Best movies like Max Embarrassing 2
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
1979: Cousins Carole and Jérôme go on an organized trip to Odessa, behind the Iron Curtain. During the day, posing as tourists celebrating their engagement, they visit monuments and museums. In the evening they slip away from the group and meet “refuseniks”, Jews persecuted by the Soviet regime for wanting to leave the country. While Carole is motivated by political commitment and a taste for risk, Jérôme’s motivation is Carole.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 151
Genere: Adventure, Drama, History, Romance
Country: France, Canada, Russia, Germany
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: serious, suspenseful, tense, captivating, realistic
Best tv shows and movies like Max Embarrassing 2 (2013):
Similar in 85%
Little Rose (2010)
Plot Summary:
Pressured by his superiors to disgrace public intellectual Warczewski, a professor and respected writer whom they believe to be a "camouflaged Zionist," rough security-services colonel Rozek enlists his sexy but naive girlfriend, Kamila, to insinuate herself into the distinguished older man's life and report on his every move. Not particularly interested in serving communism but eager to please her domineering lover, Kamila accepts the mission, reporting under the code name "Little Rose." As quick scenes contrast Kamila's crude pleasures with Rozek and her more refined experiences with Warczewski, it becomes clear that the more time the unschooled young woman spends with the professor, the more she comes to have true feelings for him.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, History, Romance
Country: Poland
Duration: 118 min
Plot tags: tense, psychological, atmospheric, captivating, sexy, intellectual, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 79%
Paradjanov: Lover of Beauty (2013)
Plot Summary:
A film director Sergey Paradjanov creates brilliant films. His nonconformist behavior conflicts with Soviet System. He is committed to prison for being eccentric.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 314
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Ukraine, France, Georgia, Armenia
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, realistic, stylized
Similar in 75%
Hara Kiri (2016)
Plot Summary:
A punk infused love story of two street skaters, August and Beto, and their last day on earth: they're gonna end it.
IMDB Rating: 4.6
IMDB Votes: 148
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 81 min
Plot tags: psychological, tense, touching, sexy, captivating, suspenseful, disturbing, queer cinema
Similar in 84%
Assa (1987)
Plot Summary:
ASSA is set in Crimea during the winter in the mid eighties. A young musician (Bananan) falls for mobster's (Krymov) young mistress (Alika). The parallel story line involves an 18th century assassination plot.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Crime, Drama, History, Music, Romance
Country: Soviet Union
Duration: 153 min
Plot tags: gloomy, bleak, serious, realistic
Similar in 85%
Graveyard Island (2004)
Plot Summary:
Summer 1985. The headlines dominates of the hunt of a foreign submarine in the Stockholm archipelago. A group of young teenage boys makes unexpected discoveries.
IMDB Rating: 4.3
IMDB Votes: 218
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Mystery
Country: Sweden
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: serious, suspenseful, captivating, disturbing, realistic
Similar in 76%
The Kids from the Port (2013)
Plot Summary:
Miguel makes the journey that his grandfather cannot make because he is locked up by his own family. The mission is very simple, go to a funeral and leave an army jacket on the grave of an old man, a friend of his grandfather. Miguel, accompanied by Lola and Guillermo, leaves that island of cement that is the Nazareth neighborhood. He wanders the outskirts of Valencia, looking for a cemetery and faces a deserted city.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 81
Genere: Adventure, Drama, History
Country: Spain
Duration: 78 min
Plot tags: realistic, atmospheric, touching, bleak, serious, neorealism, gloomy
Similar in 89%
Hiding (2012)
Plot Summary:
New York City teenager Jo (Ana Villafañe) witnesses the gruesome murder of both her parents and is sent to rural Montana as part of the Witness Protection Program. On top of having no cell phone, email or any contact with her past life, plus hiding from a dangerous hitman out to finish her off, Jo must also deal with the drama of being the new kid in the small town's high school (www.tribute.ca).
IMDB Rating: 4.5
IMDB Votes: 512
Genere: Drama
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, suspenseful, captivating
Similar in 77%
80 Millions (2011)
Plot Summary:
A movie about the power of thousands, the courage of hundreds and friendship of a few, thanks to whom a change of fate of millions became possible. Poland, lower Silesia, the beginning of a very cold winter 1981. After a series of entrapments by the security service a confrontation between the opposition and the communists seems to be inevitable. Just before the proclamation of martial law a group of young solidarity activists decide to play va banque and organize a rash action to take out 80 million of the union money from one of the Wroclaw’s banks before the account is blocked. Security service officers follow their steps. It’s the beginning of a gripping tournament in which also priests and curb dealers will play their parts. Each side has aces up their sleeve.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 978
Genere: Action, Drama, History
Country: Poland
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, suspenseful, tension, political, suspense
Similar in 76%
The Legend of Rita (2000)
Plot Summary:
Rita Vogt is a radical West German terrorist who abandons the revolution and settles in East Germany with a new identity provided by the East German secret service. She lives in constant fear of having her cover blown, which unavoidably happens after the German re-unification.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, History, Romance
Country: Germany
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: melancholic, captivating, tense, suspenseful, political, stylized, sad, serious, realistic, tragic ending
Similar in 90%
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 86%
Dance with the One (2010)
Plot Summary:
Nate's little brother and hippie dad depend on him for literally everything, but the well-meaning, small time pot dealer Nate wants nothing more than to run away with Nikki, the love of his life, and get out of Texas.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 24
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 83 min
Plot tags: realistic, tense, captivating, suspense, exciting, rough, serious, suspenseful, independent film
Similar in 86%
No Limit (2012)
Plot Summary:
A terminally ill French secret service agent is hired by Hydra, a mysterious black ops organization set up by the government, to fight crime by any means necessary and receive experimental treatment in return. Also, his daughter hates him.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 447
Genere: Action, Adventure, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: France
Duration: 52 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, suspenseful, tense, captivating, rough, realistic
Similar in 82%
Paper Soldier (2008)
Plot Summary:
In 1961, a Soviet medical officer is conflicted about his position overseeing the health of future cosmonauts.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 934
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Russia, Netherlands
Duration: 118 min
Plot tags: psychological, sincere, touching, serious, captivating, atmospheric, realistic, art house, contemplative, talky
Similar in 82%
Bones (2010)
Plot Summary:
The heart breaking coming of age story of four teens growing up in 1989 blue collar New York, and the bond that would tie them together for life.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 398
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: realistic, psychological, tense, captivating, touching, serious, suspenseful, crying
Similar in 82%
Summer Rain (2006)
Plot Summary:
A coming-of-age tale charting the first loves, lusts and obsessions of friends on vacation at the end of the 1970s.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Spain, UK, USA
Duration: 118 min
Plot tags: atmospheric, captivating, sincere, touching, serious, realistic, stylized
Similar in 86%
Love is the Word (2013)
Plot Summary:
Love is the Word is a moving, romantic and funny coming-of-age drama about the magic of first love and the misery of first lost, set in 1978: the year 'Grease' hit the big screen.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 630
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Netherlands, Belgium
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, sentimental, realistic, captivating, emotional, sexy
Similar in 83%
Shores of Hope (2012)
Plot Summary:
In this vivid historical drama set in 1980s East Germany, two dockworkers and best friends who dream of escaping the repressive regime are forced to choose their loyalties when the state police promise them safe passage out of the country — if they inform on their co-workers and union leader.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 551
Genere: Drama
Country: Germany
Duration: 116 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, suspenseful, captivating, tense
Similar in 76%
The Invisible Eye (2010)
Plot Summary:
Spying on her students, a teacher finds an exciting hobby.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 841
Genere: Drama
Country: Argentina, France, Spain
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: realistic, tense, serious, psychological, captivating, sincere, bleak, contemplative, gloomy
Similar in 79%
Beneath the Harvest Sky (2013)
Plot Summary:
A teen drama set during the fall potato harvest in a small northern Maine town.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 116 min
Plot tags: captivating, realistic, psychological, tense, touching, serious, suspenseful, independent film
Similar in 86%
The Orheim Company (2012)
Plot Summary:
A strong, human tale about a boy growing up with an alcoholic father, but also an energetic story about teenage lust, pain and passion – about liberation and redemption.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama
Country: Norway
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: realistic, touching, serious, emotional, captivating, sincere, stylized
Similar in 81%
Under the Protection of Ka'Bah (2011)
Plot Summary:
Growing up in West Sumatra in the 1920s, Hamid and Zainab comes from families from very different social classes. Hamid is poor, while Zainab is wealthy. Hamid receives a scholarship from Zainab’s father and Hamid’s mother works for Zainab’s family. Hamid and Zainab fall in love and dream of finding a way for society to accept their union, and also to make the pilgrimage to Mecca.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 124
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: Indonesia
Duration: 121 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, emotional, realistic
Similar in 82%
Purple Butterfly (2003)
Plot Summary:
Ding Hui is a member of Purple Butterfly, a powerful resistance group in Japanese occupied Shanghai. An unexpected encounter reunites her with Itami, an ex-lover... and officer with a secret police unit tasked with dismantling Purple Butterfly.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, History, War
Country: China, France
Duration: 127 min
Plot tags: thought provoking, serious, realistic, bleak, captivating, suspenseful, tense, atmospheric, non-linear
Similar in 75%
An Ordinary Execution (2010)
Plot Summary:
During the last days of Stalin's reign, a doctor (Marina Hands) tries to go unnoticed in a society of mutual dread where a neighbour or colleague might "denounce" you to the authorities at any moment.But tales of her healing touch have spread and one night she is taken away, not to the infamous Lubyanka prison, but to the Kremlin to attend the ailing Comrade Stalin himself. Uncle Joe (André Dussollier), an old man racked with pain but still as watchful and deadly as a snake.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 583
Genere: Drama, History
Country: France
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: thought provoking, serious, captivating, emotional, realistic, tense, sincere, bleak, contemplative, adaptation directed by original author
Similar in 81%
Operation Sunflower (2014)
Plot Summary:
Through the eyes of the scientist in charge of the operation, we see the events leading to Israel developing her nuclear option in the 1960's.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 52
Genere: Drama, History
Country: Israel, France
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, realistic, suspenseful, tense
Similar in 78%
Restless (2012)
Plot Summary:
A young woman finds out that her mother worked as a spy for the British Secret Service during World War II and has been on the run ever since.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: UK, Germany
Duration: 180 min
Plot tags: tense, serious, suspenseful, captivating, realistic, historical drama, neo noir, period drama
Similar in 82%
A Different Loyalty (2004)
Plot Summary:
In January 1963, British journalist Leo Cauffield suddenly disappears from his home in Beirut. His wife Sally knew that he was working part-time for British intelligence, but was not prepared to be told by the British embassy that they suspect he has defected to Communist Russia. As his wife puts together the pieces of the mysterious jigsaw of the past, tracking her passionate relationship with her husband and his history as former head of MI6’s counter-espionage section, her relentless search for the truth takes her to London, New York and finally Moscow.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, Romance, Thriller
Country: Canada, UK, USA, Malta
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 88%
Legacy (2013)
Plot Summary:
Set in the 1970s London during the height of the Cold War when a young spy discovers the disturbing truth about his father's complex past. Based on Alan Judd's 2001 novel Legacy, the second in the Thoroughgood series after 1981's A Breed Of Heroes (adapted by the BBC in 1994). As the three day week, petrol rationing and industrial strife plunge Britain into a state of emergency, MI6 trainee spy Charles Thoroughgood is asked to reconnect with an old university friend, Russian diplomat Viktor Koslov, with a view to 'turning' him. Viktor has his own agenda, though, and reveals a shocking truth about Charles's own family that threatens to derail him, both personally and professionally. He is catapulted into a dangerous personal odyssey to uncover the truth but finds himself drawn into a lethal KGB plot to mount an attack within the UK. His life is further complicated by a relationship with the wife of another agent, which forces him to realise that betrayal can take many forms.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 461
Genere: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: UK
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, tense, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 84%
Farewell (2009)
Plot Summary:
Engaging, emotional and riveting, FAREWELL is an intricate and highly intelligent thriller pulled from the pages of history— about an ordinary man thrust into the biggest theft of Soviet information of the Cold War. Ronald Reagan called this piece of history - largely unknown until now - “one of the most important espionage cases of the 20th century.” FAREWELL begins in 1981, after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. A French businessman based in Moscow, Pierre Froment, (Guillaume Canet) makes an unlikely connection with Grigoriev (Emir Kusturica), a senior KGB officer disenchanted with what the Communist ideal has become under Brezhnev. Grigoriev begins passing Froment highly sensitive information about the Soviet spy network in the US.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Drama, Romance, Thriller
Country: France
Duration: 113 min
Plot tags: tense, serious, realistic, suspenseful, political, sincere
Similar in 88%
Snow Pirates (2015)
Plot Summary:
In the shadow of the military coup in 1980, these children aged 12-13, playing their childish games soon arrive at an understanding of life's responsibilities and are hastily introduced into the world of the grownups.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 334
Genere: Drama, History
Country: Turkey
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: sentimental, serious, realistic, captivating, bleak
Similar in 75%
East/West (1999)
Plot Summary:
June 1946: Stalin invites Russian emigres to return to the motherland. It's a trap: when a ship-load from France arrives in Odessa, only a physician and his family are spared execution or prison. He and his French wife (her passport ripped up) are sent to Kiev. She wants to return to France immediately; he knows that they are captives and must watch every step.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, History, Romance
Country: Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, France, Spain
Duration: 121 min
Plot tags: touching, heartbreaking, realistic, harsh, sentimental, suspenseful, emotional, sincere, serious, gloomy