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Strange little towns

Everyone knows everything — and nobody says a word.

A small town is a perfect laboratory on screen: a limited cast, a shared secret and nowhere to go. Mystery, detective stories and tragicomedies in which the place matters more than any character.

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Poster for “Society”

Society

1990IMDb 6.5
Poster for “Calibre”

Calibre

2018IMDb 6.8
Poster for “Mute”

Mute

2021IMDb 6.6

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Frequently asked

Why do so many films use small towns?
They provide what a city cannot: a closed circle where everyone is connected to everyone. Any secret becomes communal, and a newcomer becomes an event.
Is this only mystery?
No. Detective stories, dramas and comedies use the same device. What they share is the sense that the town runs on rules no outsider will have explained to them.

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