Australian and New Zealand Films
Once Were Warriors: compelling film with complex characters but disappointing message
Lee Tamahori, “Once Were Warriors” (1994) An intense film from New Zealand of a family
Waltz with Bashir: a film revealing repressed memories and a hideous war crime in parallel
Ari Folman, “Waltz with Bashir” (2008) Few movies about war must be as personal and intense as
Living in Fear: unusual and eccentric black comedy about finding redemption in digging up landmines
Chuyen Bui Thac, “Living in Fear” / “Song trong so hai” (2005) It’s mid-1975, the
The Sky Calls: visually striking film that’s low on excitement and high on propaganda with a surprise twist
Mikhail Karyukhov and Alexander Kozyr, “The Sky Calls” / “Nebo Zovyot” (1959) A visually stunning
Northern European Films | Russian and Soviet Films
The Sampo: good-looking film with a moral let down by watered-down story and wooden acting
Risto Orko and Alexander Ptushko, “The Sampo” (1959) A joint Finnish-Soviet fantasy production aimed at
Eastern European Films | Russian and Soviet Films
Arsenal: as Soviet propaganda, film is surprisingly pacifist and innovative in use of montage
Alexander Dovzhenko, “Arsenal” (1928) Notable for its skilful use of montages of images to create
Eastern European Films | French and French-language Films
Fantastic Planet: absorbing animated science fiction film with messages and ideas that are still important
René Laloux, “Fantastic Planet” / “La Planète Sauvage” (1973) A very absorbing animated science fiction
Alexander Nevsky: a well-made though not brilliant propaganda film about a Russian mediaeval hero
Sergei Eisenstein, “Alexander Nevsky” (1938) Unashamedly patriotic and stirring action-movie propaganda for the masses and
Taxi Driver: good study of an alienated and traumatised individual groping for purpose in a lost society
Martin Scorsese, “Taxi Driver” (1976) As a character study of a lonely and alienated man
Stalker: immersive film of beauty and ugliness, self-doubt and renewal of faith
Andrei Tarkovsky, “Stalker” (1979) For Western audiences used to fast action science fiction movies, “Stalker”