Movies like Strange River
If you like "Strange River" you are looking for atmospheric, emotional and melancholic movies about / with gay interest, gay cruising, coming of age, self discovery, summer, memory and loss of innocence themes of Drama and Romance genre shot in Spain or Germany.
Find your next favorite and similar movies in two steps:
1. Identify all themes of interest from this film (block below).
2. Look for them in the presented list.
Strange River (2025)
314
Original name: Estrany riu
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: Spain, Germany
Duration: 106 min.
Story:
One summer, Dídac travels by bike along the Danube with his family, starting where the river first emerges in Germany. As they journey downstream, he begins seeing a mysterious boy, Alexander, who appears and disappears in the water. Dídac feels himself changing, drawn toward Alexander and away from his brother Biel. Their mother, Monika, who once took the same trip as a teenager, drifts into memories of a past summer love. When she sees Dídac and Alexander together, she encourages them to continue the journey alone. But as twilight falls, Dídac begins to question who Alexander truly is.
Style:
atmospheric, emotional, melancholic, contemplative, psychological
Audience:
teen drama
Plot:
gay interest, gay cruising, coming of age, self discovery, summer, memory, loss of innocence, family drama, identity, longing, supernatural, nostalgia, bittersweet, haunting, cycling, nature, macabre, road trip, intimacy, gay, river, father son relationship, 16 year old, sexual awakening, sexual desire ...
Movie in categories
Most similar movies to Strange River
The list contains related movies ordered by similarity. Recommendation engine sorted out melancholic, emotional, psychological and contemplative films with plots about coming of age, bittersweet, identity, intimate, lgbt, gay and gay interest mostly in Drama, Romance and Comedy genres. Some movies like Strange River: True Love (2004), Orange Girl (2009), Sugar Orange (2004), Longing (2003), Jaanu (2020). The matching attributes are highlighted in bold.
472
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 72 min.
Story:
Seven short stories about growing up gay in America and searching for true love.
Style:
anthology, romantic drama, heartfelt, emotional, independent film ...
Plot:
gay, lgbt, coming of age, identity, sexuality, lgbtq, male protagonist, self discovery, relationships, acceptance, community, slice of life ...
Similarity:
95%
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: Norway, Germany, Spain
Duration: 80 min.
Story:
The film is based on a 2003 novel by the same name, written by Norwegian author Jostein Gaarder. The main character is the young boy Georg who one day finds a long letter from his deceased father. The letter tells, among other things, about the ...
Style:
emotional, romantic drama, sentimental, melancholic, poetic ...
Plot:
father son relationship, love story, longing, coming of age, family drama, bittersweet, serendipity, nostalgia, flashback, memory, empathy, young adult ...
Place:
spain
Similarity:
75%
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: Germany
Duration: 86 min.
Story:
Lukas is Sugar, Clemens is Orange. Together, they are two ten-year-old boys who are inseparable. More than just playmates, they share a unique bond which seems predestined to last a lifetime. Until, that is, powerful emotions come to the fore and a ...
Style:
romantic drama, melancholic, heartfelt, psychological, tension ...
Plot:
childhood friend, coming of age, friendship, reconciliation, young love, gay, identity, misunderstanding, memory, nostalgia, longing, healing ...
Similarity:
67%
267
Genre: Romance, Drama, Adventure
Country: Germany
Duration: 80 min.
Story:
Cyrus, Tim and Erik were high school buddies and meet again ten years later. They spend the summer together in Brazil. All of them are occupied in dealing with experiences from their past but new developments make them face their inner conflicts and ...
Style:
melancholic, emotional, atmospheric, tropical, reflective ...
Plot:
gay, male friendship, redemption, murder, friendship, longing, self discovery, summer, male bonding, intimate, nostalgia, coming of age ...
Time:
2000s
Place:
brazil
Similarity:
65%
Movie in collections
2K
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: India
Duration: 151 min.
Story:
Decades post-high school, Ram and Jaanu meet at their school's reunion and explore their past thoughts consisting of affection, care, depth and grieve all over the period of one evening.
Style:
emotional, romantic drama, captivating, thrilling, psychological ...
Plot:
relationships, childhood love, nostalgia, male female relationship, problem, high school reunion, relationship problems, bittersweet, longing, lost love, memory, reflection ...
Place:
india
Similarity:
59%
Genre: Romance, Drama
Country: South Korea
Duration: 117 min.
Story:
A shy art student joins a surfing club—and falls for the senior who teaches him more than just how to ride the waves.
Style:
emotional, melancholic, psychological
Plot:
coming of age, young adult, friendship, surfing, boys love, personal growth, self acceptance, self discovery, youth, intimate, identity, lgbtq ...
Place:
seoul
Similarity:
49%
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 62 min.
Story:
A story of a young man running from the truth about his childhood returns in order to correct his past but ends up discovering a side of himself that he suppressed.
Style:
serious, captivating, dramatic, atmospheric, emotional ...
Audience:
teen drama
Plot:
gay, lgbt, lgbtq, black lgbt, nudity, african american, sex scene, identity, coming of age, self discovery, nude, african american protagonist ...
Place:
arizona
Similarity:
48%
143
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: France
Duration: 116 min.
Story:
Laurent is seeking a path in life after living his childhood and teenage years in laziness. He has a conflictual relationship with Rodolphe, his father, and both are too emotional to express their mutual affection. Despite the women of his life ...
Style:
emotional, sensitive, poignant, reflective, melancholic
Plot:
father son relationship, character study, intimate, family drama, bittersweet, relationships, introspection, coming of age, regret, male protagonist, nostalgia, slice of life ...
Time:
2010s, 2000s
Place:
france
Similarity:
47%
Movie in collections
431
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: Thailand
Duration: 96 min.
Story:
'LOVE' starts with two people, but 'FAMILY' is more than just the two.
Style:
psychological, romantic, contemplative, melancholic, captivating ...
Plot:
gay, gay interest, lgbt, gay slur, boys love, father son relationship, gay lead character, gay relationship, love and romance, parenthood, couples, couple relations ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
thailand
Similarity:
47%
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: Taiwan
Duration: 106 min.
Story:
A boy lives with his Grandma and Mr. Lin, the tenant who looks after him and Grandma. But when Grandma passes away, the boy's uncle returns to Taiwan and discovers that ownership of the apartment was transferred to other people.
Style:
emotional, melancholic, tense, atmospheric, realistic ...
Plot:
gay, gay interest, lgbtq, gay sex, lgbt, family drama, adoption, loss, parent child relationship, grief, intimate, sacrifice ...
Time:
2020s
Place:
taiwan
Similarity:
46%
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: France, Spain
Duration: 124 min.
Story:
At the age of 20, Martin leaves his home town and comes to Paris, where he fortunately becomes a model by chance. He meets Alice, his brother's friend, and falls in love with her. They start a passionate relationship, although Martin remains ...
Style:
enigmatic, melancholic, emotional, erotic, psychological ...
Plot:
loneliness, betrayal, runaway, love and romance, haunted by the past, male model, sex scene, making love, brother brother relationship, older woman younger man relationship, lgbt, male female relationship ...
Time:
year 1998, 90s
Place:
paris france, france, europe, spain
Similarity:
45%
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: Germany
Duration: 92 min.
Story:
Parvis, the son of exiled Iranians, copes with life in his small hometown by indulging himself with pop culture, Grindr dates, and raves. After being caught shoplifting, he is sentenced to community service at a refugee shelter where he meets ...
Style:
sexy, melancholic, touching, psychological, tense ...
Plot:
gay, gay interest, gay subtext, gay relationship, gay sex, gay lead character, gay muslim, gay club, refugee, coming of age, gay love, immigrant ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
berlin germany, iran
Similarity:
45%
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: France
Duration: 105 min.
Story:
It's a simple love story. Antonio likes Claudie. But Claudie is not so simple ... Claudie is a young woman who stumbles into reality. Little by little, we discover the life of her and those around her. Her friends, her family, her past ... And ...
Style:
romantic, emotional, contemplative, realistic, poignant ...
Plot:
love story, self discovery, intimate, everyday life, coming of age, slice of life, intimacy, personal growth, friendship, male protagonist, bittersweet, identity ...
Time:
90s
Similarity:
44%
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min.
Story:
A coming of age story about an awkward teenage boy who falls in love with the girl next door, who he soon discovers passed away the year before from Cystic Fibrosis, and he's in love...with a ghost.
Style:
emotional, melancholic, sentimental, touching, psychological ...
Plot:
supernatural romance, ghost, young lovers, death of lover, impossible love, love, girl next door, teenager, coming of age, couple relations, love and romance, love affair ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
usa
Similarity:
42%
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: South Korea
Duration: 78 min.
Story:
Suan, a performing arts high school student, becomes close with Seol, an actress and celebrity. During a trip, they realize that they have feelings for each other. However, misunderstandings pile up too much, and Seol leaves Suan. Suan later becomes ...
Style:
independent film, psychological, thrilling, captivating, poignant ...
Audience:
teen drama
Plot:
coming of age, high school, snow, female friendship, friends, teenager, teenage girl, teen romance, adolescence, life is a bitch, couples, adolescence vs adulthood ...
Place:
seoul
Similarity:
41%
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 105 min.
Story:
A young girl learn to accept love and change, after being sent to live with her uncle in Indiana.
Style:
psychological, touching, contemplative, tense, suspense ...
Plot:
acceptance, small town, uncle niece relationship, friendship, husband wife relationship, death, father daughter relationship, mother daughter relationship, love, family relations, personal growth, family drama ...
Place:
indiana
Similarity:
41%
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: Hungary
Duration: 88 min.
Story:
Directed, written, and co-produced by Zoltan Kamondi), Kisertesek ("Temptations") illustrates the struggle between ancient traditions and the modern world of restless young Marci (Marcell Miklos), a fatherless young man who is considered ...
Style:
art house, emotional, poetic, psychological, melancholic ...
Plot:
father son relationship, search for father, coming of age, family drama, gypsy, social commentary, loss, alienation, identity, outsider, loneliness, small town ...
Time:
2000s
Similarity:
40%
272
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: Thailand
Duration: 97 min.
Story:
Pueng, daughter of a military Colonel, has planned to spend her married life with Mann, a young Lieutenant with a promising future. On the day Martial Law was announced, she received a wedding invitation from a high school friend back in her ...
Style:
romantic drama, heartfelt, sentimental, melancholic, emotional ...
Plot:
wedding, memory, nostalgia, second chance, love triangle, young love, bittersweet, coming of age, small town, friendship, flashback, regret ...
Similarity:
40%
Movie in collections
291
Genre: Drama
Country: Germany
Duration: 101 min.
Story:
A summer trip to Berlin offers a fleeting glimpse into the lives of the country's youth in this vibrant, character-driven drama from director Martin Gypkens. When twentysomething Florian arrives in town to pay a visit to long-lost pal Pit, the ...
Style:
melancholic
Plot:
male nudity, gay interest, friendship, coming of age, lgbt, youth, slice of life, summer, nostalgia, relationships, realism, urban ...
Place:
berlin germany, germany
Similarity:
38%
62
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Netherlands
Duration: 61 min.
Story:
This year, seventy year old grumpy Johan is married with his wife Dora for fifty years. But unfortunately, Johan finds there is nothing to celebrate. Something seems missing... Something that's been out of place for all those years. He spends ...
Style:
emotional, melancholic, existential, reflective, art house
Plot:
lgbt, repression, mature, regret, identity crisis, identity, loneliness, lgbtq, sexuality, bittersweet, marriage crisis, gay love ...
Similarity:
38%
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: Hungary
Duration: 101 min.
Story:
A coming of age story, in flashback, of a group of high school students graduating in 2011. Each will take a different path from here on.
Style:
realistic, emotional, melancholic
Audience:
teen drama
Plot:
high school, youth, coming of age, grownups, graduation, friendship, flashback, self discovery, nostalgia, bittersweet, identity, classmate ...
Similarity:
38%
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: South Korea
Duration: 107 min.
Story:
Little Seung-jae stays up all night and writes letters to So-hee, pretending to be her father in Mars. Leaving Seung-jae's innocent heart behind, So-hee leaves for a big city. Both grown up to be adults, Seung-jae is a postman who writes ...
Style:
emotional, melancholic, romantic drama, sentimental
Plot:
unrequited love, longing, postman, memory, coming of age, heartbreak, lost love, bittersweet, nostalgia, innocence, regret, small town ...
Time:
2000s
Similarity:
38%
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: Germany
Duration: 88 min.
Story:
Mia, Lukas and Jonas always where like one heart and soul since their earliest childhood. Until three years ago when everything changed. Friendship became love that is well beyond all conventions. A Part of the society feels provoked by such kind of ...
Style:
lgbt cinema, tense, psychological, sexy, suspense ...
Plot:
lgbt, gay, bisexual man, friendship, bisexual, gay interest, bisexuality, best friend, friend, friendship between men, youth, threesome ...
Similarity:
37%
315
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: Ireland
Duration: 89 min.
Story:
After 20 years of no contact with his father, Jack McCarthy (played by Hurley) travels from New York to his father Larry's death bed in Cork. Upon arrival he is furious to find his father alive and well and even more so when he then discovers ...
Style:
realistic, psychological, sentimental, contemplative, captivating ...
Plot:
estrangement, father son relationship, homecoming, dying father, parents and children, aging, family relations, haunted by the past, fall in love, family drama, truth, loss ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
ireland, europe
Similarity:
37%
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: Iceland
Duration: 93 min.
Story:
An unexpected first kiss causes Gabriel to feel the electrifying "jitters" of love and lust with the free-spirited Marcus; a perfect way to end a Summer studying abroad. Realizing he is gay, Gabriel returns home and is immediately ...
Style:
psychological, captivating, emotional, realistic, queer cinema
Audience:
teens, pre-teens
Plot:
coming of age, gay teenager, gay, lgbtq, friendship between boys, gay crush, teen suicide, lgbt teen, boy girl friendship, boys love, lgbt, teen party ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
iceland, manchester, england
Similarity:
36%
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min.
Story:
Davy is a 28-year-old writer on a road trip to promote his unpublished collection of short stories. A random phone call in Davy's motel room from a mysterious, sexy woman named Nicole leads to a series of phone sex sessions that surprisingly ...
Style:
realistic, contemplative, atmospheric, captivating, psychological ...
Plot:
gay, self discovery, journey, introspection, mysterious character, on the road, lifestyle, family relations, long distance relationship, love and romance, lgbt, phone sex ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
usa
Similarity:
36%
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: Italy, Spain, Romania, USA
Duration: 114 min.
Story:
Two young lovers change the lives of their parents forever when the parents learn from the joyful experience of their kids, and allow themselves to again find their love.
Style:
romantic drama, heartfelt, emotional, independent film, contemplative ...
Plot:
love story, love, filmmaking, young lovers, tragedy, coming of age, bittersweet, life changing, summer romance, second chance, self discovery, healing ...
Similarity:
36%
Genre: Drama
Country: Indonesia
Duration: 75 min.
Story:
At his mother's request, a university student returns to his home on the island of Sumba, where questions about his late father come to light.
Style:
contemplative, poetic, emotional, art house, atmospheric ...
Plot:
coming of age, father son relationship, family drama, identity, island, self discovery, character study, getting home, mother son relationship, tradition, memory, loss ...
Place:
indonesia
Similarity:
36%
214
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: Germany
Duration: 89 min.
Story:
Andi has come to Fuerteventura to see his estranged father Chris, who left the family years ago to live on the island and hasn't been heard from since. The local surfer clique welcomes Andi with open arms and he quickly falls for surfing ...
Style:
touching, suspenseful
Plot:
gay, romantic triangle, friendship, gay interest, lgbt, secret, estranged father, family secret, love triangle, friend, father son relationship, family relations ...
Similarity:
35%
Genre: Drama, Romance
Country: Argentina
Duration: 92 min.
Story:
Jess is a bohemian youth with secrets to hide from his shrewd parents. James feels trapped living with his irritable mother. After meeting for a sexual encounter, the two young men set off on a spontaneous road trip across rural Argentina to reunite ...
Style:
captivating, sincere, psychological, contemplative, unusual plot structure ...
Plot:
gay interest, gay, coming of age, gay love, gay relationship, road trip, menage a trois, gay youth, ghost, threesome, masturbation, gay sex ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
argentina
Similarity:
34%
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