my first rec is always gonna be do the right thing, maybe the most energetic film i've ever seen, not to mention among the most resonant (when it hurts, it HURTS). spike lee's filmography in general has a lot of hits, even among his newer work (da 5 bloods is the only american vietnam war movie ive seen that even tries to give a shit abt vietnamese people).

any of chantal akerman's early films is worth a watch too, especially if you're a lesbian with mental illness or complicated feelings about your mother.