Best of World Cinema 2017 so far.
written by Souranath Banerjee
Film-lovers take a deep breath – relax. It’s flashback time!
Midway through the year, here is a list of movies from all across the world, made by globally acclaimed directors, actors and the best technicians, visually stunning, exquisite story-telling and that too from all varied genres!
Best of World Cinema 2017 so far – let the fun begin!
10. Away
Language: English
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CGCkYKRq2U
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!
Directed by David Blair, and tremendous performances by Juno Temple and Timothy Spall.
A heart wrenching British drama, underrated as it deserves much more praise and attention.
9. Heartstone
Hjartasteinn (original title) Language: Icelandic
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9Tcw-_SrcA
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.
Directed by Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson, this movie is superbly arty yet realistic and the characters and their confusions are so well executed.
8. Land of Mine
Under sandet (original title)
Language: German, Danish, English
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Kao3t0NBMU
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.
Directed by Martin Zandvliet, amazing plot, superb performances and full of suspense – a film so thrilling and yet so very emotional. A must watch!
Paris pieds nus (original title) Language: French, English
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1uT5mWbpdI
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!
Directed and acted by Dominique Abel, Fiona Gordon, and not to forget Emmanuelle Riva and Pierre Richard – such performances!
Slapstick with a hint of fantasy, but overall a thoroughly entertaining comedy – an absolute laugh riot!
6. Raw
Grave (original title) Language: French
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvZ6nB3cl1w
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!
Garance Marillier and Ella Rumpf – brilliantly realistic performances.
Directed by Julia Ducournau, this is a film that doesn’t shy away from gore, blood or violent cannibalistic scenes. NOT for the soft-hearted.
5. Toni Erdmann
Language: German, English, Romanian
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0uwi5EPnpA
A father’s practical jokes are often too much for his busy daughter to handle. And yet the bond between them is exceptional!
Directed by Maren Ade, one of those unique films that takes comedy into a different level – subtle yet outrageous!
Top notch performances by Sandra Hüller and Peter Simonischek – the best father-daughter drama of recent times.
Umi yori mo mada fukaku (original title)
Language: Japanese
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPW8QJ4N5PE
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?
From the brilliant Japanese director Hirokazu Koreeda, a perfect combination of emotions and humour. Believable characters, natural performances and the simple yet blissful story-telling is what makes the film so very special!
3. Neruda
Language: Spanish, French
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neUwXV_cSwM
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!
Directed by Pablo Larraín, masterfully enacted by Gael García Bernal and Luis Gnecco – a sublime experience as poetry blends into Cinema!
2. The Salesman
Forushande (original title) Language: Persian, English.
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHHZjuQB3zU
From the acclaimed Iranian writer/director Asghar Farhadi comes a unique revenge drama where a man seeks justice and retribution after his wife faces an assault from an unknown invader.
Exceptional performances from Taraneh Alidoosti and Shahab Hosseini, as by the end the film questions the real meaning of ‘Justice being served’. This Iranian film won the Oscar as the ‘Best Foreign Language Film of the Year’!
Language: English, Korean, Spanish
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nhz9ctHR0k
On the surface this is 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 film of this year that makes a statement of it’s own!
and (The ‘+1′ film is not necessarily the best but certainly the most innovative one. A must watch)
Ma vie de Courgette (original title) Language: French
Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nRwYWVxjRU
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!
Directed by Claude Barras, this heart touching stop motion animated feature was screened in the Directors’ Fortnight section at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival and also the official submission from Switzerland at the Oscars last year!
Poster courtesy: www.impawards.com, www.imdb.com.
alive and their problems unique yet genuine and tangible for the whole world!
additional drama on the current plot.