Netflix's short films are vastly underappreciated. However, there are some unmissable hidden treasures among Netflix's short film collection.

Netflix boasts the best movie, television show, and anime choices. But what most people aren't aware of is Netflix's sophisticated selection of short films. Short films are sometimes underappreciated and neglected, but they are treasures for cinephiles. Short films have it all, whether it's a compelling storyline, astute direction, powerful acting, thought-provoking sequences, or brilliant dialogues.

The best part is that short films can alter actual emotions in less than 40 minutes, and sometimes as little as 16 minutes. They communicate important ideas to the audience and contribute to provoking necessary thoughts in the mind of the viewers.

The Trader

Director Tamta Gabrichidze evokes a lifetime's worth of poverty and suffering in The Trader's 25-minute running length. It takes place in rural Georgia and portrays the terrible reality of inevitable poverty there. The poverty of the on-screen characters is palpable. An elderly gentleman recalls his ambition to go to school and leave Georgia when he was younger. All he wants now is a reason to get out of the house every day.

In the area, money is frequently useless, but food is a life-sustaining currency. The film centers around Gela, a traveling merchant who looks for potatoes. He swaps his clothes and household items for as many potatoes as he can acquire. The Trader runs long enough to convey the plight of Georgians, and the straightforward format emphasizes the film's arguments without being preachy. It's a powerful gut punch that's deserving of the accolades it's received.

Little Miss Sumo

Little Miss Sumo is a short but powerful investigation of established cultural views, the spirit of physical competition, and the potential for transformation, shot with a very feminine flavor. While there are some of the best sports movies on Netflix, Little Miss Sumo offers an even shorter but still fascinating glimpse into an athlete's life. It is a meditative glimpse of a woman fighting not just for titles, but for the ability to do what she loves without discrimination.

The film chronicles Hiyori's life as one of the top sumo wrestlers in the world and her preparation for the world championship. The 20-minute short film continuously challenges the notion that wrestling is a man's sport. The story alternates between reverence for tradition and acknowledgment of modernity, but the conclusion unmistakably asks for a change.

Zion

There are a lot of movies based on wrestling, but Zion stands apart with its unique story. Zion is a depiction of Zion Clark, a young wrestler who grew up in foster care after being born without legs. He wants to wrestle in high school. He wrestles in the ring against adversaries who have legs solely using his upper body power. It's encouraging to see his personal ability to overcome extraordinary difficulties and achieve great things.

The plot is straightforward without becoming overly emotional. Zion's drive, fight, and struggles stir the viewer's heart. It sends a powerful message that human will is higher than every problem they face. Zion is made wonderfully to follow through Zion's struggles in just 11 minutes.

The Letter Reader

The Letter Reader tells the narrative of Siyabonga, a 12-year-old Johannesburg kid who moved to a KwaZulu-Natal community. While his parents work out their marital troubles, he is sent to his grandmother. He is not used to completing home tasks, and he finds it difficult to adjust to living in a rural village. It is a grasping and unique take on romance. It also discusses how his parents' relationship is strained and how this affects him.

Siyabonga recognizes the power of words as he starts reading letters that make people smile. However, one day he receives a letter with terrible news. The letter was to Nobuhle, a charming 25-years old migrant worker's wife in Johannesburg. After only one glance, he is smitten by this lovely woman. Everything about the film is heartfelt. The Letter Reader is a one-of-a-kind story from a truly unique perspective.

Fanatyk

Fanatyk is a comical but passively tense short film about an internet-addicted kid, a fishing-obsessed father, and the effects of their fixations on the family. A melancholy undercurrent runs through this comedy-drama. It's a great riff on Malcolm XD's popular Polish copy-paste text, and it perfectly nails the vibe. Fanatyk tells the story of the main character in a more depressing light.

The son wanted to soothe his father's fanaticism. However, he unintentionally adds fuel to the fire by introducing him to internet forums with other 'like-minded' fish lovers. It warns about how excessive obsession with something may ruin people's lives, families, relationships, and mental health. The behavioral patterns displayed are accurate and eye-opening, causing the audience to introspect. It's a thought-provoking 30-minute slice of life.

In Vitro

The story starts in the biblical town of Bethlehem was engulfed by an ecological disaster. It is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi short film with a unique concept. It is suspenseful, cerebral, and philosophically profound. The plot revolves around inherited trauma, exile, being connected to memories, and actually remembering. It features a striking visual style and an intriguing subject that explores emotion and apathy.

The story is about a scientist and her successor questioning each other about the repopulation and rebuilding of Bethlehem. The two scientists reminisce about Bethlehem before the environmental calamity and recall earlier memories. In Vitro is a gem for cinephiles. The intriguing cinematography, camera movements, and well-written screenplay are brilliant aspects of this 27-minute short film.

Two Distant Strangers

Two Distant Strangers is a simplistic, thought-provoking depiction of the lingering structural injustice, specifically police brutality, inflicted on African-Americans in the United States. It follows the story of a black man, Carter, and a white police officer, Merk. The titular strangers are distant in every manner, but the film demonstrates that they are linked by the racist tissue that is ingrained in the system they navigate.

Two Distant Strangers contains sci-fi elements, which are effectively used to highlight the central issue. It tells the story of a young man who is compelled to experience a traumatic event over and over. The film concludes with a list of familiar and unfamiliar names, the majority of whom are unknown victims. It is a great short film attempt to help the audience understand the Black Lives Matter movement.

Resurface

Resurface is a 27-minute short film about Operation Surf, a movement that helps veterans get back on their feet and enjoy life by teaching them to surf. It gives an insight into the experiences of the veterans and how war affects their lives. The story follows an Iraq war veteran, Bobby Lane, who is suicidal due to trauma. While Netflix has a lot of movies that understand mental illness, Resurface is the best short film discussing it.

Seeing the men tackle their trauma and lead a better life gives a great sense of satisfaction to the viewers. It raises awareness about PTSD among war veterans, along with other physical and mental trauma. The film also celebrates Van Curaza, a former big wave surfer who founded Operation Surf and dedicated his life to helping veterans find solace in surfing.

Extremis

Extremis is a heart-wrenching story touching on an emotional dilemma and issue that doctors, nurses, patients, and their families face. The film sensitively tackles a tough subject that most people avoid and rarely think about until it affects them or someone close to them. It's about doctors, nurses, and families deciding whether to continue to rescue a dying patient or to cut the cord and let them go.

The 24 minutes of love, hope, anguish, and heartbreak sequences provoke reflection on those decisions and explain all points of view. It's heartbreaking to watch, but it's a commendable and vital piece of work. The film brings the audience face-to-face with humankind's worst fear, death.

Period. End Of Sentence.

Period. End of Sentence. is set in rural India and supports women empowerment. It bashes the outdated ideas around menstruation and shows how young girls and women suffer in rural India because of unnecessary stigmatization. The film received the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film in 2018, and it focuses on the arrival of a machine that enables village women to manufacture and sell their low-cost sanitary pads.

The film addresses the issue of menstrual hygiene and comfort during menstruation due to a lack of inexpensive options. It also demonstrates how a lack of sanitation and societal taboo surrounding menstruation prevents individuals from achieving economic independence.

NEXT: 15 Must Watch Short Films Available On YouTube (Or Other Online Platforms)