Tinker ☀️Aug 8, 2025

I'm at a point in life where I crave stories that lack dramatic conflict.

I'm tired of fighting and of struggle. I'm extremely tired of violence and dystopia. And I want to rest in moments of escape and solitude within books and movies to where I can just exist and hold that existence without fear or anxiety.

I want the lofi of a book or movie.

There aren't many examples of that.

Becky Chambers' Monk and Robot Duology is one such example of low to no conflict stories and is a favorite of mine.

Chef (2014) comes close to where all the strife, such as it is, is at the beginning and the rest of the movie is the main character living life and growing closer to those he loves.

There are others. The New World (2005) though showing conflict throughout has a quiet beauty and approach to the story as to be atmospherically aware with a deep stillness.

Tonight I had the wonderful opportunity to watch the movie Perfect Days (2023). Its a moment in time of a man living his life. He has very normal experiences going to work and interacting with the people around him. There is sadness and pain some times. But so much joy and acceptance and stillness.

It is mundane. (How I long for the mundane.)

If you get a chance to watch it, do so. It's available on Kanopy for free with your library card. Its also on other streaming services.

#solarpunk #cozyStories #bookstodon #movies

https://www.kanopy.com/video/14800624

Show threadTinker ☀️

After a moment of reflection, I very specifically do not enjoy saccharine or "feel good" movies.

And while I enjoy comedies, I'm not looking for pick me up movies or anything similar.

Just quiet movies. No or low conflict movies. But simple stories or atmospheric movies with calm peace.

Lofi music
Certain Japanese scroll art (I need to dive into that more)
Cozy and Hygge, Hobbit aesthetics
Some solarpunk
That sort of thing

Aug 8, 2025 at 2:11amWeb
Show threadChantaruAug 8, 2025
@tinker Lars and the real girl type?
I think a handful of short stories from the Metatropolis would fit, but they are mixed up with stories that have conflict.
Show threadJagoffAug 8, 2025
@tinker this perfectly sums up Clerks to me. Idk if the rest of Kevin Smith's stuff is worth checking out or not
Show threadDylanAug 8, 2025

@tinker possibly look into Fishing With John: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishing_with_John

Chill AF music. Kinda trippy/bizarre. No real conflict or even plot.

Fishing with John - Wikipedia

Show threadColorblind CowboyAug 9, 2025

@arubis @tinker Fishing with John is wonderful. I think it helps to have a passing familiarity with Lurie’s world (Waits, Jarmusch). But it’s very low drama.

Funny because I also reco’d Jarmusch.

Show threadFelixAug 8, 2025
@tinker I'd recommend Jacques Tati's movies then – low key, wholesome, and very funny.
Show threadUB_4TeaAug 8, 2025

@strutsulf @tinker

Indeed, his movies are full of short funny stories writte by life. 🤣 🤦‍♂️

https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=jaques+tati+hulot+holiday&mid=B61DE3D8FADA68F53228B61DE3D8FADA68F53228&FORM=VIRE

jaques tati hulot holiday - Search Videos

Show threadAnneHAug 8, 2025
@strutsulf @tinker The sounds are amazing. So naturally comical. The one where he goes on holiday & the beachside cafe door keeps squeaking. & the one where each time he swings the window open the reflected sunshine makes the bird sing. Genius😂
Show threadOut of Control   🇨🇦Aug 8, 2025

@strutsulf @tinker Love Jacques Tati. As a kid my dad would get us to watch his films, mostly Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot. Oh my gosh, the door hinge! 🤣

Anyone looking to escape today’s world, this is it.

Show threadZimmieAug 8, 2025

@tinker Like the latter part of A Beautiful Mind?

A bunch of romances likely qualify. Practically any documentary. Probably some heist movies, too (e.g, Ocean’s 11 - not so much peaceful, but the conflict is relatively abstract, and it’s more about the camaraderie than the conflict).

My Dinner with André?

Solaris? I enjoy both versions for different reasons.

The Man from Earth?

Show threadI've moved to [email protected]Aug 8, 2025
@tinker when I think of quiet movies, my first thought is The Secret of Roan Innish,
Show threadSteve GisselbrechtAug 8, 2025

@tinker

Tokyo Story!

Also I read The Magic Mountain and it's very long and approximately nothing happens, and it's wonderful, and the next book I read, I was very confused. There kept being all this … PLOT happening.

Show threadJo - pièce de résistanceAug 8, 2025

@stevegis_ssg @tinker

I tried to read The Magic Mountain…kept hoping for something to happen and at a certain point I realized nothing was going to happen and stopped reading.

Show threadSamhain NightAug 8, 2025
@tinker I reccomend Enchanted April and A Room With a View
Show threadJo - pièce de résistanceAug 8, 2025

@tinker

You might also enjoy watching suminogashi being made. It’s very relaxing to watch.
Or this YT channel of zen garden pattern exploration. (ASMR)
https://youtu.be/wxflcCxqebU

Zen garden - Pattern explorations

YouTube
Show threadtentative existenceAug 8, 2025
@tinker What you're describing is the only sort of material I can even take in. Shultze gets the Blues is a film that went to a new level of slow paced and low key, that I found compelling. Books have always been rough - between my need for non-action and a list of ptsd triggers that come up in so many creative works, I ended up having to write the books I needed. I'm not recommending those or even listing them, just relating about the ubiquitousness of certain types of assault to one's senses.
Show threadtentative existenceAug 14, 2025
@tinker I thought of another that fits into these parameters: The Man in the Hat (main character played by Ciarán Hinds).
Show threadD2Aug 8, 2025

@tinker an interesting challenge.

Kurosawa’s movie Ikiru set fire to my passion for foreign films - a salaryman learns he’s dying and spends the movie finally living. Naturally, Bill Nighy’s turn in the role in Living. The newer Walter Mitty (it’s a feel good, it’s not always calm, but *damn* the mood of the places visited) . Gerwig’s Little Women.

Show threadSashinAug 10, 2025
@tinker Have you seen the anime Monster?
Show threadTinker ☀️Aug 11, 2025
@sashin - No, but I appreciate the lead!
Show threadSashinAug 11, 2025

@tinker There's definitely conflict in it, but it definitely fits that vibe a lot in my mind. A lot of it feels quiet and simple to me.

Imagine someone is on the run, but the show seems to be focusing a lot on how they manage practically day-to-day.

Show threadAmgineAug 10, 2025

@tinker

Hmm. I rarely make time to passively be entertained by a movie, and even reading has become less-obsessive, though I dive deeply into eclectic audio in the manner of a gourmand than gourmet. But…

One of the very few movies I have watched more than once is _Eat, Drink, Man, Woman_. Which is complicated. It is a family love story, so yes there is conflict. It is also an understated comedy. And it is about food, amazing food. In every scene, the food is the real text; not the script.

Show threadTinker ☀️Aug 11, 2025
@Amgine - That sounds amazing. I'll take a look at it!
Show threadAmgineAug 11, 2025

@tinker

There's a Wikipedia article (with spoilers): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eat_Drink_Man_Woman

Key observation second time I watched: the 'bad' food - cheap noodle shop - is an act of rebellion. Which changes how I see all the food.

Eat Drink Man Woman - Wikipedia

Show threadnobodyAug 11, 2025

@tinker couple of my favorites in no particular order..

Biggest Little Farm: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8969332/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1
God must be crazy: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080801/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_gods%2520must%2520

The Biggest Little Farm (2018) ⭐ 8.0 | Documentary, Family

1h 31m | PG

IMDb
Show threadThad CurtzAug 12, 2025

Another calm and peaceful movie - Kogonada's Columbus,. I also like Jim Jarmusch's Patterson, with Adam Driver.

@tinker

Show threadTinker ☀️Aug 12, 2025
@curtzt - I'm watching Paterson right now! 46mins in!