Joanna Hogg is a British film director and screenwriter whose work has been highly acclaimed since the beginning of her career. Making her directorial debut on the big screen in 2007 with Unrelated, Hogg quickly followed this work with Archipelago, which was very well-received by critics. Her style of filmmaking is unique as she prefers to use long takes and minimal camera movement as well as choosing to cast both professional and non-professional actors in her films. Though her filmography has spanned less than two decades, Hogg has still managed to bless the film industry with some gems.
While Hogg has a history of directing TV series, we are going to focus on her cinematic direction. Since her debut, Hogg has managed to bring her best to the big screen, providing unique pieces of work for everyone to enjoy. From the dysfunctional family friction in Archipelagoto the semi-autobiographical tale in The Souvenir, Hogg always provides the audience with quality content, but how do we rank these films? These are the best Joanna Hogg movies, ranked.
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6 Exhibition
BBC Films
Exhibition tells the story of a couple whose artistic lifestyle is thrown into chaos when their dream home is put up for sale. The film stars Viv Albertine and Liam Gillick as characters V and D. The film is an up-close examination of marriage that maintaining Hogg’s typical aesthetic form of filming with minimalist yet unconventional approaches to storytelling. Exhibition (AKA London Project) premiered at the Locarno Film Festival, where Hogg received a nomination for the Golden Leopard. Exhibition seems to have fallen under the radar as it has gone relatively unnoticed by most, however, those who have seen the film are seemingly underwhelmed as reviews of Exhibition are not the greatest.
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5 The Souvenir: Part II
A24
The sequel to The Souvenir, The Souvenir: Part II follows Julie (Honor Swinton Byrne) as she struggles to manage her complicated love for an older man while discovering herself through the final developments of her graduation film. The film received markedly positive reviews and has been subject to critical acclaim. The Souvenir: Part II premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where it was awarded the Palme d’Or Award. Hogg also received a nomination for Best Director at the British Independent Film Awards.
4 Archipelago
Wild Horses Film Company
Archipelago, a term used to refer to a group of islands, is also the name of the 2010 Joanna Hogg film that follows a wealthy family as they deal with their conflicts while on holiday in the Scilly Isles. Starring Tom Hiddleston, Kate Fahy, and Lydia Leonard, Archipelago explores how fractures within a family can surface when there is nothing to distract them from the pain. The film premiered at the BFI London Film Festival, where it was nominated for Best Film. Archipelago is highly revered by critics, with a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw giving the film a 5-star review.
3 Unrelated
New Wave Films
Unhappy with her life as it is, Anna (Kathryn Worth) finds much needed distraction in her friend’s Tuscan villa, where she meets and becomes attracted to the young local, Oakley (Tom Hiddleston). As Hogg’s directorial debut, Unrelated brought a whole new view of the British middle class into the public eye, giving them their own set of rules with their own way of living. Unrelated won the FIPRESCI International Critics Prize at its premiere at the London Film Festival before going on to take home the Guardian First Film Award and the Evening Standard Most Promising Newcomer Award for Hogg.
2 The Eternal Daughter
Starring Tilda Swinton, Hogg’s most recent film The Eternal Daughter revolves around a middle-aged daughter and her elderly mother who face their past when they return to an old family home that is now an abandoned manor with a mysterious ambiance. The film made its premiere at Venice International Film Festival, where Hogg earned a nomination for Best Film. The film has been subject to a great deal of critical praise, with a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, giving audiences a great deal of hope for Hogg’s new release.
1 The Souvenir
Topping our list is The Souvenir, which tells the story of young film student Julie, who falls in love with an older man. Part of what makes this film so fantastic is that it is a semi-biographical account of Hogg’s experiences at film school. The Souvenir received critical acclaim at the time of its premiere and eventually reached status of universal acclaim, with the vast majority of critics giving the film their stamps of approval. The film was nominated for a number of awards, but most notably, Hogg took home the World Cinema Dramatic Grand Jury Prize from the Sundance Film Festival. The film’s success quickly led to the development and creation of the sequel The Souvenir: Part II.
