Risks are the lifeblood of cinema. Without venturesome directors (and the producers and studios that back them), we wouldn't enjoy the diverse array of filmmaking techniques and creative visions that abound in theaters today. Through risk-taking, directors challenge the very way we experience movies, pushing technology and artistry to its limits to deliver a cinematic experience that surpasses our wildest imaginations.
Below, we've highlighted seven major risks directors took in cinema this year. Though the risks range in severity—one filmmaker risked her freedom and was forced to leave her home country behind—all of the risks were noteworthy, whether pertaining to casting decisions, narrative structure, or technical prowess.
Of course, the problem with risks is that they don't always pay off. Though some of these films fell short of their initial ambitions (see: Billy Lynn's Halftime Walk and, with regard to story, Hardcore Henry), all of them embody the inherent value of cinematic bravado.
