Movies like The Rays and Shadows

A feature-film shortlist from the cached Film Atlas engine. The interactive map may include more titles or newer results. These are similarity matches, not a guarantee of age suitability.

1. 

   01

   Lost Illusions

   Same director

   2021 · 149 min · Drama · History · Romance

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   Lucien de Rubempré, a young, lower-class poet, leaves his family's printing house for Paris. Soon, he learns the dark side of the arts business as he tries to stay true to his dreams.

   Why it connects

   • strong story and style similarity
   • the same director
   • strong genre and movie-style overlap

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2. 

   02

   The Edge of the Blade

   Strong story similarity

   2023 · 101 min · Drama · History

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   In 1887, at a time when duels are in vogue in Paris, Clément Lacaze and Marie-Rose Astié meet. He's a charismatic master of arms; she's a feminist, far ahead of her time. Clément gets caught in a spiral of violence and decides to initiate Marie-Rose in the art of dueling. The two must work together to save face. How far will they go to defend their honor?

   Why it connects

   • strong story and style similarity
   • strong genre and movie-style overlap
   • a closely matched era

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3. 

   03

   Simone: Woman of the Century

   Strong story similarity

   2022 · 140 min · Drama · History

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   Simone Veil's life story through the pivotal events of Twentieth Century. Her childhood, her political battles, her tragedies. An intimate and epic portrait of an extraordinary woman who eminently challenged and transformed her era defending a humanist message still keenly relevant today.

   Why it connects

   • strong story and style similarity
   • strong genre and movie-style overlap
   • a closely matched era

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4. 

   04

   Curiosa

   Strong story similarity

   2019 · 107 min · Drama · History

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   A passionate love story set against a backdrop of sexual freedom, loosely based on the relationship between 19th century authors Pierre Louÿs and Marie de Régnier.

   Why it connects

   • strong story and style similarity
   • strong genre and movie-style overlap
   • shared production studio: Curiosa Films

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5. 

   05

   The Colors of Fire

   Similar atmosphere

   2022 · 135 min · Drama · History

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   February 1927. The funeral of Marcel Péricourt, the most powerful banker in Paris. His daughter Madeleine must take the helm of the financial empire of which she is the heiress. But she has a son, Paul, who with an unexpected and tragic gesture will place her on the path to ruin.

   Why it connects

   • strong genre and movie-style overlap
   • a closely matched era
   • shared production studio: Gaumont

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6. 

   06

   All Your Faces

   Strong story similarity

   2023 · 115 min · Drama

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   Since 2014, France's restorative justice programmes have offered a safe space for supervised dialogue between offenders and victims. Grégoire, Nawelle, and Sabine, victims of heists and violent robberies, agree to join one of these discussion groups alongside offenders Nassim, Issa, and Thomas, all convicted of violent robberies. Meanwhile Chloé, a victim of childhood sexual abuse, prepares for dialogue with her own agressor after learning he has moved back into town.

   Why it connects

   • strong story and style similarity
   • substantial genre overlap
   • a closely matched era

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7. 

   07

   Custody

   Strong story similarity

   2018 · 93 min · Drama · Thriller

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   Miriam and Antoine have recently separated. While she’s willing to permit their 17-year-old daughter Josephine to decide living arrangements for herself, Miriam is desperate to keep her youngest, 11-year-old Julien, away from his father. But the magistrate rules in favour of joint custody, and suddenly the boy is thrown directly into the middle of an escalating parental conflict, where it seems inevitable that sides must be chosen.

   Why it connects

   • strong story and style similarity
   • shared production studio: France 3 Cinéma

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8. 

   08

   Father & Soldier

   Strong story similarity

   2023 · 109 min · Drama · History · War

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   1917. Bakary Diallo enlists in the French army to join his 17-year-old son, Thierno, who has been forcibly recruited. Sent to the front, they will have to face the war together. While Thierno learns to become a man, Bakary will do everything to bring him back safely.

   Why it connects

   • strong story and style similarity
   • strong genre and movie-style overlap
   • a closely matched era

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9. 

   09

   A Bag of Marbles

   Strong story similarity

   2017 · 113 min · Drama · War

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   At the beginning of the 1940s, in a France occupied by Nazi forces, lived the Jewish Joffo family. Happy and tight-knit, she sees her future darken when all members of the family are forced to wear the yellow star. Fearing the worst, the parents organized their family to flee to the free zone in the south of the country. Maurice, twelve years old, and Joseph, ten years old, will therefore leave alone in order to maximize their chances of finding their older brothers already settled in Nice. The brothers left to their own devices demonstrate an incredible amount of cleverness, courage, and ingenuity to escape the enemy invasion and to try to reunite their family once again.

   Why it connects

   • strong story and style similarity
   • similar audience response
   • shared production studio: Gaumont

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10. 

    10

    Breathe

    Strong story similarity

    2014 · 91 min · Drama

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    Charlie, a 17-year-old girl tortured by doubt, is thrilled when she becomes friends with Sarah, but when Sarah tires of Charlie and looks for a new friend, their relationship takes an ominous turn.

    Why it connects

    • strong story and style similarity
    • substantial genre overlap
    • shared production studio: Gaumont

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