Somewhere out there, a man has declared his backyard a sovereign nation. Somewhere else, a self-proclaimed emperor is convening a diplomatic summit with other heads of state who also happen to pay their taxes and mow their lawns. Director Joe Kowalski travels the world to meet these eccentric, self-declared kings, queens and emperors. The result is a whimsical, surprisingly warm documentary portrait of people who have decided, against all odds, to invent their own sense of belonging. From small plots of land to full-blown micronational constitutions, the film reveals a DIY subculture that is equal parts absurd and unexpectedly moving.

What makes Micronations more than a novelty is how it quietly opens into something timelier and more resonant. Questions of borders, identity, community, and the human need to feel sovereign over something — anything — run just beneath the film's playful surface. Kowalski treats his subjects with curiosity rather than condescension, and the result is a crowd-pleaser that earns its laughs and then sneaks up on you with something more. A pure delight as a film and just the kind of eccentric, character-driven documentary that reminds you why you love going to the movies.—Jarod Neece