121. The wedding banquet (1993)

Country: Taiwan
Directed by Ang Lee

A rather American movie in terms of production and style 'The wedding banquet' is worth to be noticed as it combines the best Hollywood traditions , an Asian point of view and touch, progressive meaning and humanism in a way that is very enjoyable to watch. It belongs to the rare category of movies that can be watched both by people with high artistic standards and by others that they like the commercial cinema: no one will be disappointed

120. ! (1977)

Country: Thailand
Directed by Surapong Pinitka

This 16 minutes film ,having as title just an exclamation mark, is probably the first sort of experimental film in the history of Thai cinema, using editing, music and poetry in a way that never were used before. But is not only the form that is innovative and radical: the film is a declaration against poverty in the country , is standing for the rights of children to healthy food, housing, education and careless childhood. The film joined its voice with others that were asking social justice and equality in an era that was very intense politically. Surapong Pinitka , who nowadays is making stupid movies that are supporting the 'system' , back then doesn't hesitate to depict naked children, extreme poverty in slums next to the railways, people who collect things and food from mountains of trash

You can watch the film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaEDNWvsbsE

119. Butterflies and flowers (1986)

Country: Thailand
Directed by Euthana Mukdasanit

One of the important moments in the history of Thai cinema and, as far I know, the best movie of Euthana Mukdasanit. 'Butterflies and flowers' is a brave film that shows the poverty and the social problems in South of the country, with love and tenderness for the people who got the 'wrong 'path against the morals of society as they were obliged from the social conditions, with a way that is making an almost radical political statement even if it doesn't involve politics directly. Great directing and performances of the young actors , smooth flow of the story , a movie full of memorable moments and great scenes: so we can forget the disappointing end that is really weak , not matching the standards that the film by itself set previously

You can watch the full movie here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar_XLT9_VD4
 

118. Pieta (2012)

Country: South Korea
Directed by Kim Ki Duk

Pieta is a complex film that poses philosophical, freudian and social issues but the greatness about it is somehow mainly visual. Is one of the most powerful movies that came out the recent years: without even to know why, just you can't stop watching it until the end. Is just incredible how from so much darkness finally hope is born, how so much violence leads to compassion and to sensitivity, how we can see ourselves to a such repulsive (as the main one in the film is) character, how this film is so moving at the end. I totally agree with what Kim Ki Duk himself said: 'Pieta is an embrace to the whole of humanity. The movie is dedicated to humankind.'

117. The newborns (1979)

Country: Iran
Directed by Kianοush Ayari

A very vivid documentary , shot in Tehran just a few months after the Islamic revolution in Iran, that captures the optimism for a new bright era with the people in power , and also poses a question mark about the character that the new regime could get as a lot of different elements existed at the same time in Iranian society and no one knew what direction the revolution could get. Ayari doesn't try to make political comments using the editing: just gives you many images and informations to understand the spirit of that time that was crucial, full of hope and expectations, when the 'Old' had not die yet and the 'New' just it was born

You can watch the full movie here: http://ubu.com/film/ayrari_tazeh.html

  

116. Pastoral: to die in the country (1974)

Country: Japan
Directed by Shuji Terayama

One of the most beautiful visually films of Terayama that evokes a lot of feelings that are difficult to be described as is touching our subconscious , a strange dream that often is freaky but still attractive. The passing time , the memory that comes back again and again, the revision of a traumatic childhood that can be at the same time the traumatic history of a whole country, the old ourself that we look at him as to be a ghost , as -most of the time annoying- ghosts are all the things and people that we carry from the past. Of course , as usual, this Terayama film seems a bit pretentious and simplistic but is a genuine poetry on it , with some images so powerful that is impossible to be forgotten, a fine avant-garde work of high quality that at the end you have to admire      

You can watch the full movie here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MThQ8kQHEyg

115. Brothel no 8 (1974)

Country: Japan
Directed by Kei Kumai

Directed rather with uninspired way, often melodramatic, with the actress who plays the journalist to not be in my opinion the right one for the role, still the movie of Kei Kumai is an interesting moment in the history of the Japanese cinema. The story is captivating- once more about a girl who forced to prostitution- some moments are powerful, the feminist point of view really impress, the emotions that transferred from the heroes of the film to the viewers are genuine. Moreover the movie , even without to go very deep, exposes the hypocrisy and cruelty of society, how rotten were the ethics that used as the base for the creation of the modern Japanese state

 You can watch the full movie here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCy2OpuYHcQ