French and French-language Films
That Obscure Object of Desire: a tale of sexual obsession in a society falling apart through its hypocrisy and violence
Luis Buñuel, “That Obscure Object of Desire” (1977) Between two full buckets of cold water
Tag: Fantasy
Australian and New Zealand Films
The Lost Thing: a multi-layered children’s story that critiques industrial society
Andrew Ruhemann and Shaun Tan, “The Lost Thing” Adapted from co-director Shaun Tan’s picture book
Ugetsu: a parable of two men in pursuit of fame and glory, with social justice themes
Kenji Mizoguchi, “Ugetsu” (1953) Two interwined morality plays about peasants blinded by thoughts of personal
German and German-language Films
Run Lola Run: a mundane crime thriller plot set in a highly deterministic universe where humans run in preprogrammed loops
Tommy Tykwer, “Lola rennt / Run Lola Run” (1998) A mundane plot set in Berlin
A socialist revolutionary parable and story of Buddhist compassion in “Yuki: Snow Fairy”
Tadashi Imai, “Yuki: Snow Fairy” (1981) In the hands of Tadashi Imai, notable as a
My Winnipeg: an intriguing blend of memoir, documentary and surreal dark fantasy in a paean to a little city on the prairie
Guy Maddin, “My Winnipeg” (2007) An unusual blend of memoir, documentary and dark fantasy, Guy
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
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”
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
Latin American Films (Spanish language)
The Embrace of the Serpent: a film condemning European colonialism and its effects also carries a message of reconciliation and hope
Ciro Guerra, “The Embrace of the Serpent / El Abrazo de la Serpiente” (2015) Filmed