10 Films & Their Unlikely Photographic Companions

Ten iconic films meet ten visionary photographers in Close-Up Culture’s vision of shared psychological landscapes and visual echoes.

1. Aftersun (2022) × Rineke Dijkstra, Almerisa, Wormer, Netherlands

A young girl sitting on a wooden chair, wearing a yellow dress with floral patterns, white socks, and black shoes, positioned in a simple room with a plain wall and carpet.

A childhood memory caught just before it becomes something you can no longer return to.

2. The Piano Teacher (2001) × Francesca Woodman, Self-Portrait at Providence, Rhode Island

A woman sitting against a wall in a polka dot dress, with a distressed expression, covering part of her face with her hand in a dimly lit, peeling room.

A body caught between wanting to disappear and desperately wanting to be seen.

3. Under the Skin (2013) × Daido Moriyama, Stray Dog

A stylized black and white illustration of a dog standing in profile, with a focus on its textured fur and facial features.

Two outsiders moving through the world with the unsettling knowledge that they don’t belong.

4. The Green Knight (2021) × Sally Mann, Deep South

A close-up view of a textured tree trunk in a foggy landscape, with faint silhouettes of trees and a fence in the blurred background.

A journey into an ancient, decaying landscape where the earth itself feels heavy with the threat of mortality.

5. Beau Travail (1999) × Herbert List, Roman Fishermen

A black and white photograph of a man standing at the edge of a calm body of water, facing away from the camera. He is shirtless, wearing shorts, with a fishing boat in the background against a rocky shoreline.

Masculinity transformed into something simultaneously beautiful, physical and quietly threatening.

6. The Souvenir (2019) × Nan Goldin, Misty and Jimmy Paulette in a Taxi, NYC

Two individuals with bold makeup and vibrant hairstyles seated in the back of a taxi, one with blue hair and the other with blonde hair, both wearing stylish, edgy outfits.

The intoxicating intimacy of loving someone before you understand what they’re doing to you.

7. Burning (2018) × Gregory Crewdson, Untitled (Brief Encounter)

A surreal scene depicting a woman in a white dress floating in a flooded living room, surrounded by furniture and household items.

The eerie feeling that something terrible has happened just outside the frame.

8. The Double Life of Véronique (1991) × Vivian Maier, Chicago

A busy street scene with pedestrians crossing, including individuals in traditional clothing, and vintage cars on the road. Neon signs for various businesses and a traffic light visible in the background.

The uncanny possibility that somewhere, another version of your life is happening without you.

9. In the Mood for Love (2000) × Fan Ho, Approaching Shadow

A woman stands against a textured wall, partially shaded by a diagonal shadow, creating a contrast between light and dark.

Two people trapped in a beautifully geometric world of stolen glances, long shadows, and a quiet, aching loneliness.

10. Perfect Days (2023) × William Eggleston, Memphis

A close-up view of a vintage bicycle next to a classic car and a charcoal grill with flames, set on a concrete surface.

An ordinary world made quietly miraculous simply because someone stopped to look at it.

Written by

James Prestridge

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