Best of World Cinema 2017
written by Souranath Banerjee
Best of World Cinema 2017: Every year before making this list I have this strange feeling of missing out some good ones, films which I may not have seen or even not know of. And this year is no exception!
And on top of that 2017 has such a variety of good Cinema to choose from, brilliant directors across the globe covering so many genres and what amazing films!
But finally I have made my choices, do let me know if you agree with me (or not). And here is my list of Best of World Cinema 2017. Enjoy!
10. Thelma
Language: Norwegian
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgQMHG9SGlU
A strictly raised religious girl explores life on her own for the first time – but little did she know that her subconsciously controlled psychokinetic powers will soon change everything around her!
Directed by Joachim Trier, a unique concept based around a lesbian love affair. Brilliant performance by Eili Harboe, certainly the best fantasy mystery of the year!
9. The Square
Language: Swedish, English.
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKDPrpJEGBY
“The Square” – a unique contemporary show that has gained huge popularity but what does it say about our current society?
Swedish director Ruben Östlund (of Force Majeure fame) has made a brilliant satirical drama, absurd and surreal but entertaining!
Along with many other wins the film swept away the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
8. Okja
Language: Korean, English.
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nhz9ctHR0k
On the surface a simple story of the friendship between a young girl (Seo-Hyun Ahn) and her pet Okja – an oversized pig. But then this movie is so much more complex and layered, and very much socially relevant for today’s world.
Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Jake Gyllenhaal all at their best. From the acclaimed South Korean director Joon-ho Bong, probably the most powerful and important film of this year!
Language: English.
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwQ-NH1rRT4
Set up just in the outskirts of Disney World this is the story of a mischievous 6-year old (Brooklynn Prince) and her friends, her mother, her neighborhood – basically the world around her!
Directed by Sean Baker (of Tangerine fame), and also featuring Willem Dafoe and Bria Vinaite, a film that focus on human relations – the innocence and the complexities of it. Absolutely brilliant to watch!
Teströl és lélekröl (original title). Language: Hungarian.
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gZw6GVf2eY
Is it possible for two people to dream the same dream?
The setting being a slaughter house, this is an exceptional love story between two ordinary people wrapped in identical dreams.
A unique script and such brilliant performances, directed by Ildikó Enyedi, this Hungarian film has won the prestigious FIPRESCI Prize and the Golden Berlin Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival!
Krotkaya (original title). Language: Russian.
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sun3D8VqkGY
Nominated for Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, this Russian film is the story of a woman who investigates a return of a parcel that she sent to her husband who is serving prison time in an isolated town in Siberia.
Directed by Sergei Loznitsa, this one is an perfect example of superlative acting and brilliant story-telling, a slow yet highly cinematic experience.
Language: English.
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFYWazblaUA
An amphibious creature in a hidden high-security government laboratory gets to befriend a lonely janitor (Sally Hawkins) but their friendship will be tested soon.
Directed by Guillermo del Toro, emotional and highly engaging, a fantastic story and powerful performances – overall a visually stunning fairy tale like never before!
Language: English, Italian.
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rgO_TyyOoU
‘Call me by your name and I’ll call you by mine.’
An erotic love affair between two men, a visiting student and the young son of the American professor.
Premiered at Sundance Film Festival, directed by Luca Guadagnino, the film is a heartfelt yet heartbreaking story of two people in love on a hot summer somewhere in a small town of Italy!
2. The Killing of a Sacred Deer
Language: English.
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQFdGfwChtw
The concepts of Revenge and Redemption have always been the favourite themes for movies but this film manages to twist these notions into a whole new level of awesomeness!
Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos (of The Lobster fame), a dark psychological thriller that takes its unique stand on morality and justice! Highly odd yet satisfying – just like the previous works of the director.
Nelyubov (original title). Language: Russian.
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLegoO4NdD8
The film that won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, the ARRI/OSRAM Award at the Munich Film Festival and was nominated ‘best film’ at the London Film Festival this year!
Directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev, this one is about a couple who must team up to find their missing son although they are going through a nasty divorce.
Official submission of Russia for the ‘Best Foreign Language Film’ category of the 90th Academy Awards in 2018.
and (The ‘+1’ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most innovative one. A must watch)
Toivon tuolla puolen (original title). Language: Finnish
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtiFG6utst8
A Finnish man who opens his own restaurant and a Syrian guy who comes to Finland in order to start a new life. Two stories finally converge and give us one emotional and often hilarious drama!
Realistic yet with a comic touch, acclaimed filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki won the Silver Berlin Bear at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival in the Best director category!
Similar Interest: Best of 2017 you may have missed!
Poster courtesy: www.imdb.com.
The north English seaside town of Blackpool as the backdrop, this one is an emotional tale of two very contrasting souls (different both in age and in their mentality) and then of course their unlikely friendship!
A classic ‘coming of age’ story of a group of children enjoying their summer holidays in a remote fishing village of Iceland – their friendships, their affairs, their sexual orientations, all twisted and tangled together.
After the defeat of Germany, a group of teenage German prisoners of war have been assigned the deadly task of clearing the Danish West Coast, removing thousands of land mines under the strict watch of a Danish Sergeant.
A girl visits Paris in search of her Aunt but then she is lost and soon in company of a weird homeless man who is in love with her!
What happens when a young staunch vegetarian girl is forced to taste meat for the first time – she gets hooked to it, her repulsion turns into an addiction!
A father’s practical jokes are often too much for his busy daughter to handle. And yet the bond between them is exceptional!
A soulful story of a man struggling to collect the pieces of his life as he desperately attempts to move back with his ex-wife and young son. Will there be happiness after the storm?
An unconventional biographical take on the life of the famous Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, who was being hunted in his own country for being accused as a Communist!
From the acclaimed Iranian writer/director 
The sweet emotional story revolves around a young boy who after losing his mother goes to a foster home and meets the other orphans – and his life changes forever!