The Year’s Most Intriguing Indie Films (So Far)

At the multiplex, the months of January and February can be as dreary as the weather. Fortunately, there’s a new batch of independent dramas, comedies, and documentaries to get excited about. Last year’s indie slate brought us The Skeleton Twins, The Wolfpack, Cartel Land, Meru, and Tangerine. This year to round out the big budget shoot-’em-ups, blockbusters, and award grabs — there’s Birth of a Nation, the most important period piece since 12 Years a Slave, the flawlessly meditative Manchester by the Sea, and one of the most entertaining looks at a political campaign in decades, Weiner.