106. The middleman (1976)

Country: India
Directed by Satyajit Ray

Without to be a masterpiece ,'The middleman' is still a very interesting film , something quite expected as Ray never directed anything mediocre and ordinary. In addition this black satire is one of the most pessimistic films of his entire career as always his movies are full of hope and humanity despite the hardships that depict. In this case not real hope is given : any idealism and ethical illusions are fade under the dark social reality. All the social structure is builded on crashed values and money is the only thing that matters, as the fear of extreme poverty doesn't give you many choices to keep your dignity alive.

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

105. To live (1952)

Country: Japan
Directed by Akira Kurosawa

Is pointless to focus to some inconsistency in rhythm and atmosphere of the movie that makes you feel sometimes that you watching three films in one. This existential masterpiece is a rare achievement in the whole history of cinema. Is so powerful, so moving , so real that seriously absorbs you while you are watching it. Is a movie that affect you deeply as social and philosophical comment but mostly as a brutal expose of the fragile nature of the human existence. Days pass but you can't stop to think about the film again and again. 'To live' is simply a movie that overtaking of you : is so masterly made that is a great example for you to understand why is so much fuss about Kurosawa, why he is considered as a giant of the film art.

104. Bus 44 (2001)

Country: China
Directed by Dayyan Eng

A short movie that bitterly points the indifference of most people for the drama of the others. Especially in Chinese society this indifference is often brutal but this problem is not about China only : is universal , as people are trained from the system to care only for themselves and the small circle of their beloved , being alienated from the rest of the people. Dayyan Eng directs the movie with simple way, without too much melodrama, right to the point.

  You can watch the full movie here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CK4TUP0VKLY

103. The killer (1989)

Country: Hong Kong
Directed by John Woo

The killer is one of the best examples of John Woo style with the choreographic almost poetic violence, the slow motions, the Mexican standoffs, the sentimental music etc. As almost in every movie John Woo explores the relations between some policemen and some outlaws : in his version are the opposite sides of the same coin, as they share the same values and can have admiration and understanding one for the other. The killer is a film about honor, duty, dignity and friendship but mostly is a movie full of action that keep your interest alive until the last moment

You can watch the full movie here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWnBUllkC6M

102. The ruins (1956)

Country: Philippines
Directed by Lamberto Avellana

Too commercial, with weak plot, directed without much inspiration, with an ending full of 'moral'messages, this movie normally had to be out of this list. However, is something original on these dark neo-realistic images of human despair in the post war Manila that are depicted on the film. The young couple , a prostitute and an ex-soldier, is trying hard to survive, together with hundreds other people who live in a slum, under a ruined  from the bombs cathedral. Even I watched the film without English subtitles , so without to understand the dialogues, I could see some quality and power to this film and a lot of memorable scenes. Moreover, is part of an era of a national cinematography that is very rarely represented. So, I decided to include it even if is far from be something great

You can watch the full movie here without subtitles : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUsnV44ZnNg

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101. Still life (1974)

Country: Iran
Directed by Sohrab Shahid-Saless

I am aware that this film is not for everyone. Even people familiar with artistic movies probably they will find this one very boring,  considering that nothing happens in the 90 minutes of its length. Actually this is true: nothing happens, as we witness, almost as in a documentary, the everyday life of an old couple that spends all the time silently in a small room , in the middle of nowhere. However, if you really give time to the film, the portrait is so real, the depiction of life so vivid, the common things that unify any human existence with the others so present, that the film ,after a while , becomes almost captivating. The movie , with a strange way, comes to concern us deeply , and the old couple , with their simple and boring routine, comes so close to us that become almost our parents, our relatives, our friends, ourselves : at the end although is not melodramatic at all, we feel strong emotions

 You can watch the full movie here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98LfQJoyDQU

     

100. Fallen angels (1995)

Country: Hong Kong
Directed by Wong Kar-Wai

Another movie that I watched more than fifteen years ago , so, is difficult really to recall with details. However, the Hong Kong landscape of the night , in a post modern era , as is depicted in the film , is still vivid in my memory.  I am impressed from the fact that Fallen Angels is considered among the less important works of Wong Kar-Wai : personally I found it more minimal, less videoclip-ish, more atmospheric and emotional intense than, for example, his Chungking Express , a movie that has many similarities and is celebrated as a masterpiece.

You can watch the full movie here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCFFJbREVN0