1. Small Town Wisconsin
RENT ON AMAZON
This 2020 dramatic comedy follows a divorced father from, you guessed it, small-town Wisconsin. After losing custody, he takes his son on one last road trip down to Milwaukee. The touching tale is full of beautiful shots of the city, lakefront, Wisconsin State Fair, American Family Field and more.
2. Growing Up Milwaukee
STREAM ON HBO MAX
After premiering at the American Black Film Festival in 2020, this documentary highlighting the stories of three Black teenagers in Milwaukee was picked up by HBO Max. The film deftly portrays the struggles and striving of its three main subjects and features many Milwaukee community leaders.
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3. The Straight Story
STREAM ON DISNEY+
David Lynch, famous for his intensely weird films such as Mulholland Drive, made this sweet, simple movie in 1999 based on a true story. Alvin Straight, a 73-year-old, travels from Iowa to Blue River, Wisconsin, on his riding lawn mower to visit his estranged brother, who suffered a stroke. The story is quintessentially Midwestern and will likely bring a tear to your eye.
4. American Movie
RENT ON AMAZON
This movie started as a project for the UW-Milwaukee Film Department and went on to win a Grand Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival. The hilarious 1999 documentary follows a young filmmaker in Menomonee Falls as he tries desperately to film his first movie.
5. Pig
STREAM ON HULU
In 2021, Nicolas Cage starred in this phenomenal movie about a man, his pig and the profound pain of grief. The movie was co-written and directed by first-time feature filmmaker Michael Sarnoski, a Milwaukee native. It’s amazing. If you don’t believe us, read our review here.
6. When Claude Got Shot
RENT ON AMAZON
Law student and father of three Claude Motley was shot in the face in 2014 in Milwaukee during an attempted carjacking. Only a few days later, the teenager who shot him attempted another carjacking and was shot by the driver, paralyzed and later sentenced to 12 years in prison. This documentary follows all three through the harrowing aftereffects of that violent weekend. It explores the wide-ranging impact of gun violence and incarceration and poses pressing questions about how Milwaukee can address this issue.
