Tag Archives: Bo Hu

BEST WORLD CINEMA OF 2019 SO FAR (10+1LIST)

Best World Cinema of 2019 so far

written by Souranath Banerjee

2019 – half gone. But be optimistic. The glass is also half full. And on top of that we have a flashback List to consider!

Best World Cinema of 2019 so far – amazing films from across the globe you shouldn’t have missed. But if you have, no worries. There is always enough time for good Cinema. Cheers!

10. The Souvenir

Country: UK

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9Al2nC0vzY

Set in the early ’80s, it is about a unique connection between a young female film-student and an older man – a relationship which is complicated, twisted but addictively engaging.

Directed by Joanna Hogg, this one is the winner of the Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

A slow burner, but surely worth your time.

9. An Elephant Sitting Still

Da xiang xi di er zuo (original title), Country: China

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om6xGJ4S3LY

Four troubled characters, one city, and finally their lives intersect with each other – you think you have seen similar plots but this one will still surprise you.

Directed by debutant Bo Hu who tragically committed suicide in October 2017 at the age of 29. But the one movie he made is pure art and will stay with us forever!

8. Transit

Country: Germany

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R15ekRCq-eY

Nazi-occupied France, a man desperate to escape under a false identity but then his plans get messed up as he falls in Love with a woman who is the wife of the dead author whose identity he has assumed!

Directed by Christian Petzold, this is the director’s last chapter of the trilogy which also includes Barbara (2012) and Phoenix (2014).

7. Parasite

Gisaengchung (original title), Country: South Korea

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEUXfv87Wpk

Very rarely does a movie from Thriller-genre wins the Palme d’Or in the Cannes Film Festival. This one did!

Directed by Joon-ho Bong, this is a unique story of how an unemployed family sinks its hooks into a rich household and the incidents that follows are both comic and tragic at the same time. A brilliant work of art!

6. Beanpole

Dylda (original title), Country: Russia

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfWhQXg4GrA

Set in the backdrop of post World War II, 1945 – the city Leningrad demolished, citizens devastated yet desperate to survive in the aftermath of the war.

Directed by Kantemir Balagov, this is the story of Iya and Masha, two female soldiers who struggle to revive their lives. A beautiful, powerful and emotionally painful movie!

5. The Last Black Man in San Francisco

Country: USA

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0FnJDhY9-0

A perfect indie film focused on two major subjects – San Francisco – the city itself and the Friendship. It is also about coping up with changes around, and sometimes just letting it go and be simply nostalgic instead.

Directed by Joe Talbot, visually beautiful, awesome performances, superb music and effortless story telling – a very entertaining watch!

4. Hotel Mumbai

Country: India/Australia/USA

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVQpbp54ljA

The 2008 Taj Hotel terrorist attack that shook Mumbai to its core! The focus is mostly on the horrific proceedings that went on inside the hotel, the many lives lost and so many lives saved by the dedicated hotel staff.

Directed by Anthony Maras, terrific performances, an intense thriller based on true events – a bit underrated but definitely one of the best movie of this year.

3. Ruben Brandt, Collector

Country: Hungary

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dOZpivfNxw

A psychotherapist is haunted by images of famous paintings but thankfully four of his patients know exactly how to help – by stealing the real artworks! But then a detective is desperate to catch them in the act.

Directed by Milorad Krstic, this one is an animated masterpiece, very artistic, a visual treat packed with insane action sequences.

2. Midsommar

Country: USA

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vnghdsjmd0

A couple travels to Sweden to attend a rural mid-summer festival and it all sounds so fun. But then when a pagan cult is involved things are bound to turn bizarre and weird.

After the success of Hereditary this is director Ari Aster‘s second film – same ‘horror’ genre and equally entertaining. A chilling experience – totally worth it.

1. Queen of Hearts

Dronningen (original title), Country: Denmark

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36D00AXXF_M

Directed by May el-Toukhy, this is an emotional drama where a woman makes some irrational choices in her life and has to live with the consequences.

Intense and passionate, a controversial plot, very well written, superb detailing of the characters, and an Oscar-worthy performance by Trine Dyrholm.

The film is a must watch!

and (The ‘+1’ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most innovative one. A must watch)

+1. The Farewell

Country: USA/China

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RofpAjqwMa8

The story of a Chinese-American woman travelling back to China to see her grandmother who has cancer. She struggles with her family’s decision to hide the illness and to plan an impromptu wedding!

Written and directed by Lulu Wang, a perfect family drama that is making waves in the festival circuit as well as entertaining the audiences in the theatres!

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Similar Interest: Best Hollywood Films of 2018 so far

Similar Interest: Best World Cinema of 2018 so far

Poster courtesy: www.imdb.com