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