Dead Man’s Letters: post-apocalyptic dystopia is depressive in style and tone but holds out hope for humanity
Konstantin Lopushansky, “Dead Man’s Letters” / “Pisma myortvogo cheloveka” (1986) Depressive in tone but with
The Space Voyage: space adventure propaganda piece for kids is a little subversive
Vasily Zhuravlov, “The Space Voyage” / “Kosmicheskiy reys: Fantasticheskaya Novella” (1936) In the 1930s, the
Aerograd: great visuals of wilderness and flying planes in Soviet war propaganda film
Alexander Dovzhenko, “Aerograd” (1935) It’s a well-made film with stunning shots of wilderness and planes flying
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 important messages and ideas
René Laloux, “Fantastic Planet” / “La Planète Sauvage” (1973) A very absorbing animated science fiction