Best movies like When the Whales Came
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
A pair of children befriend an eccentric old man, who lives isolated on the far shore of their island home. But it turns out that the old man knows a terrible secret about the island and the whales who sometimes come. Meanwhile WWI is making life hard in the village.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 450
Genere: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: independent film
Best tv shows and movies like When the Whales Came (1989):
Similar in 76%
The Road Dance (2021)
Plot Summary:
A young girl lives in the Outer Hebrides in a small village in the years just before WWI. Isolated and hard by the shore, her life takes a dramatic change when a terrible tragedy befalls her.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 991
Genere: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 116 min
Plot tags: costume drama
Similar in 80%
To the Lighthouse (1983)
Plot Summary:
A faithful dramatization of Virginia Woolf's novel. A lecturer, his family, the spinster Aunt Lily, an old friend, and a student, Charles Tansley, spend a summer in an isolated house in Cornwall just before World War I. The stern Mr. Ramsay scolds everybody, while Mrs. Ramsay is the linchpin in keeping the family together. Aunt Lily paints, and the family talk about sailing to the lighthouse, but the trip is always postponed.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 227
Genere: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 115 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 84%
Experience Preferred... But Not Essential (1982)
Plot Summary:
A shy, introverted young girl takes a summer job at a seaside resort in Wales, where she finds the staff, the owners and patrons unlike anyone she has ever met before.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 267
Genere: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 80 min
Plot tags: independent film, tense, funny, light, sexy, clever, feel good, unusual plot structure, humorous, sweet
Similar in 85%
Venus Peter (1989)
Plot Summary:
Produced for Scottish television, Venus Peter was financed by the Orkney Islands Council. The title character is transformed into a "sea child" when he is baptized with salt water. Though his family tries hard to accustom him to life on land, Peter (Gordon R. Strachan) yearns to go to sea -- or, at the very least, to escape his cloistered community. He finds a kindred spirit in Princess Paloma (Juliet Cadzow), the village "looney," who, alas, is eventually carted away to an institution. Briefly fascinated by poetry and music, thanks to his lovely teacher Miss Balsibie (Sinead Cusack), Peter is disillusioned when he finds his teacher in the arms of her lover (and out of her clothing). The final blow to Peter's idealism comes when his grandfather's ship is repossessed. Despite the bleakness of his surroundings and his seemingly dead-end existence, however, Peter never completely lets go of his dreams, and the film ends on a positive note.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 122
Genere: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: touching, semi autobiographical, cult film
Similar in 85%
That Summer! (1979)
Plot Summary:
Often described as an unofficial sequel to Scum – Winstone's main character Steve is fresh from Borstal - the rather gentler-toned That Summer holds special memories for Ray as he met his future wife Elaine during filming. It also notched him his first major award nomination, in the BAFTAs' now-defunct category 'Most Promising Newcomer to a Leading Film Role'. (He was one of two "losers", the other being a Sigourney Weaver for Alien!) The Torquay-set Last Summer follows a pair of northern lasses who travel south to work as hotel chambermaids - where they meet rough-diamond Steve and enjoy various scrapes and adventures as he prepares for an around-the-bay swimming contest. A nostalgic snapshot of late-1970s Britain, as seen through the 'outsider' eyes of San Diego-born, Chicago-raised Cokeliss.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 150
Genere: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: offbeat, serious, realistic
Similar in 76%
Birch Interval (1976)
Plot Summary:
A young girl is sent to live with Amish relatives in post-war Pennsylvania, where her life dramatically changes.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 62
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: independent film
Similar in 82%
Somewhere in Tonga (2017)
Plot Summary:
There is nothing that keeps passionate social worker Wolski in Germany. On an uninhabited island in the Kingdom of Tonga he wants to give criminal teenagers a second chance. His first candidate is Marcel, 16, and no stranger to drugs, violence and crime. So a visit to the main island ends in disaster. Wolski only narrowly manages to keep the boy from being send to prison. The deal: From now on, Marcel is not allowed to leave the remote island at all.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 70
Genere: Drama
Country: Germany
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: psychological, sincere, tense, light, unusual plot structure, contemplative
Similar in 86%
Nahapet (1977)
Plot Summary:
Story of a strong-willed man, Nahapet, who lost his family during the 1915 Genocide is an eternal story of resurrection.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 430
Genere: Drama
Country: Soviet Union
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 90%
The Optimists of Nine Elms (1973)
Plot Summary:
A retired entertainer makes his living as a street musician on the streets of London. Two young children befriend the old musician, brightening his otherwise colorless life.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 552
Genere: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: independent film, touching, offbeat, humorous, realistic, semi serious, entertaining, freeze frame
Similar in 84%
The World of Ludovic (1993)
Plot Summary:
Ludovic, a young boy neglected by his artsy parents, falls in love with Sophie, the daughter of a piano teacher. They meet in secret places in the city. Not long after Sophie's father finds them naked together in her room, Ludovic is sent away to spend time with his grandparents. Sophie runs away from home to join him, and they hide along the seashore and in abandoned buildings. After they are found, their parents try to keep them separate, but they both fall into deep depressions.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 199
Genere: Drama
Country: Belgium, Netherlands, France
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 87%
Man, Woman and Child (1983)
Plot Summary:
A California professor (Martin Sheen), his wife (Blythe Danner) and his daughters make room for his orphaned illegitimate French son (Sebastian Dungan).
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 446
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: independent film, sentimental, uplifting, touching, emotional, realistic
Similar in 79%
The Genesis Children (1972)
Plot Summary:
A charismatic leader and a high-spirited student group are on holiday in Italy. The surreal adventures of these friends are a free-flowing, four-part "multi-sensual symphony," bereft of traditional story line. One national critic described the boys' anarchic revelry as a "dream-like descent from civilization into the chaos reminiscent of Lord of the Flies.".
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 463
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: independent film, art film, gay cinema
Similar in 90%
Treasures of the Snow (1980)
Plot Summary:
An adaptation of the book "Treasures of the Snow“ written by Patricia M. St. John.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 268
Genere: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: sincere, touching, feel good, serious, captivating, realistic
Similar in 82%
Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass (2015)
Plot Summary:
A coming of age story set in the Vietnamese countryside during the late 1980s, as told through the eyes of a 12 year old boy named Thieu. Thieu and his younger brother Tuong share and do everything together. Their days unfold like a whimsical and comical journey filled with innocence, wonder, confusion and curious adventures. Tuong idolizes his older brother’s confidence and constantly strives for his approval. But in fact, Thieu’s “over-confidence” is to compensate for his overwhelming insecurities. Thieu is constantly jealous of his younger brother when it comes to grades, talent and affection from the girl next door, Moon. This leads to an act of violence which leaves Tuong paralyzed and bedridden. In coming to terms with his own conscience, Thieu attempts to redeem himself and discovers the true meaning of brotherhood.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama
Country: Vietnam
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: psychological, touching, sentimental, unusual plot structure, captivating, contemplative, independent film
Similar in 88%
Madame Rosa (1977)
Plot Summary:
Madame Rosa lives in a sixth-floor walkup in the Pigalle; she's a retired prostitute, Jewish and an Auschwitz survivor, a foster mom to children of other prostitutes. Momo is the oldest and her favorite, an Algerian lad whom she raises as a Muslim. He asks about his parents; she answers evasively. As she ages and takes fewer children, Momo must do more for her; as money is tight, he tries to earn pennies on the street with a puppet. He's a beautiful man-child, and Madame Rosa makes him promise never to sell himself or become a pimp. A film editor, Nadine, befriends him, and his father appears as well. Madame Rosa reaches her last days in fear of hospitals, and Momo must act.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama
Country: France
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: psychological, sincere, serious, emotional, realistic, gloomy
Similar in 87%
Ruby Blue (2007)
Plot Summary:
An elderly man's innocent friendship with an eight year old girl is tarnished by the assumptions of a community when the little girl goes missing.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 236
Genere: Drama
Country: UK, Belgium
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: psychological, serious, realistic, touching, crying
Similar in 76%
The Poll Diaries (2010)
Plot Summary:
In 1914 on a family estate, Oda helps a wounded anarchist, and as their illicit friendship deepens, a family turmoil erupts as the war closes in.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama
Country: Germany, Austria, Estonia
Duration: 129 min
Plot tags: atmospheric, tense, captivating, contemplative, psychological, serious, realistic
Similar in 76%
King Lear (1970)
Plot Summary:
King Lear, old and tired, divides his kingdom among his daughters, giving great importance to their protestations of love for him. When Cordelia, youngest and most honest, refuses to idly flatter the old man in return for favor, he banishes her and turns for support to his remaining daughters. But Goneril and Regan have no love for him and instead plot to take all his power from him. In a parallel, Lear's loyal courtier Gloucester favors his illegitimate son Edmund after being told lies about his faithful son Edgar. Madness and tragedy befall both ill-starred fathers.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 925
Genere: Drama
Country: UK, Denmark
Duration: 137 min
Plot tags: sad, independent film, bleak, serious, emotional, realistic, talky
Similar in 86%
Burning Secret (1988)
Plot Summary:
Burning Secret is a 1988 drama film, based on the short story Brennendes Geheimnis by Stefan Zweig, about an American diplomat's son who befriends a mysterious baron while staying at an Austrian spa during the 1920s. The film was written and directed by Andrew Birkin.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 506
Genere: Drama
Country: UK, West Germany
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: psychological, tense, sincere, serious, captivating, realistic, contemplative, independent film
Similar in 86%
Sarah, Plain and Tall: Winter's End (1999)
Plot Summary:
The third installment of the Sarah trilogy provides a glorious and touching story of a family drawn together by adversity. On a cold winter day a stranger shows up at the farm. He is slow to reveal his identity. When they find out he is Jacobs father, John Witting, thought long ago dead, hard questions about the past are difficult to get answered.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: sentimental, touching, serious, captivating, realistic
Similar in 88%
The Golden Seal (1983)
Plot Summary:
A lonely 10-year-old boy living with his parents in a remote coastal part of Alaksa, spontaneously finds a legendary golden seal and her newborn pup. But the greed for her valuable pelt sets off the hunters, including his own father, the local natives, and an ambitious poacher in pursuit the seal. The golden seal and her cub are hunted for a huge bounty on her head and the mythological legend.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 366
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: independent film, sentimental, touching, feel good, semi serious
Similar in 81%
The Ark (2015)
Plot Summary:
Noah, a farmer and family man, is instructed by an angel to build an ark in the middle of a desert in order to save both his family and the faithful from a devastating flood. A seemingly impossible task, especially when his sons refuse to believe him and help, Noah risks ridicule and humiliation from the degenerate townsfolk as well as his loving but exasperated family, in his quest to carry out his God-given task.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 424
Genere: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: biblical, serious, captivating, epic, suspense, spiritual, touching
Similar in 79%
Mondo (1995)
Plot Summary:
Mondo is a homeless young boy, with a big smile, who wanders around Nice looking for food and a place to sleep.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 610
Genere: Drama
Country: France
Duration: 80 min
Plot tags: touching, feel good, serious, realistic
Similar in 76%
Wait Until Spring, Bandini (1989)
Plot Summary:
Rocklin Colorado, 1925. A hard cold winter. Young Arturo Bandini loves his father Svevo, his mother Maria and his brothers. Even though his bricklayer father wastes the little money he has in the Imperial Poolhall and his time with the rich American widow, Hildegarde. Even though his beautiful and pious mother lets his father get away with that, even if his little brother wets the bed. Arturo loves them all. He also loves to play baseball, even though he has to wait until spring. And he also loves the movies ... and Rosa. But she doesn't love him.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 710
Genere: Drama
Country: Belgium, France, Italy, USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: independent film, rough, serious, realistic, gloomy
Similar in 85%
The Lost & Found Family (2009)
Plot Summary:
When her husband dies, Mrs. Ester Hobbes (Ellen Bry, TV's St. Elsewhere) learns that his wealth was just an illusion. Her only real inheritance is a run-down Southern home occupied by a foster family. Slowly, Mrs. Hobbes finds herself making unexpected connections with rebellious teen Justin (Lucas Till, Hannah Montana: The Movie) and the rest of the unwanted kids. Share the journey of discovery in this touching drama of lives transformed.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 329
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: christian film, sentimental, touching, serious, emotional, realistic, indie film
Similar in 75%
Little Men (1998)
Plot Summary:
In this adaptation of the classic novel by Louisa May Alcott, two street kids from Boston find themselves at Plumfield, a rural boarding school run by Jo and her husband -- and they soon learn academic and life lessons they won't ever forget.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 615
Genere: Drama
Country: Canada
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: juvenile, independent film, sentimental, uplifting, touching, feel good, serious, realistic, romantic, clever
Similar in 82%
1st Love (2013)
Plot Summary:
Antoine, 13, spends the summer vacation with his parents in a rented cottage on an island in the middle of the Saint-Lawrence River. His neighbour, 17-year-old Anna, is an enigmatic and lively young woman. Antoine begins to experience the first stirrings of love-which soon yield a troubling brew of anxiety, desire and obsession. He eventually comes across a terrible secret that will forever change his life.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 253
Genere: Drama
Country: Canada
Duration: 80 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, realistic, captivating
Similar in 78%
Cider with Rosie (2015)
Plot Summary:
A semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story set in the Cotswolds during and immediately after the First World War.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 825
Genere: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: realistic, serious, captivating, psychological, sentimental, touching, semi autobiographical
Similar in 83%
Private Peaceful (2012)
Plot Summary:
Set in the fields of Devon and the WW1 battlefields of Flanders, two brothers fall for the same girl while contending with the pressures of their feudal family life, the war, and the price of courage and cowardice.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, War
Country: UK
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, emotional, realistic, crying, weeping, period drama
Similar in 84%
Losing Chase (1996)
Plot Summary:
An intimate and turbulent relationship develops between Chase, a woman recovering from a nervous breakdown and Elizabeth, the caretaker employed to look after her.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 909
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: independent film, emotional, sincere, touching, serious, realistic, contemplative, sentimental, sexy, feel good