1) Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day
Frances McDormand stars in this 1930s period piece about strait-laced governess Miss Pettigrew who goes to work for a beautiful singer/actress (Amy Adams) as a secretary. Over the course of a single day, the world changes for both Miss Pettigrew and her new employer, as the pair protect each other, teach each other, and push one another to find true love.
As with many of the films on this list, Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day defies generic expectations to create an emotionally resonant film that far exceeds what we think of when we think “period drama.” Without becoming melodramatic, the film draws out Miss Pettigrew’s apparent repression and exposes it as the defense mechanism of a woman who has been hurt but not beaten by the world. It’s a lovely and surprisingly complex movie, both comedy and drama, coming to a satisfying conclusion for all concerned.