128. The clay bird (2002)

Country: Bangladesh
Directed by Tereque Masud

'The clay bird' is a film that really impressed me as is able to work in many ways and levels . First of all , set in the period just before the revolution that ended with the independence of Bangladesh, it captures the struggle of the people for freedom back then against an authoritarian ruling. At the same time the film opens a conversation about the nature of religion in the country giving a loud message in favor of moderate Islam. In addition depicts beautifully the complex folk and religious background of the era when so many different elements were co-existent in a fascinating culture and also ,although has the simplicity and the realism of a documentary, is strongly poetical. Then has an other important quality: It manages to be so humanistic and touching without to be ,even for a moment, melodramatic. When it ends gives you a sweet sadness and the feeling that you want to watch it again.

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

127. The deers (1974)

Country: Iran
Directed by Masoud Kimiai

I can't have a really valid idea about the quality of the film, as is not any English version available and  'The deers' is heavily depended on the dialogues. However, collecting as much informations I could, I followed easily the plot and I managed to appreciate fully a movie that is considered as a landmark in the history of Iranian cinema. At first 'The deers' using popular codes of narration and a touching story of drug addiction and male friendship to attract the audiences, seems as a movie that is more or less ordinary. However , in reality, is a covered revolutionary political film, full of symbolisms , that brings to the light the social injustice and the need for resistance to the state violence , depicting vividly the poverty and the despair of an ineducated lower class who ,instead to react, falls to the apathy. Even butchered by the censors of the post Islamic revolution government the message of the film it was that clear and strong that even simple spectators back then got it instantly. In addition the movie passed to the social memory as the film that was screened when Fanatic Islamists arsonists set a fire to a movie theater in the city of Abadan on 1978 causing the death of around 400 people

You can watch the full movie here without subtitles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NttKiQCSp34

126. Oldboy (2003)

Country: South Korea
Directed by Park Chan-wook

The most famous Korean movie ever made, 'Oldboy' is in my opinion overrated but still great. The fact that it got so much praise is almost unfair for the movie itself, as it creates very high expectations ,that not always can be fulfilled. However, even for people that didn't love the movie that much, 'Oldboy' always will be the ultimate film about revenge ,a movie that is difficult to watch and forget in a few days. It explores ,as someone put it, the very depth of the human brain, with a very powerful way, from the beginning to the end, having a great impact to anybody watch it

125. Tears of the black tiger (2000)

Country: Thailand
Directed by Wisit Sasanatieng

If I had to clear this in one sentence I could say that I don't like this movie. Is not really funny or amusing, its melodrama side seems silly, even its praised kitch visual stylization is not of my taste. However, is not a paradox that I include 'Tears of the black tiger' in this list. Movies are not something that you rate with thumbs up or thumbs down and this film is quite unusual, so is quite memorable too. A drama, an action film , a western, a homage and a parody to the 'old' Thai movies  a blend of different influences and genres , 'Tears of the black tiger' is an unique case in the body of Thai cinema: it summarize it greatly as it takes it to different levels going some steps farther. It was impossible to be excluded from the list as is probably the first postmodern Thai film ever created

124. Persepolis (2007)

Country: Iran
Directed by Marjane Satrapi, Vincent Paronnaud

Not exactly an Iranian animation in terms of production and language but certainly a film about Iran with 'Iranian' soul , 'Persepolis' is a vivid account about what happened in the country after the Islamic revolution through the eyes of a young Iranian girl. The film manages to seem realistic in its presentation without to be one sided, the story is breathtaking , the character of the girl within just few minutes becomes familiar and impressively universal - not a kid with a 'strange' life somewhere on the earth but one of us- the drawing is highly artistic but minimal; not need to wonder why the film got that much praise and success around the world

123. Kuroneko (1968)

Country: Japan
Directed by Kaneto Shindo

More than twenty years passed since I watched this film, I remember very few things, so I am not really sure how I could rate it today. However, I kept in my mind that was spooky, beautiful visually with a great black and white photography, and with balanced dosage of terror. Back then I had a very positive opinion about it when I finished watching. In any case a Japanese black and white ghost story, directed by a great director as Kaneto Shindo is something that is not a good idea to miss!

122. A time for drunken horses (2000)

Country: Iran / Kurdistan
Directed by Bahman Ghobadi

Never while you are watching the film you feel that is something great. However, when it ends, you realize that is almost flawless: with a simple narration, full of humanity, without to be overdramatized, with the children actors to play as to participate not in a fiction but in a documentary,  gives you a glance to reality that is not shined through the camera lens. Movies tend to be impressive with one way or the other but this usually make them less real. 'A time for drunken horses' doesn't try to be deep or poetic nor to be directed masterfully. Doesn't either try to exploit the misery. Is an honest film as honest cinema can be

You can watch the full movie here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EjGL1Qomis

  

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