208. Macabre (2009)

Country: Indonesia
Directed by Kimo Stamboel and Timo Tjahjanto

Although disappointing comparing with the previous great short movie of the directors that had the same actors and similar concept Macabre still is well made and gets the attention of the viewer just right from beginning. It's a decent slasher film that, with all the weaknesses it has, represents the upgrade the recent years of the horror, in general, genre in Indonesia, on terms of production quality and cinematic skills of the people who work in the movie industry

You can watch the full movie here: https://youtu.be/K1S4WcB3hw4

207. Act of killing (2012)

Country: Indonesia
Directed by Joshua Oppenheimer, Christine Cynn and an anonymous Indonesian person

A powerful, disturbing documentary, where you almost dont want to believe what you are watching, that re-enacts one of the darkest pages of the Indonesian history. Needless to praise its quality: obviously is an unique piece of work that has great impact to the viewers and it blends with innovative way different elements. But apart of artistic qualities the film takes huge credits as, after it screened, it opened an important conversation in the Indonesisn society about historical events that was tabboo to talk for. Morover, the film gives you a vivid glimpse to what politically is Indonesia today: the present is revealed as even more shocking than the past

You can watch the full movie here: https://youtu.be/TEYjkPZTk6o

206. The maid (2005)

Country: Singapore
Directed by Kelvin Tong

Nothing very special here just a decent film of phychological terror with mystic atmospere, smooth depiction of supernatural and slow, mature escalation. Too commercial for my taste with a weak ending but however a notable example of the genre in a cinematography that we have limited access

You can watch the full movie here: https://youtu.be/noFPhmW-9dw

205. Vengeance is mine (1979)

Country: Japan
Directed by Shohei Imamura

No matter what the storyline of each movie, Imamura seems every time that is interested only of one thing: to show the dark, confused, deformed face of Japanese society who struggles between the traditional notion of itself and a its new allienating face in the heart of a sudden modernity. Vengeance is mine, as narrating the story of a serial killer without phychological explanations, without sympathy but also without negative judgments, depicts in reality the director's view on this familiar, brutally innocent, without consciouness, monster: the Japanese nation. A film that, even if doesn't offer any easy solution and it's rather disturbing, is masterfully made in any detail

204. The six principals (2010)

Country: Thailand
Directed by Abhichon Rattanabahyon

As Thailand still struggles to move on from its usual political status where a greedy elite is ruling and the society experiences luck of democracy, unjustice, anequality, oppression of the free speach etc Abhichon Rattanabahyon goes back more than 80 years ago to remind the declarations of Peoples Party's revolution that still are valid today as political assertions. In this beautifully made short documentary the director exposes and discuses with bravery all the serious political problems of his country

You van watch the full film here: https://vimeo.com/18866840

203. The isle (2000)

Country: South Korea
Directed by Kim Ki-duk

The film that made Kim Ki-duk famous 15 years ago it didn't just get attention because of its provocative and often gruesome content. It was a surprisingly genuine, intense and powerful movie that oversadowed anything else it was screened in movie theaters and festivals that period, a breeze of cold fresh air that comes suddently to your face wild and painful. Every detail on the film is masterfully done, from the astonishing visuals, to the music score, from the use of silence to the performances of the actors. Probably the most interesting movie ever made about passioned sexual relationships (or maybe for any kind of love relationship?) depicting their brutal possessive addictive nature, but also dealing with the weird happiness that only this sort of obsession can give to the fortunate

202. Tokyo godfathers (2003)

Country: Japan
Directed by Satoshi Kon

An anime comedy-drama film 'Tokyo godfathers' combines with interesting way humanism, cynicism, commercial representations, alternative representations, authentic emotions but also melodrama, presenting marginalized characters who try to survive in a very indifferent society full of rules and norms,  in an attractive story telling that is quite pleasant to watch. However, the real subject of the film is the one that dominates too many of Japanese movies film no matter the era that were produced: the relation of the individual with his family, the huge importance of the concept of family in Japanese culture