French and French-language Films | Japanese Films
The Red Turtle: a pretty and glossy package with a conservative and banal message
Michaël Dudok de Wiet, “The Red Turtle” (2016) God save us all from pretty packages
RoboGeisha: a quirky and outrageous sci-fi film with a message of love, connection and reconciliation
Noboru Iguchi, “RoboGeisha” (2009) For a film about two sisters and their love-hate relationship, “RoboGeisha”
Arabic-language Films | Middle Eastern Films
Wadjda: a heart-warming film about a girl’s desire for freedom and how she thwarts social and political restrictions to achieve it
Haifaa al Mansour, “Wadjda” (2012) A heart-warming film on one girl’s desire for freedom, especially
Chinese and Chinese-language Films
2046: glossy soap opera with little profound to say about love and loneliness
Wong Kar Wai “2046” (2004) If ever a film could be considered typical “art house”
Snowden: a riveting character study of personal transformation and commitment to personal ideals
Oliver Stone, “Snowden” (2016) Surprisingly even though I’m familiar with the story of National Security
German and German-language Films
The American Friend: an investigation into the nature of individual and collective identity
Wim Wenders, “Der Amerikanische Freund / The American Friend” (1977) Based on the novel “Ripley’s
Tehran Taxi / Jafar Panahi’s Taxi: purporting to be a snapshot of life in Tehran but an examination of life and behaviour under a police state
Jafar Panahi, “Tehran Taxi” aka “Jafar Panahi’s Taxi” (2015) Banned by the Iranian government in
Cold Souls: a dull, flat and unsatisfying comedy about materialism and the nature of identity and existence
Sophie Barthes, “Cold Souls” (2009) In the vein of Charlie Kaufman’s “Being John Malkovich” but
Italian and Italian-language Films | North American Films
The Last Man on Earth: still retaining the power to shock and horrify with a message of post-apocalyptic despair and existential angst
Ubaldo B Ragona and Sidney Salkow, “The Last Man on Earth” (1964) Over 50 years
French and French-language Films
In the Beginning: interplay of social realism and individual psychologies results in a film of self-renewal and fulfillment
Xavier Giannoli, “À l’Origine” / “In the Beginning” (2009) It’s rather too long by 30 minutes