Neptune's Closet

From the director: "I set out to look at a case of police surveillance and infiltration, to listen carefully to the songs and signs of a secret society, and in the end, I turned towards the study of a life. I uncovered a book that was kept at the club in 1914, and in it, a poem about the author’s special friends: sea snails. When faced with ostracizing opprobrium and hate, it is moving to remember so many of us turned in solitude toward Nature, and to the Sea."

Directed by Jamie Ross, Neptune's Closet leans on a strong ensemble — Abdi Taslimi, Ron Athey — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 2023.