The Belgian provider of quality series MyLum could not compete with the major streaming services and will pull the plug on June 14. Mother house Lumière, which also produces films, sells DVDs and operates five cinemas, made a name for itself with Scandi thrillers, but also offered a very wide range of films on MyLum that cannot be seen in multiplexes. Its customers will have to search through the extensive range of other streaming services. We list all the options for you, with the pros and cons.
Specialized arthouse platforms
MyLum
Why (still)? It seems counterintuitive to start with a platform that is disappearing, but you can still view purchased titles after June 14th – for how long, that depends from license to license. MyLum is having a sale until June 14: all titles are half price. Those who love queer cinema, fancy a package of Werner Herzog or James Ivory, or more The broken circle breakdown want to watch, will find something to his liking here.
Why not? Titles arrived on the platform piecemeal, so don’t expect many films that were in theaters last year.
How much does that cost? Unlike classic streamers, MyLum did not work with a monthly subscription, but you pay per film or series. This varies per title.
Look tip?Boyhood, Girl.
‘Boyhood’: filmed over twelve years, the film of 2014. — © ap
Sooner
Why? If you don’t have an arthouse cinema in your area, you can go here for the favorites from, say, the Cannes Film Festival. European cinema in particular is well represented: Sooner offers everything by Pedro Almodóvar, but also Michael Haneke or Thomas Vinterberg, and a few fine Flemish films.
Why not? If you can’t muster the patience for ‘the better film’ at home, you’ll quickly get tired of this.
How much does that cost? With a library card you can stream movies for free. You have to jump through three flaming hoops to activate that thing. If not, you pay 7.99 euros per month. For multiple screens and access to more recent films you pay 14.99 euros per month.
Look tip?By Patrick, Priscilla.
Bad
Why? You get a kick out of Krzysztof Kieslowski and Kelly Reichardt, or even film archeology like Georges Méliès? Mubi contrasts old masterpieces with obscure gems and cult hits such as How to have sex. The offer was once updated every thirty days. Today Mubi also produces itself and the streamer has a permanent collection, in addition to a temporary offer.
Why not? If the above sounds like pretentious nonsense to you, then you better pass.
How much does that cost? You can watch for seven days for free, buy three months for 35.99 euros or immediately pay 89.99 euros for a year. Keep an eye on it: Mubi dares to offer temporary discounts.
Look tip? How to have sexSo.
Mia McKenna-Bruce plays a stunningly natural character in ‘How to have sex’. — © imago/landmark media
Pickle
Why? You have Past lives missed it at the cinema, and your friends can’t stop talking about that film? Picl comes to your rescue with titles that are currently or recently in theaters. You pay per film. Extra nice: you choose which cinema part of the amount goes to. Long live (home) cinema!
Why not? For American blockbusters you’ll have to look elsewhere. Picl goes resolutely for the arthouse lover.
How much does that cost? 4.99 euros for a recent film, 8.00 euros for a premiere film.
Look tip? Past livesSo. Monster van Hirokazu Kore-eda.
Avila
Why? Avila has a modest treasure chest of hard-to-find Belgian cinema, which it offers online and in special cinema programs. Just think of the work of Chantal Akerman, such as Jeanne Dielmanthat Citizen Kane beat as the best movie of all time, or her Golden eighties. And also many films that hang between art and film: the children’s games of Francis Alÿs, which were shown two years ago at the Venice Biennale, or art documentaries such as Rosas danst Rosas.
Why not? Belgian author cinema is a niche within the niche.
How much does that cost? 3.50 euros to ‘rent’ a film for three days, 45 euros for an annual subscription.
Look tip?Golden eighties, Child’s games.
Arthouse on the commercial streaming services
Netflix
From 8.99 euros per month.
Why? Netflix is known for series such as Squid game of Stranger things, but don’t underestimate the range of films, which are very international. You will find the (almost) complete oeuvre of the Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli, many short and long films by plasticine wizards Aardman, and everything by Monty Python. Netflix also often scores arthouse films with an Oscar nomination or two. By the way, it was the first streaming service to produce its own films that were also (briefly) released in cinemas to compete for the Oscars.
Why not? There are no films from before the streaming era. Sometimes a title is available from well-known directors – Goodfellas by Scorsese – but not much more.
How much does that cost? The basic subscription for one device costs 8.99 euros per month, the standard subscription for two devices costs 13.49 euros per month and the premium subscription for four devices costs 17.99 euros per month.
Look tip?Roma, Oppenheimer.
‘Oppenheimer’: good for seven Oscars, including best actor for Cillian Murphy. — © universal pictures
Amazon Prime Video
From 2.99 euros per month.
Why? Prime Video’s movie catalog is remarkably strong with hyped films like Saltburn in Everything everywhere all at once. The selection of French films is extensive, from Céline Sciamma to just about anything by Jacques Audiard. But also films by Paolo Sorrentino or Hirokazu Kore-eda. Add to that the cheap subscription price and you understand why Amazon Prime is grossly underestimated.
Why not? Finding the right site isn’t made easy for you – there’s Amazon Prime, the online retailer’s premium service, and Prime Video, its streaming service – and the site’s interface is a mess too. Prime Video will also introduce advertising sometime this year.
How much does that cost? 2.99 euros per month and 25 euros per year.
Look tip? Everything everywhere all at once, Of rust and bone, Portrait of the girl on fire
‘Everything everywhere all at once’: good for seven Oscars in 2022. — © rr
Apple TV+
From 9.99 euros per month.
Why? The selection is small, but so is the chance that you will come across complete junk. Apple TV+ has invested heavily in prestige projects in recent years with which it hopes to put itself on the map with the Netflix recipe: briefly in the cinema, then only for its subscribers.
Why not? The supply is therefore still very small. You may get tired of it after a few months. Don’t fall into the trap of dormant subscription costs.
How much does that cost? You can watch for free for seven days, after which it costs 9.99 euros per month. Please note: in addition to the streaming service, there is Apple TV (without the plus), a kind of digital video library.
Look tip?Killers of the flower moon, Napoleon.
Robert De Niro en Leonardo DiCaprio in ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’. — © ap
Disney+
From 10.99 euros per month.
Why? Among the seemingly endless stream of Marvel films and spinoffs Star wars, there are also great discoveries to be made. Disney+ has the entire oeuvre of Wes Anderson on offer, just to say something. And three films by Yorgos Lanthimos, including Poor things, which is still in theaters here and there. Under the handy ‘movies’ button, the films are sorted by genre, including a selection of short films; there you will find all those nice short films that Pixar showed in the cinema before its feature films.
Why not? The entry price is nowhere higher, and the streamer’s strength is its series and its Marvel offering.
How much does that cost? 10.99 euros per month or 109.90 euros for a year.
Look tip?The banshees of Inisherin, Poor things.
Emily – toen nog Emma – Stone in ‘Poor things’. — © ap
Streamz
From 5.95 euros per month.
Why? Streamz, a joint venture between DPG Media and Telenet, can offer a large Flemish offering: this is the place to be if you H4z4rd by Jonas Govaerts.
Why not? The film offering is limited, unless you are willing to pay for the heavily priced premium+ subscription.
How much does that cost? Streamz has three formulas: a cheaper basic subscription with commercial breaks, a premium subscription without commercials and up to five viewing profiles, and a premium+ subscription with an extra range of recent films.
Look tip?Engel by Koen Mortier.
Free streaming services
You can also get a free dose of arthouse on the streaming services of the Flemish channels, although you should mainly go to VRT Max: GoPlay focuses on its own program series, VTM Go occasionally offers an action-oriented ‘smaller’ film such as Tarantino’s horror film Death proof or the racing film The faithfulwith Matthias Schoenaerts.
VRT Max
Why? You will find all programs from VRT 1, VRT Canvas and Ketnet and can watch live TV. The Flemish offer is extensive for nostalgics. In addition, VRT Canvas’s excellent film and documentary offering can usually be caught up to a month after the broadcast.
Why not? The offer changes quickly, with the advantage that there is often something new to discover and the disadvantage that you have to be alert.
How much does that cost? Free, subject to registration.
Look tip?A hero, The Post, The civil.
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– 2024-05-03 19:48:08
