The stories begin to merge and Cameron find himself inextricably and inextricably implicated by the brutal killer. The arms dealer that Cameron plans to expose is found literally 'disarmed' before he can put pen to paper. The brewery chief, loathed by Cameron, who sold up at the expense of his workers, finds himself permanently unemployable. The police are convened of Cameron's guilt and so are half his friends and colleagues. Cameron is forced to employ all his investigative skills to find the real killer and his motive.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 897
Genere: Thriller, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: suspenseful, tense, bleak, serious, realistic, independent film
Similar in 75%
Nothing Personal (1995)
Plot Summary:
A raw depiction of the Belfast 'troubles' as savage tribal warfare. Set shortly after the 1975 cease fire, the film focuses on the tribulations of Kenny, Protestant leader of a group of Shankill Road Loyalists, and his one-time friend Liam, a Catholic.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 524
Genere: Drama
Country: UK, Ireland
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: tense, rough, bleak, serious, realistic, independent film
Similar in 79%
The Outsider (1979)
Plot Summary:
Michael Flaherty (Craig Wasson), an American Vietnam veteran of Irish descent, returns to Belfast to join the cause of his grandfather, Seamus (Sterling Hayden). Soon he finds that he is not as welcomed in his home country as he imagined he would be. Even worse, he's the target of an IRA assassination plot designed to make the British forces look bad in order to elicit financial support from wealthy Americans.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 314
Genere: Drama, History, Thriller
Country: USA, Netherlands
Duration: 122 min
Plot tags: neo noir, independent film, bleak, serious, captivating, emotional, realistic, disturbing
Similar in 76%
Titanic Town (1998)
Plot Summary:
Belfast 1972: The politically naive Bernie is trying to bring up a normal family in less than normal surroundings. Her best friend is accidentally shot dead by the IRA, and her neighbours are constantly raided by the army. In this climate of fear she stands up and condemns the murders. Criticising both factions, her call for a ceasefire is interpreted as an attack against the IRA, and as her peace movement takes momentum, she and her family are placed in the frontline.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 457
Genere: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, independent film
Similar in 86%
Resurrection Man (1998)
Plot Summary:
Belfast, in 1970s. Victor Kelly is a young protestant man who hates the Catholics so much that one night he begins to brutally murder them. A reporter soon tries to uncover the murder and obtained prestige for himself, while Victor sinks deeper into madness.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 826
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: UK
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: disturbing, bleak, serious, suspenseful, independent film, tense, rough, realistic, parody, sexy
Similar in 75%
Five Minutes of Heaven (2009)
Plot Summary:
The story of former UVF member Alistair Little. Twenty-five years after Little killed Joe Griffen's brother, the media arrange an auspicious meeting between the two.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 13000
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: UK, Ireland
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: psychological, emotional, intense, rough, serious, suspenseful, talky, political, educational, tense
Similar in 81%
The Last September (1999)
Plot Summary:
In 1920s Ireland, an elderly couple reside over a tired country estate. Living with them are their high-spirited niece, their Oxford student nephew, and married house guests, who are trying to cover up that they are presently homeless. The niece enjoys romantic frolics with a soldier and a hidden guerrilla fighter. All of the principals are thrown into turmoil when one more guest arrives with considerable wit and unwanted advice.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 938
Genere: Drama, History, Romance
Country: France, UK, Ireland
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: period piece, psychological, serious, emotional, realistic, gloomy, independent film, period drama
Similar in 84%
The Old Garden (2006)
Plot Summary:
Activist Hyun-woo is released from prison after a 17-year stint. Journeying back to the village where he spent some time as a fugitive he recalls the time spent with Yoon-hee, a woman who gave him shelter and companionship.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 432
Genere: Drama, History, Romance
Country: South Korea
Duration: 112 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, sincere, touching
Similar in 79%
The Informant (1997)
Plot Summary:
A former Irish Republican Army fighter, Gingy McAnally (Anthony Brophy), is reluctant about being called back into service after serving time in prison. He executes the grisly task but ends up captured by a sympathetic British police lieutenant named Ferris (Cary Elwes). The intimidating Chief Inspector of the Belfast Police (Timothy Dalton) convinces Gingy that his best hope is to become an informant and turn in other IRA operatives. As Gingy's marriage unravels under the stress, he is forced to come to terms with the fact that in this war both sides lose. Three men, three political circles, each fighting for their lives, each with their own agenda in the battle for Northern Ireland.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 673
Genere: Drama
Country: Ireland, USA
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: tense, serious, realistic, suspenseful, independent film
Similar in 85%
Half of a Yellow Sun (2013)
Plot Summary:
An epic love story: Olanna and Kainene are glamorous twins, living a privileged city life in newly independent 1960s Nigeria. The two women make very different choices of lovers, but rivalry and betrayal must be set aside as their lives are swept up in the turbulence of war.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Nigeria, UK
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: thought provoking, bleak, serious, captivating, realistic, disturbing
Similar in 89%
Hidden Agenda (1990)
Plot Summary:
In Ireland, American lawyer Ingrid Jessner and her activist partner, Paul Sullivan, struggle to uncover atrocities committed by the British government against the Northern Irish during the "Troubles." But when Sullivan is assassinated in the streets, Jessner teams up with Peter Kerrigan, a British investigator acting against the will of his own government, and struggles to uncover a conspiracy that may even implicate one of Kerrigan's colleagues.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: UK
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: controversial, political, political thriller, suspense, mysterious, independent film, tense, rough, thought provoking, bleak
Similar in 78%
Beyond the Limit (1983)
Plot Summary:
Set in a small politically unstable Latin American country, the story follows the half English and half Latino Dr. Eduardo Plarr, who left his home to find a better life. Along the way he meets an array of people, including British Consul Charley Fortnum, a representative in Latin America who is trying to keep Revolution from occurring. He is also a remorseful alcoholic. Another person the doctor meets is Clara, whom he immediately falls in love with, but there is a problem: Clara is Charley's wife.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Romance, Thriller
Country: UK, Mexico
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: tense, serious, realistic, suspenseful, political thriller, biting, neo noir, suspense, tragic
Similar in 75%
Shadow Dancer (2012)
Plot Summary:
Set in 1990s Belfast, a woman is forced to betray all she believes in for the sake of her son.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 13000
Genere: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: UK, Ireland
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: political thriller, serious, tense, suspenseful, realistic, psychological thriller, political, suspense, cult classic, visually stunning
Similar in 76%
Nuts for Love (2000)
Plot Summary:
En 1975, unos meses antes del comienzo de la dictadura militar argentina, Alicia y Marcelo se conocen en un concierto de Sui Géneris. El amor surge inmediatamente entre ellos, pero el retorno del novio de Alicia provoca la separación. En 1982, en Madrid, sus caminos vuelven a cruzarse. Tras el encuentro, se dan cuenta de que, a pesar de que el amor sigue latente, sus destinos discurren por rumbos separados. Años después, en 1990, tras otro encuentro casual, Marcelo decide hacer frente a sus sentimientos por Alicia: ambos quieren hacer realidad su sueño postergado desde la adolescencia.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 466
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Argentina, Spain
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: touching, sincere, serious, emotional, sentimental, realistic, contemplative, talky, gloomy
Similar in 83%
Asylum (2005)
Plot Summary:
A woman becomes very curious about one of her psychiatrist husband's inmates, a man who was found guilty in the murder and disfigurement of his former wife.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Drama, Romance, Thriller
Country: Ireland, UK
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: psychological, tense, atmospheric, serious, suspenseful, erotic, sexy, psychological thriller, dramatic, period piece