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

.

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

99. The woman in the dunes (1964)

Country: Japan
Directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara

I am not sure if I can write for a movie that I watched more than 20 years ago. From what I can recall the film is a rare masterpiece , more bizarre, more meaningful  , less heavy than the book of Abe that is based and I was read a few years ago. The sand is 'alive' and the dunes give you almost illusions , the sensuality is raw and vivid, the black and white photography is stunning , the metaphor and philosophical meaning of the story obscure but painfully present. The sand ,with all these designs and geometrical shapes that often takes, is a mysterious labyrinth that in reality is the human brain

You can watch the full movie here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdTEs5MHqoU

98. The cow (1969)

Country: Iran
Directed by Dariush Mehrjui

'The cow' is often quoted as the best Iranian movie of all time and the first movie of Iranian New Wave. Even if this , in my opinion, is far from the truth , still is a great film. Through a very simple story and a direct approach , manages to make many of complex political comments for Iran of that era and to pose many questions about our existence as social beings. The film has landscapes and spaces as very important part of the action been heavily influenced from Italian neo-realism .However , Eisenstein is also present , Kafka as well as the film has a surrealistic note, and this very solid mixture of elements gives to the movie part of its charm

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

97. Hansel and Gretel (2007)

Country: South Korea
Directed by Yim Pil-sung

A dark fairy tale, that gets the best of the horror movie tradition and combine them in an unique grotesque and eye catching film. The plot never lets you to lose your interest ,  is unpredictable without the usual stereotypes, as the for the atmosphere and the style are a bizarre mix between gothic and postmodern.  Hansel and Gretel is probably the most fresh movie that I watched for years, in a genre that overall looks very tired , repeating itself again and again.

 
You can watch the full movie here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZCZ7NVmJPQ

96. Yi Yi: A one and a two (2000)

Country: Taiwan
Directed by Edward Yang

Is very common in Chinese movies to watch a depiction of a family circle: funerals, weddings, babies who are born, one generation that continues from where the previous one stopped. Yi Yi is this kind of film but at its best. I don't really remember the plot or the things that the movie was trying to say. But I still remember how vivid was the film, how intense, how you could feel the breathing and the heart beat of the characters,  who were presented in front of your eyes almost with flesh and blood, in a movie that was directed with a way of superior quality . I have a huge admiration for Edward Yang!

95. Martial law (1973)

Country: Japan
Directed by Yoshishige Yoshida

I have to admit that I couldn't really get the philosophical or ideological view of the director regarding the failed coup d etat of 1936 in Japan. However, I felt that is a movie about our deepest fears, our illusions, what we consider as our duties, the weakness of our nature, and the limits of our existence. The film visually with its minimal black and white photography with all these shadows is a masterpiece! You can watch it even without English subtitles enjoying it the same , giving to you the same strong impact. A lot of credits has to be given to the powerful music that gives from beginning an absurd tone , a feeling related to the unconscious , to the film

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

94. Baby Arabia (2010)

Country: Thailand
Directed by Panu Aree,Kong Ritcdee and Kaweenipon Ketprasit

Baby Arabia is a simple vivid documentary about a well known in Thailand naseb band (a band that plays Malay-Arab music). Is true that the film seems to not go very deep ,having a rather mainstream , ordinary approach and many weak sides . However, this is not the case:  narrating the story of the various singers and musicians involved with the band, the directors use this opportunity to depict cultural and religious issues that rarely are discussed in Thai cinema and  to present the every day life of the large Muslim community of Thailand. I consider the film as a fresh air in an industry that produces tones of stupid melodramas, teen love stories and idiotic ghost terror movies, a path that leads to a different cinema that trying to talk about the real society and real people: under this light the film doesn't seem mainstream at all!

93. Demons (1971)

Country: Japan
Directed by Toshio Matsumoto

From the first moments the film attracts your attention  and keep it captured until the end. 'Demons' is a  movie that is difficult to categorize to a genre and stays in your memory as something special and unique . Violent, haunted and sensual, with very interesting plot but also visually beautiful, is a fine example of the Japanese cinema of 60' and 70' , when traditional themes got a 'New wave'  modern approach.

You can watch the full movie here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trhGMMZ1RLI

92. Last life in the universe (2003)

Country: Thailand
Directed by Pen-Ek Ratanaruang

One of my most favorite moments of the new wave Thai cinema , this film has a powerful beauty. It begins pessimistic and dark , full of alienation and emptiness. As it moves forward the desperation becomes hope: the dream and the reality are mixed with a very sweet way, the people come closer without even to needs words for it, the life gets color again . Still the melancholy is here but even the melancholy is now poetic and beautiful. Existence is magical -and love also- no matter how hard you try to deny it! At the end the movie little has to do with Thailand or Asia: is deeply existentialist and all the action is taking place in the isolated space, that semi-destroyed villa that in reality is the human mind and heart.

91. Death by hanging (1968)

Country: Japan
Directed by Nagisa Oshima

When I face masterpieces like this one, I feel that is useless to say much presenting them. 'Death by hanging' is political, is revolutionary, is minimal but at the same time complex, is poetic, is theatrical but also very beautiful visually, is philosophical, is realistically raw but also symbolic, is dark but also optimistic, is openly fake but also like a documentary. Oshima teaches what cinema is about and how you can make a film that can let you breathless with a really tiny budget

 

You can watch the full movie here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9v0VT_ENUs

90. The fortune teller (2010)

Country: China
Directed by Xu Tong

This raw and vivid documentary depicts the life of the less fortunate, of the lower Chinese classes that are trying to survive day by day , and their lives are dirty, hard, brutal and governed by superstitions as it were for centuries. Industrialization and modernization of China, the 'economical miracle', very small effect has for a lot of people that are living in margin . Here you can see the real rural China that seems desperately undeveloped. However , although the movie  can be shocking and sad is at the some time optimistic : no matter in how difficult conditions are living , people always show incredible power, a spirit for surviving , are skillful and surprisingly energetic

You can watch the full movie here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_WbrYfl5sI

89. The boxer (1977)

Country: Japan
Directed by Shuji Terayama

Probably the only film of Terayama that you can say that is close to mainstream, 'The boxer' is one of the most interesting movies about boxing ever made : present it  with anti heroic way, as a sad, brutal and more or less hopeless occupation that attracts and consumes the most desperate and socially marginalized people who put themselves to a grinding machine in order to escape margin. Although the movie seems sometimes shallow with too many week parts, the poetic, imaginative, often surprising approach of Terayama managed to make it almost fascinating to watch. 'The boxer' although avoids to use melodramatic tricks is a powerfully emotional film especially as it comes closer to the end: when finishes it let you with mixed bitter sweet feelings

You can watch the full movie here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2TmwyC_E6o

88. Tong pan (1976)

Country : Thailand
Directed by Euthana Mukdasanit , Surachai Jantimatorn

Probably this docudrama , at times boring, at times simplistic, is nothing special artistically. This approach leaves out that  'Tong Pan' is among the first few Thai films that were directly political , bringing on the screen the intense social struggle in Thai society, the poverty of the farmers that were severely exploited, the injustice, the need for radical change. Is not strange at all that the junta of the era banned the film immediately arresting many of the people that took part to its production. However, he value of the film is not only historical and political: many scenes are really memorable, the black and white photograph seems quite beautiful at times, the style is way too modern than almost anything Thai cinema has done before

87. Save the green planet (2003)

Country: South Korea
Directed by Jang Joon-hwan

At first probably you think that you will watch an ordinary kitsch staff, a mainstream commercial movie that poses as different, crazy and funny . Soon you realize that indeed this film is different and has something that keeps your attention until the last minute. 'Save the green planet' mixes successfully genres as science fiction, parody, comedy, thriller, horror. At the same time gives equal mixed feelings to the spectators who can't really decide which character have to take the part, if they have to feel amused or terrified, if the movie is sad or funny, if they have to take everything seriously or is just a big joke

You can watch the full movie here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTT2z068_JQ

86. Nanami: The inferno of the first love (1968)

Country: Japan
Directed by Susumu Hani

If I really have to be fair, this movie rather shouldn't be included in this list as has too many week sides. Is pretentious, exploitative of female body,  sometimes too mainstream and ordinary when it poses as something alternative. But, one the other hand , you can't ignore that is optically beautiful, poetic, often really bold and revolutionary : almost a paradox that balances between something that you love and you hate the same time. However, Susumu Hani was one of the very few really independent Japanese filmmakers of the era , a leading figure of Japanese new wave cinema, who tried to explore the limits of his art: can't be omitted from this list

You can watch the full movie here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTZYa5ryosQ&list=PL6BEA35E77A05F3D3

85. Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang (1974)

Country : Philippines
Directed by Lino Brocka

In a  powerful social commentary, Lino Brocka depicts ,without to hesitate and rather boldly, the sad realities of Philippines. Huge gap between rich and poor, corruption, state's mechanisms that are serving those with power, hypocrisy, marginalization of the weak, social racism : the young and sensitive hero is difficult to breath in this inhuman and brutal provincial environment , so has to refuse his social background in order to keep his humanity. The movie is emotionally hard to watch : Brocka is raw and merciless in order to make us feel as viewers his desperation about social inequalities and injustice in his country. A masterpiece of Filipino cinema.

You can watch the full movie here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAFsL95gacY

84. Whispering corridors (1998)

Country: South Korea
Directed by Park Ki-hyeong

Although the second part of the movie is rather disappointing , 'Whispering corridors' is an interesting horror movie with a lot of qualities. In reality someone can call it psychological thriller as playing a lot with the psychological tension and the ambiguous characters. Also is a kind of strange sadistic erotism towards the relations of students and teachers. Generally , the movie gives a lot of different signs that you can't be sure where they will lead. This increases the tension even if you realize finally that the film turns on mainstream as the time passes. Nothing too special but notable!

You can watch the full movie here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARFi1lvi4iI

83. I was born but ... (1932)

Country: Japan
Directed: Yazujiro Ozu

Very few Japanese movies depict the tremendous importance of social hierarchy in Japanese society so emphatic as in this early Ozu's silent masterpiece. This vivid , funny and tender satire is almost timeless: speaks a thousand words about the nowadays reality even if more than 80 years passed since the time that was produced. Ozu shows , ironically at times , how strong is the social determination, how powerful is the money, the hypocrisy of his society , how the children learn from very early to follow social norms of inequality. However, doesn't offer of course a revolutionary alternative: just observes and gives as always his sympathy and love to his characters

You can watch the full movie here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AOBzPXQyVk

82. Salam Bombay (1988)

Country: India
Directed by Mira Nair

The first time I watched this film, years ago, I was not really impressed. I found it somehow naive, simplistic, with characters who are portrayed idealized, with some kind of magic realism that sweeten the bitter pill. Since then I watched the film several times: every time I liked it more and more ! Today I find it really great: beautiful , poetical, bold and realistic enough but without to be overloaded with misery, intense, optically powerful . In addition the actors are fantastic, the music is one of my favorite soundtracks. But most importantly something that makes this movie to stands out is how tender , how deeply humanistic is! Mira Nair never managed to do something good as Salaam Bombay that was her first movie

You can watch the full movie here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K9hAzea4U0

81. Ecstasy of the angels (1972)

Country: Japan
Directed by Koji Wakamatsu

Without doubt this film is a bit of disturbing, as is pretentious and exploitative. However, you can't deny that is optical beautiful, provocative and powerful, ambiguous politically with a way that is interesting. Much better movies passed in front of my eyes but I recall them in my mind fewer times than 'The ecstasy of the angels'. Sex and violence , sperm and blood just for the sake of the tickets: but in the same time , with a very small budget , the director manages to produce something close to art cinema

80. The emperor's naked army marches on (1988)

Country: Japan
Directed by Kazuo Hara

Rarely someone has the chance to watch a documentary like this , that just depicts the raw reality and left you without the feeling that everything is ,in some way, staged. The director here did a great job, letting the picture speak for itself , without to intervene mush, without to lose the sense of reality in favor of style. In the film a very dark page of the Japanese military history is exposed to the fullest. Forty years after the second world war, we sense that the society still has a guilty conscience over atrocities that committed during that era. Moreover, this intense and powerful cinema verite exposes, with a slightly ironic way ,the contradictions of the Japanese culture and society where various codes , values and typical attitudes are messed up with a way that often look like forms , empty or real meaning and honesty

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

79. Humanity and paper balloons (1937)

Country: Japan
Directed by Sadao Yamanaka

Watching this masterpiece is really shocking to think that Yamanaka died just at the age of twenty-nine or that from twenty-six or so movies he directed only three had survived. This movie is flawless: incredibly realistic, comical, tragic, bold, poetic, sensitive, beautiful, . Through a story that is taking place in the slums of 18th century Edo (this is the name for the Tokyo back then) Yamanaka breaks in pieces the illusions for the greatness of feudal Japan. Upper classes that are ruling with arrogance assisted by gangs of criminals and poor or impoverished people who struggle to survive in a life of endless humiliation: that 's it! However, even if 'Humanity and paper balloons' is a very pessimistic film about the hopeless life of the lower classes still some hope is given : in some cases the poor can keep their dignity and humanity alive even under these terrible conditions

You can watch the full movie here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glnOO4h2aSo

78. Come drink with me (1966)

Country: Hong Kong
Directed by King Hu

One of the movies of King Hu that is a pleasure to watch and one good example of wuxia genre. As always with the films of King Hu , martial arts, Chinese opera and ballet, are mixed in a artistic , delicate result. Also comedy is mixed with violence that is never exaggerated and unnecessary. People who like the genre will appreciate for sure this film : but even if you don't like movies with swords are more things to enjoy in this film than impressive fight scenes

77. Farewell my concubine (1993)

Country: China
Directed by Chen Kaige

Fascinating, epic, impressive, exotic and colorful , with unmatched beauty , 'Farewell my concubine' is a powerful tragedy that compacts 60 years of Chinese history in its 3 hours length without to make you to feel bored even for one moment. Usually so ambitious films are pompous and heavy but is not the case for this one. Although a conversation can be held about its historical accuracy, and many years passed since I watched it (so probably i missed back then some weak points that may be I can spot now),  I remember it as a real masterpiece: is difficult for any movie with similar theme to overcome it

76. Spring in a small town (1948)

Country: China
Directed by Fei Mu

Voted as the best Chinese movie ever made 'Spring in a small town' will not make you disappointed. Even 65 years after was released is still very powerful and modern. It captures a delicate melancholy about the promises of youth that never kept, the dreams of people that ruined and portrays the unspoken human feelings , the battle between the need for personal happiness and duty, the complex human relationships. Nothing special happens in the film but still you feel tension from beginning to the end: As the sacrificed wife walks in the dessert city walls in a semi dreamy state , the film evokes weird feelings to each of the viewers: the human existence is fragile , the past often painful and the time of memory absurd

You can watch the full movie here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yezn6TTlis

75. The cat (2011)

Country: South Korea
Directed by Byun Seung-wook

An underrated horror movie 'The cat' is one of these kind of movies that has not only an actual horror but together a psychological one that follows you even after you watched it. Taking a lot of elements from the  atmosphere but also as scenario with a movie than I presented previously ( I am talking about the Japanese 'Dark water') is a film that defines successfully the fear as something that ,even if has a face, in reality is also  around you, hidden in the nature, the darkness, the forms of objects, the life. A decent contribution to a genre that suffered a lot from identical stupid and violent pretended to be scary movies

You can watch the full movie here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqY0CZJQA-s

74. August sun (2003)

Country: Sri Lanka
Directed by Prasanna Vithanage

A low profile anti-war movie about the consequences in the people's lives of Sri Lankan civil war. Vinthanage without melodrama , without deaths and battles,  shows the cruel face of the war , narrating three stories that are running at the same time. People are loosing their homes, their relatives or lovers, their dignity. The movie doesn't have anything impressive , anything really staggering: but this modesty make it devastatingly realistic, and this simplicity make it extremely beautiful

You can watch the full movie here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uXixEk26vg

73. Love conquers all (2006)

Country: Malaysia
Directed by Tan Chui Mui

How a movie that narrates the brutal exploitation of a girl from her boyfriend can be sweet and optimistic? The victim  is cheated and dragged to prostitution but how when the movie ends we feel that loves deserves any sacrifice and finally conquers all? The main charm of this enigmatic - at times a bit surreal -movie is that make us wonder if anything that happens is actually real : we don't have any indication from the director that part of it can be imagination but , however, we have a strong feeling that reality and 'dream' are mixed together. At the end we don't know what really happened and what no. We know just that love is beautiful , is everywhere and - anyway if you analyze it -  is always 'imaginative'

You can watch the full movie here: http://vimeo.com/73287172

72. Night and fog in Japan (1960)

Country: Japan
Directed by Nagisa Oshima

Many years passed since I watched this film so, I can't recall many details. For sure the movie did a very strong impression to me. Oshima with a very daring and neoteric form that incorporates a lot of theatrical elements, 'discuss' intensively about the political events in Japan , the social movements , the problems and splits in Japanese Communist party of that time. The movie is showing the strong influence of Marxism on Oshima but also his doubts about the direction that took the radical student movement of his era. 'Night and fog in Japan' seems to me one of the most modern movies of Japanese New Wave but in the same time goes back to forms and traditions with deep roots in the country, out of the spell of western cinema

71. A letter of fire (2005)

Country: Sri Lanka
Directed by Asoka Handagama

You can easily blame the movie as pretentious, exaggerating , unrealistic and finally pointless. However, still is interesting to watch it , especially the first 45 minutes are really good from many aspects and is daring with a way that is impossible to left out from a collection like this: with its provocative theme and boldness is a landmark of Sinhalese cinema

70. The white balloon (1995)

Country: Iran
Directed by Jafar Panahi

The first feature-film of Jafar Panahi in scenario of Abbas Kiarostami is a proof by itself about how a movie with a nice story , actors that play natural and direction without artificial dramatizing can be something really interesting to watch : as you can't relax in your chair before  the ...fate of this 7 years old girl who goes to buy a goldfish is decided,  you feel as to watch a good action movie! Something special also about the 'White balloon' is that , of course not accidentally but with a purpose, various ethnicities ,that are living together in Iran , are portrayed in there : the end of the movie says a lot

You can watch the full movie here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T02oZVtsjnA

69. Oh, protector of the gazelle (1970)

Country: Iran
Directed by Parviz Kimiavi

A 20 minutes documentary that , even I watched it without subtitles so possibly I misunderstood the intentions of the director, I consider it as a pure masterpiece. As crowds visit a famous religious site of Iran, the shrine of Imam Reza, Kimiavi captures perfectly the blind faith , lack of education, despair of the people who gather to worship the place asking for blessing. The antithesis between their miserable existence that is ruled by poverty and the brilliance of the super luxurious temple is shocking but in the same time this brilliance , this greatness of the sacred place gives you  a feeling of awe: the presence of god is dominant and humans beings too small! (Even if I disagree with it as an atheist, this feeling is given with unique way in the movie!)

You can watch the full movie here without subtitles ( don't worry for this though) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWNgzILwZc8

68. The forbidden door (2009)

Country: Indonesia
Directed by Joko Anwar

A interesting thriller from Indonesia that produces a lot of horror/mystery movies the recent years. In this case we have a strong directing line, convincing atmosphere but most importantly a nice plot with a lot of ups and downs and -well, sort of- surprising end. A nice thing about this movie is that is playing with many genres related to the general term of horror genre been more sophisticated and styles that an average Asian movie of its kind.

You can watch the full movie here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs82zVJWvBY 

67. Naked blood (1996)

Country: Japan
Directed by Hisayasu Sato

A well balanced , very  intense and disturbing Japanese horror movie , with a scientist who manages to invent the ultimate painkiller who turns the pain to the pleasure and he tries it ,as an experiment, to three different girls. The girls , in order to maximize the pleasure, can't avoid to get the experiment to the extreme. Classic scene is the one in the kitchen, when the girl ,who always is fascinated about food , is cooking and  ends up eating herself. Non many things to say: a must for the fans of the genre

You can watch the full movie here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBK5QZDKTpM

66. Samurai rebellion (1967)

Country: Japan
Directed by Masaki Kobayashi

A few years earlier Masaki Kobayashi got some fame in West after the brilliant 'Harakiri' that he directed. However , this movie matches Harakiri in quality , even if is unknown. Kobayashi once more explores his favorite theme: the brutal authority that ruin the life of  people and the man who has to choose between the justice and the duty. Samurai rebellion is not any less than masterpiece: the plot that reminds ancient tragedy, acting ,choreography , music, the minimal black and white photography that plays with the shadows, all are just brilliant. The ending scene of the duel is classic and highly memorable

65. As I lay dying (2007)

Country:  Malaysia
Directed by Ho Yuhang

Are just memories? Is a dream? Is the strange feeling you have when you are sick , been between reality and hallucination? Is when you begin to grow so life looks at times mysterious, threatening and scary? The young boy of the movie doesn't know yet but already can sense the painful part of existence. Ho Yuhang in this beautiful short movie , that did with almost zero budget,  with stylish and poetic way , touches something that is deep inside everyone of us, that the reason , even  very simple, his movie is so powerful.

You can watch the movie here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaOiEgqSRDU

64. Where is the friend's home? (1987)

Country: Iran
Directed by Abbas Kiarostami

A very beautiful movie about the innocence , solidarity and healthy sense of importance that the children have when the world of adults is materialistic and selfish. However, the plot is nice by itself but at the same time is an excuse for the camera to go out to film the narrow streets and the poor neighborhoods of the city. With a very simple realistic style, without dramatization , with amateur actors and real places , Kiarostami teaches how the minimal cinema should be.

 

You can watch the full movie here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ox1cGJwr738

63. City on fire (1987)

Country: Hong Kong
Directer by Ringo Lam

Quentin Tarantino borrowed heavily in his famous 'Reservoir dogs' from this police /crime movie that is among the best of its genre in Hong Kong cinema. Without useless violence, unrealistic action scenes, supernatural characters but with a strong  interesting plot and a rather discrete directing style, 'City on fire' , even having a lot of weak points, it gives the right direction that have to go such kind of movies. Regarding the story , for once more, the movie presents a classic theme : how policemen and outlaws are the different sides of the same coin. The undercover cop of the film feels attached with the criminals that he is mixed with , as is among them much more loyalty than among the rivals inspectors of police force.

You can watch the full movie here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c27hAZpOtEI

62. A town in the fog (1978)

Country: Thailand
Directed by Permpol Choei-arun

As happened to most Thai movies of the genre that period,  this movie too is a bit of amateurish production , with very low budget , with terrible dubbing and often seems almost ridiculous when intents to be scary. However , the director did a great job in this case and 'A town in the fog' is a special film that nowadays can be considered as cult. It has a great plot , is weird and spooky, its characters can't be classified as positive or negative, its images have a power that you can't find easily in other movies with similar themes. Even if you find 'A town in the fog' poor, comparing with other crime-horror films that you watched, you have to try to feel the soul of the film rather than to judge it in terms of production

You can watch the full movie here but without English subtitles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5XbJdqTtRk





 

61. The aimless bullet (1960)

Country: South Korea
Directed by Hyun Mok Yoo

A masterpiece of Korean cinema, considered by many as the best Korean movie ever made, 'The aimless bullet' is a dim portrait of post war South Korea when many people were facing unemployment, malnutrition and almost survival problems ,with a lot of protests to be held on the streets. Poverty is portrayed in the film how really is: it strips you from any dignity , making your life an endless struggle  without to allow you to think anything else except money in order to survive. The view of the director is raw and extremely pessimistic: is not any hope, just misery! Anyone in the movie is wishing to 'get out of there' but they can't and , anyway,  is nowhere to go!.

You can watch the full movie here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S3srD7qx9c

60. Ugetsu (1953)

Country: Japan
Directed by Kenzi Mizogushi

A film with incredible beauty ,'Ugetsu' is so much praised by anyone that not many things are left to say about it. It came in the peak of maturity and creativity of the director , together with 3-4 more films with equal - if not superior!- quality. Could be good to watch it in a movie theater instead of your tv screen or your computer: you will see then why is considered one of the most beautiful movies of all time!

You can watch the full movie here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg6cd7U0onw

59. Rise (2006)

Country: Thailand
Directed by Visra Vichit-Vadakan

A short movie that , although is very personal, in just 8 minutes,  manages to make a lot of comments and rise a lot of questions about Thai politics, Thai identity and social expectations in the modern Thai middle class families.The silent performer in the movie is mixing over and over , almost with suffering, the colors of Thai flag , that are representing the soul of the nation,  in a terrible mess. Where this country is heading to? How Thainess that is always trying to pull you back in its initial - in some way imaginary - form can be defined in this new era? How the creator of the movie herself should deal with her life? Although the film is mild and  is ending with humor, Visra Vichit-Vidakan shares with beautiful way her personal anxiety , that in reality is an anxiety of an entire society

You can watch the full movie here:http://vimeo.com/16045450

58. Dangerous encounters - First kind (1980)

Country: Hong Kong
Directed by Chui Hark

A nihilistic, anti-social movie that was quite socking for the era that was directed and immediately was banned  , to be released later butchered. In the movie - at least the edited version that I could watch -  are displayed anti-western feelings , bombings in public places for fun, refuse of the traditional values , anger: all these appear almost as natural,  without the director to judge at all his ' rebels without a cause' characters. Although the movie seems to be just provocative , without direct political comments, is quite understandable why was classified as dangerous for the - still under the British rule- state

You can watch the full movie here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXFGvQYSc6Y

57. Suicide club (2002)

Country: Japan
Directed by Sion Sono

A controversial provocative film full of symbols and cultural comments that I don't think that someone can analyze if is not Japanese. Well, suicide club is  a gore film about suicide , is truth that is showing the strong influence of pop culture or the problems of the Japanese youths nowadays that feel  more and more frustrated , dysfunctional. But I believe that mainly the film is something else : is just an ironic piece about all the stereotypes, fetishes, worries, nightmares, social definitions , about the entire modern Japanese culture that is presented bizzare and contradicted (as probably really is). Sion Sono ever said that wanted Japanese to hate him for this movie: deconstructing the way that Japanese see themselves probably he succeed on this  with many viewers

56. I don't care (1986)

Country: Thailand
Directed by Pantewanop Thewakul

A very daring movie for the era as presents a positive leading woman role who is very far from what  was considered as a proper leading female character. She actually smokes a lot , drinks, has free sexuality , she is independent and modern, she refuses to follow the social norms. Instead to choose for a boyfriend someone of her social class , she finally picks a low educated with poor background boy, who is working as a male prostitute in bars. The movie is even more daring as making many direct references to the students massacre on October 76 , an incident that due the heavy censorship all the cinematographers always avoid to touch

You can watch the full movie here although is difficult to understand much without translation :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAF1WvSNu5M

55. Dark water (2002)

Country: Japan
Directed by Hideo Nakata

A more than decent terror film , 'Dark water' is worth watching as the plot, the atmosphere ,the rhythm, the feelings that the movie evokes are high quality ones. Hideo Nakata got a worldwide success with the 'Ring' a few years earlier , but I think that 'Dark water' is much more interesting and less commercial. Well balanced, creepy with an inner horror that comes without cheap tricks, has additionally a lot of symbolic elements and plays a psychological game with the audience.

54. The brick and the mirror (1965)

Country: Iran
Directed by Ebrahim Golestan

One of the most important times of Iranian cinema ever,'The brick and the mirror' is a movie that is difficult to be classified. Is consistent by a sequel of scenes that are often unbalanced, having a style that at times is close to expressionism , at times is influenced by French nouvelle vague but most often is almost realism with a way that reminds documentary. The film steps on existentialism but ,at the same time, is full of social comments, describing really well the social environment that a few years later - as almost predicts -got even more oppressive against the freedom of the individual. Although the film has some weaknesses, most part of it is a pure masterpiece. As for the leading woman character is probably one of most daring in the history of Iranian cinema.

You can watch the full movie here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-gfNZqKULw

53. When a woman ascents the stairs (1960)

Country: Japan
Directed by Mikio Naruze

A bit of old fashion with the woman character to presented idealized , as often happens in the film of great Japanese directors who served the film industry from 30s to the 60s. But forget that:  the quality of this movie is simply stunning. Just you have to watch a few plans with this beautiful black and white photography just to feel how superior , deep, intense is Naruze as cinematographer in this movie. I don't bother even to explain this in logical terms!