This concludes my four-part series on movies I've watched. For the earlier parts, you can click on Part 1: Drama, Part 2: Comedies and Part 3: Thrillers.
Thank God for foreign movies and world cinema. Be it form, substance, execution, cinematography or visualisation, I will never cease to be amazed by the canvas foreign directors use to tell a story.
The few foreign movies I’ve seen are largely Japanese and Iranian. So, I’m a huge fan of Takashi Miike, Abbas Kiarostami and Mohsen Makhmalbaf. You couldn’t find two more contrasting directorial styles. If Miike’s gore disgusts and hence titillates you, the Iranians stark and simple stories can move you to tears. Thank God these Gods are so prolific.
Takashi Miike (Japan): Torture, abuse of women/ men/children, dismembered human organs flying across the screen, Yakuza, deviants, perverts, etc. etc. You either love him or hate this maverick. I loved him. Here are some of his movies that I've seen – Shinjuka Triad, Rainy Dog, Audition, Dead or Alive, Ichi the killer, Yakuza Demon, City of Lost Souls.
Mohsen Makhmalbaf and Abbas Kiarostami (Iran): Even as I was going gaga on Majid Majidi’s Baran, my friend scorned me and told me about these two. God almighty, how can they make such brilliant masterpieces! Again – they’re not the easiest movies to watch, so don’t get the pop-corn. Long-scenes, stark landscape, simple stories about real people and devoid of music and histrionics. I wish I could say more, but for once I’m falling woefully short of words. Here are the few I've seen so far – and believe me, each is worthy of much more than I can blog. The wind will carry us, Taste of cherry, Kandahar and Close-up.
Others: Ok, so you’ve probably heard of all of these, but I’d pick “Bus 174” and “4 days in September” as my beyond-the-obvious favourites. Here we go –
Motorcycle Diaries, 4 days in September, Bus 174, Amores Perros, Like water for chocolate, City of God, Tattoo (Mr. Schwenke’s also directed the recent Jody Foster beauty – Flightplan), Insomnia (yep, Chris Nolan’s cult favourite was in fact a remake of this brilliant Nordic movie).
Sorry but no links for above and my list stands concluded.
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5 comments:
Nice post.Am a big fan of world cinema myself. Iranian movies are visually and intellectually stimulating! Whats your take on Akira Kurosawa? I worship him!
ahhh! alrite. Movies like seven samurai and rashomon just leave me in awe! Iranian cinema is simply overbrimming with talent! I agree. Are you a member in any film chamber?
I have lotsa friends in the movie industry. am an ex mass communication student. so i have pretty good exposure to film chamber tickets, and filmfestival screenings... but dvds are better, i like them better:D
Not really. Its not always a critical cinema connoisseur crowd. Its mostly loud men with cell phones ringing, the guys who get passes... ya know. Its always a first come first serve basis at the chamber.
Have you seen "Y Tu Mamá Tambien"?
Dark, sexy, funny, excellent.
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