Australian and New Zealand Films
Tusalava: a unique animated classic inviting many interpretations
Len Lye, “Tusalava” (1929) It must have been astonishing enough when it was first released
Tag: Experimental Films
Exploring destiny, reincarnation and transformation in “Uncle Boonmee who can recall his past lives”
Apichatpong Weerasethakul, “Uncle Boonmee who can recall his past lives” (2010) The last days of
Chinese and Chinese-language Films | North American Films
Chan is Missing: a missing-person mystery dives into exploring a community and the immigrant experience
Wayne Wang, “Chan is Missing” (1982) Would-be taxicab owner / driver Jo (Wood Moy) needs
Steppenwolf: a stodgy and soporific adaptation of a cult counter-culture novel
Fred Haines, “Steppenwolf” (1974) There was a period in the 1960s when this 1927 novel
5 Centimetres per Second: an insubstantial trilogy on the fleeting nature of youthful love, hope and desire
Makoto Shinkai, “5 Centimetres per Second” (2007) As with his “Your Name”, Makoto Shinkai’s earlier
German and German-language Films
Faust: a visually stunning film with many magnificent scenes – but a thin story weakens it
F W Murnau, “Faust” (1926) Visually powerful and stunning, with an incredible opening scene of
British Films | Eastern European Films
Loving Vincent: an arresting visual animation style papers over a repetitive and insubstantial formulaic plot
Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman, “Loving Vincent” (2017) Most viewers will probably be bowled over
French and French-language Films | Northern European Films
The Passion of Joan of Arc: an experimental film let down by its narrow focus, story-line and characterisation
Carl Theodor Dreyer, “The Passion of Joan of Arc” (1928) In itself, this silent film
French and French-language Films | Middle Eastern Films
The Congress: good ideas and astute criticism of Hollywood and technology undone by a confused narrative
Ari Folman, “The Congress” (2013) Partly based on Stanislaw Lem’s novel “The Futurological Congress”, in
French and French-language Films
Sans Soleil: a pretentious and confusing film that plays a stupid joke on its audience at its end
Chris Marker, “Sans Soleil” (1983) Picture yourself receiving a letter from a long-time friend who
