6 movies on MUBI you can’t afford to miss this July

Streaming platform MUBI is raking up its content catalogue, bringing to audiences a diverse array of films in different languages. The content on MUBI is hand-picked by the team, ranging from movies by popular directors to award-winning ones. The curated streaming service offers a wide genre of movies to watch, from across the world. OTTplay takes you through a list of titles on MUBI that you need to keep an eye on, this July.

Shirley - July 1

A period drama filled with intrigue and style, Shirley is based on the eponymous 2014 novel inspired by novelist Shirley Jackson's real-life and written by Susan Scarf Merrell. The story of Fred and Rose who move to a small Vermont college town in search of a livelihood. Surprisingly, the young couple receives an offer for free room and board from professor Stanley Hyman, as long as Rose agrees to spend time cleaning up the home and looking after his wife, acclaimed horror author Shirley Jackson.

Katho Upanishad - July 2

A meandering adaptation of a sixth-century BCE Sanskrit text about enlightenment and nirvana, this three-part feature presents a dialogue between a young man, Nachiketa, and Yama, the god of death, about what it is to die. The first part follows Nachiketa through the wilderness. In the second section of the film, Nachiketa encounters Yama, while the third section depicts Joshi walking towards the camera in the median of a busy Indian road. The seemingly unique plotline has got us curious already.

First cow - July 9

A gripping and glorious story of friendship and petty crime on the harsh frontier of the Pacific Northwest, First Cow is set in 1820s Oregon. Two lonely men team up to seek their fortune through a scheme to steal milk from the wealthy landowner’s prized Jersey cow – the first, and only, in the territory – to create delicious fried cakes for sale at the market. This fulfilling tale of male friendship within the pursuit of the American dream is something you shouldn't miss.

Sweat - July 23

Providing an accurate picture of the world in the social media age, Sweat is the story of a fitness influencer Sylwia who has hundreds of thousands of social media followers, endorsement deals, photo spreads in magazines. As the popularity for her content soars, the rising pressure from sponsors and increasingly obsessive fans forces her to confront her deepest insecurities and the exhaustive demands of her lifestyle. The riveting drama exposes the real-life repercussions of our digital culture.

1956, Central Travancore - July 24

Set in the period before the land reforms in Kerala 1956, Central Travancore depicts the story of two brothers Kora and Onan who migrate from Kerala’s Kottayam district to Idukki in the 1950s. The film realistically depicts their journey as they progress through their dreams, desires, fears, fantasies and struggles. Their gripping story as they grapple with the harsh realities of their endeavours is sure to make for an interesting watch.

Wife of a Spy - July 25

Set in rural Japan, the film uncovers a couple's struggle to overcome distrust and stay true to their love in the terrifying times of war. In 1940, in Kobe on the night before the outbreak of World War II, a local merchant Yusaku Fukuhara senses that things are headed in an unsettling direction. Leaving his wife behind, Fukuhara travels to Manchuria where he witnesses a barbarous act. His relationship with his wife, after this incident, isn’t the same anymore.