15 Films of the Year 2009 (Non English)

35 Shots of Rhum (France)

International Film magazine Sight and Sound declared Claire Denis as the finest film director working today and I can see why. There are a couple of reasons why 35 Shots of Rhum is a magnificent little film and Claire Denis is a master director.

1) It is a French modern day drama without being a typical "French” film meaning characters don’t sit and randomly talk about philosophy and life and relationships.

2) It handles delicately a father-daughter relationship, something that is absolutely non existent in contemporary cinema. The culture today has very little time for older people and in turn, cinema has very little time for older characters as Guardian’s Ann Bilson talked about recently. So it was refreshing to see a film about 4 principal characters, 2 of who belong to the older generation.

3) It is set in modern day France but has an all black cast and yet never even makes a glancing blow towards making it clear “look I am making a film in France about black people.

A Prophet (France)

Winner of the Grand Prix at Cannes 2009, A Prophet was quickly being touted as the finest crime saga since The Godfather. A Prophet came in a year where World Cinema was at its very best, which perhaps explains why it did not win the Golden Palme at Cannes nor the Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars. That speaks more about the quality of cinema in year 2009 than anything else.

Nonetheless A Prophet is a masterpiece of epic proportions. Jacques Audiard delivers a visceral and compelling film about the coming of age of a young Arab journey through prison and life and beyond.

Tahar Rahim as Malik El DJebena in the central role is a revelation. Those of you who think the crime genre has more or less reached its end need to see this to see how when a master director is at the helm, every genre gets a new life.

Accident (Hong Kong)

How is it that a bloated, rich industry like Hollywood can only churn franchises and sequels and Asian cinema comes up with gems one after another? Accident ranks among the best modern thrillers to come out of Hong Kong. Multiple viewings is a must to appreciate and explore the sub textual philosophical and moral questions the film poses about the nature of accidents, destiny, free will and human nature in general. How we see others is merely a reflection of our own nature. This film does an excellent job of making that point.

I saw this film without knowing anything about it and that is the best approach for a great viewing experience. This is a must watch.

Ajami (Israel)

The multiple plot structure of the film is reminiscent of Crash (2004) and Traffic (2000) but that is where the similarity ends. Ajami is a fantastic film that has strong legs to stand on its own. I saw this a while ago and writing about it now, while I remember the scenes and characters make me want to see this film again.

Five separate stories set in Ajami, a poor Arab neighbourhood situated in the city of Tel-Aviv/Yafo. The many characters are played mostly by non professionals, and the result gives a documentary feel to the film. This film is the Israeli entry for the Oscars 2009. I was initially a bit apprehensive about watching a film dealing so directly with the Arab-Jewish conflict but at its heart it is a human story about human conflict and suffering.

Directed by two newcomers on the cinema scene Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani, it is acted most of the time in Arabic and deals with a world that many Israelis know only from the news - the crime and poverty dominated Arab districts at the periphery of the Israeli big cities.The name of the film is of one of these areas, in Jaffo, south and close to the shining lights of the Tel Aviv metropolis. This film is a must watch for anyone who wants to understand the conflict.

Ip Man 2 (Hong Kong)

Ip Man 2, the sequel to the highly successful biopic Ip Man (2008) is yet another delight for martial arts fans. Based on the life of Ip Man, a grandmaster of the martial art Wing Chun and the first person to teach the art openly. One of his students was the widely influential and acclaimed martial artist and filmmaker Bruce Lee. I am not sure how historically accurate the film is or how honestly it portrays the incidents of that time but as a film, it packs the punches in the right places and strikes at the right chords. A must watch for Asian martial arts fans.

Micmacs (France)

What an outstanding film, what an outstanding director, what an outstanding body of work. In case people don’t know, the director I am talking about is Jean Pierre Jeunet, director of such fantastic films like Amelie, A Very Long Engagement and City of Lost Children. Now anyone familiar with even one of those films will know that Jeunet has his own very distinct filmmaking and storytelling style and even if he picks what might seem an old genre or a predictable plot or known characters, he still manages to make a totally unpredictable and refreshingly original film. Micmacs is no different.

The film tackles serious issues like weapons industry, international warfare and vigilantism yet does this in a very Jeunet sort of way, quirky, refreshing and funny at times. This is one of the best films of the year, one of my all time favourite films and a must watch.

No One Knows About Persian Cats (Iran)

This is a beautiful, fresh and unique way of looking into the lives and struggles of Iranian citizens in their day to day lives under a strict and totalitarian regime. The film presents to us two musicians who are looking for more band members and a visa that would allow them to perform at concerts overseas and fulfil their dream of being musicians. Shot in documentary style, it takes us along with the two main characters along a journey through Iran, in search of band members and in the process explore various facets of contemporary Iranian society.

Samson and Delilah (Australia)

There is a reason why cinema is so important to my life. It enriches and enlightens me. This film is a shining example. It took me to a side of Australia I was absolutely unfamiliar with despite living in Australia for almost 5 years now. Debutante director Warwick Thornton takes us to this other world, and manages to intrigue, disturb and emotionally drain us by the end of the film with very little dialogue and conversation. This is a minimalist film of the highest order and places emphasis on mannerisms, ambiance, atmosphere, eyes.

The film gives a snapshot of the effects of substance abuse, extreme poverty, the violence within aboriginal society as well as the violence directed at it and worse of all the general apathy of the white population to these issues. The acting is unpretentious, the soundtrack sparse and conversation is absent.

Following the story of two star crossed lovers and the reality of Aboriginal life in the Territories, this is a film that should be shown widely and help to dispel the myth that the Australian film industry is somehow lacking - with films like this being produced, it's certainly not - we just need to see more of it.

Sin Nombre (Mexico)

Why are Mexican films so awesome? How do they keep making gems one after another? Let's be clear from the outset, this is a dark, bleak and violent movie, at times reminiscent of Brazilian masterpiece City of God.

Today when terms like ‘illegal immigrants’ still exist, when issues about asylum seekers are still opportunities for political parties to score points, I cannot overstate the importance of films like Sin Nombre. Maybe, just maybe, watching this movie will at least give people a glimpse into the lives, backgrounds and destinies of these people, who are abused, mistreated and forgotten by almost everybody, people who basically have come to symbolize a type of disposable human garbage, that truly are without a face and identity, just another label ranging from terrorists to illegal immigrants to asylum seekers.

As a film, it scores in all the right areas, beautifully shot, acted and executed. Everyone should go see this as soon as they can. Great, great first film.

Soul Kitchen (Germany)

Fatih Akin (The Edge of Heaven, Head On) is one of my most favourite of World Cinema directors. If I had to make a list of 5 directors of the world today from the current generation, I know his name would one of the first be on that list.

With Soul Kitchen, he delves into unfamiliar territory – light hearted breezy comedy, although it isn't laugh-out-loud funny. I read an interview where he talked about his apprehensions in doing a comedy after the mature and much lauded film The Edge of Heaven but I am glad he did because Soul Kitchen is a delight. The story revolves around a restaurant/club called Soul Kitchen and the troublesome life of its respectful owner Zinos. He has to overcome many struggles involving his girlfriend, his brother and the authorities. The film is set in the heart of the diverse northern German city of Hamburg.

Most of the films that are highly acclaimed and lauded in World Cinema are of a more serious kind, often falling in the genre of drama. Many of them, including many on this list are quite disturbing and emotionally draining. Soul Kitchen is a complete anti thesis of that. It is a positive breath of fresh air and enjoyable affair yet at the same time it manages to encapsulate the unpredictable randomness of life.

Fatih Akin has a keen ear for music and most of his films have great soundtracks so the fact that the soundtrack of this film was so awesome did not surprise me at all. It makes great use of colours and textures and draws a fine analogy between cooking and life. Watching Head On, I got the impression that Fatih Akin is someone who takes a special interest in cooking and recipes and this film where the protagonist is a cook and an owner of a restaurant is perhaps a culmination of that.

The White Ribbon (Germany)

Michael Haneke (Cache, The Piano Teacher) once said that his films were a reaction to contemporary cinema, cinema that already exists. He feels a large part of contemporary cinema resorts to appeasing and reassuring. He finds that misleading hence he attempts through his cinema to disturb and disorient the viewer. He went so far as to say he wants to ‘rape’ the audience.

That is perhaps what makes The White Ribbon so difficult to watch, and even more difficult to review.

Filmed beautifully in black and white with subtitles, The White Ribbon is a movie that will leave viewers with a lasting residue long after it ends. The film portrays the residents of a northern German village, dominated by a baron, sometime before World War I. A number of unexplained accidents beset the town’s schoolchildren and their parents. Violence plagues the town, as observed by a school teacher, who for most part of the film remains a silent spectator, an outsider who observes everything yet is to feeble or powerless to do anything. All he succeeds in doing is narrating the story to us. It is perhaps best to not know anything else about the film and let it just flow freely.

Winner of The Golden Palm at Cannes 2009, this film along with A Prophet and The Secret In Their Eyes just raised the bar for cinema to a whole new level in 2009.

The Secret in Their Eyes (Argentina)

Very rarely do I find myself agreeing with the Oscar results. In that regard, 2009 was even worse because I disagreed with almost all the winners until I watched this film. Competing with The White Ribbon and A Prophet, both of which had won at Cannes and garnered huge praise and acclaim, the film shocked everyone when it won the Best Foreign Language film. Many people, most of who had not even seen the film snickered and dismissed the Academy.

Being someone who prefers to watch a film before forming an opinion, I decided to check it out. By the time the film was over, not only did I wholeheartedly agree with the Academy, I found myself ready to see the film all over again. My only complaint was that it ended. Hence, despite appreciating The White Ribbon, despite A Prophet being one of my most favourite films, this will be my pick of the year.

It is a multi-layered, noirish thriller set in modern day Argentina about a murder that took place in 1974. he story is split between two time periods: the investigation by the three main characters of the rape and murder of a young woman in 1974, and the reunion of two of those characters today. Benjamin (Ricardo Darin) is writing a novel about the 25 year-old case that ended with an unfavourable outcome, and in the course of recounting what happened, we learn about the past events and the rather complicated past that Benjamin had with his superior, Irena (Soledad Villamil).

Elegantly shot with the Red One Digital camera, the film is aided by competent performances by the lead cast. Director Campallena never loses grip even for a second and in the end film is one rewarding experience with a fitting ending. Very seldom does a director manage to balance style and substance so eloquently and Campallena does so in this film so beautifully that it looks effortless.

The eyes being the window to the soul is perhaps a major theme of the film and due importance is paid to filming the eyes. The two main characters never speak their mind to each other yet we know their thoughts through their eyes. The murder mystery in the end is solved through secrets in the eyes as well.

Film critics and cinephiles the world over are talking about the rise and rise of Latin American cinema. This is one of the finest examples of that rise.

Thirst (South Korea)

In my books, among the younger directors, Chan Wook Park is the best director working in the world today. Oldboy, Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance, Lady Vengeance, Joint Security Area, I am yet to see a bad film by him. He played a major role in bringing Korean cinema on to the world stage. His latest venture, Thirst is a vampire story.

Corrupted by crappy Hollywood films, the moment I heard of this film, I was a bit apprehensive. I still had enough faith in Chan Wook Park to give the film a chance. Well, as it happens, it is not the genre, it is the master behind the camera who determines the film.

As a result, despite not being a fan of this genre, I absolutely loved the movie. If you love Chan-wook Park, you know what to expect. His films are brutal, poetic, tragic, and artistic, with splashes of very grim humour. Starting with the cinematography (every shot is gorgeous and creative) to the story, which blends Shakespearean tragedy, murderous love, Gothic horror, and layered character drama, this is yet another masterpiece from South Korea.

Sang-hyun, a priest working for a hospital, selflessly volunteers for a secret vaccine development project intended to eradicate a deadly virus. However, the virus eventually takes over the priest. He nearly dies, but makes a miraculous recovery by an accidental transfusion of vampire blood. What starts of as a standard vampire story quickly develops into a poetic take on romance, religion, madness and ultimately human nature.

The World Is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner (Bulgaria)

Like Soul Kitchen, this film also helps balance out the serious quotient of World Cinema without compromising on the integrity. Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars last year, this film had only an outside chance against some of the bigger films by bigger directors. Nevertheless, this is a beautiful film about self discovery.

The subject matter might be clichéd and done before but when clichés are done with conviction, they work. A young man (Aleksandar) who has lost his memories and parents in a car accident is guided by his charismatic grandfather (Bai Dan) to regain his memories by travelling around Europe, retracing the path the young man and his parents once took when they had illegally migrated from Bulgaria to Germany for a new life. This is the premise of this movie.

But this is more than a tale of two people on the road to self discovery. The movie explores into the political situation of Bulgaria during the 1980s. Aleksandar's father, Vasko, gets into trouble with a local communist who wants him to spy on Bai Dan, his father-in-law. He refuses and worrying about the consequences he decides to leave Bulgaria and flee to Germany with his wife and son. We get to see the troubles that they face during their migration and the problems they and the other immigrants from different countries face in the refugee camp.

This is the first Bulgarian film I have seen and it was Bulgary’s official entry for the Oscars last year. This film is struggling to find a theatrical release in most of the major countries and markets. Nevertheless, try to find it wherever you can and watch because it is truly a beautiful film.

Vengeance (Hong Kong)

A French chef swears revenge after a violent attack on his daughter's family in Hong Kong, during which her husband and her two children are murdered. To help him find the killers, he hires three local hit-men working for the mafia.

Johnny To is a big name in Hong Kong cinema and is a cult name among fans of action and crime films. This is a pretty standard revenge tale where an outsider is forced to rely on three strangers to extract revenge. To make matters complicated, he suffers a “Memento-esque” condition of short term memory loss.

Despite a few predictable elements, Vengeance makes its impact thanks to Johnny To’s stylish execution and shoot outs that would make Michael Mann or John Woo proud. While the characters lack background, the story successfully builds up the camaraderie between the protagonists, which is necessary since much of the film spends time with them as they carry out their mission.

It is perhaps not as polished as a Mann or a Woo or even a To film, but overall it is a hugely entertaining affair. Fans of action thrillers should not give this a miss.

Honourable Mentions:

Broken Embraces (Spain)

Everlasting Moments (Sweden)

Lorna’s Silence (Belgium)

Welcome (France)

15 Films of the Year 2009 (English)

The following films are the notable and memorable films of the year 2009. They are ranked in alphabetical order and not in order of preference.

500 Days of Summer

For a long time I had given up on mainstream Hollywood to deliver a realistically made entertaining film about real life characters, characters we can easily identify and relate with, about the current society we live in, current age we live in. Don’t get me wrong. I love Iron Man and Batman but an industry as huge as Hollywood should be diverse enough. Sadly the bigger it gets, the less diverse it gets.

Well, 500 Days of Summer directed by debutant director by Marc Webb is the answer to that question. For too long when it came to romantic comedies, Hollywood has relied on caricatures, the typical honest, committed, believes in fairy tales kind of girl and the typical non committed, emotionless, easy go lucky guy who would chase anything in skirts.

500 Days of Summer does away with all those caricatures and stereotypes and establishes at the very onset that this is a story about a boy and a girl but this is not a love story.

The crisp engaging screenplay and awesome soundtrack all add tremendous value and compliment the excellent performance from the lead pair Joseph Gordon Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. I had only seen Joseph earlier in an annoying performance in the film Killshot so he greatly impressed me here. I am glad he got a film like Inception now and hopefully his career will progress well from here on.

As I said before, the characters are so well written and easily relatable, this could be anyone’s story, my story or the story of the guy next door.

I had absolutely no trouble in seeing myself in Tom especially when he expertly delivers lines like “People don't realize this, but loneliness is underrated” and “It's these cards, and the movies and the pop songs, they're to blame for all the lies and the heartache, everything. We're responsible.” and “You know what sucks? realizing everything you have always believed in is a total load of bullshit”.

Initially I had dismissed it as just another crap romantic comedy Hollywood churns out every year but this is a deeply entertaining and beautiful film. Do not miss it.

An Education

This was a delightful film about England in the 1960s. The crisp and witty screenplay keeps you engaged all throughout and competent performances from every actor in the film makes it an enjoyable affair. Any talk about this film would be incomplete without special mention of its confident and promising young actress Carey Mulligan.

Away We Go

If someone held a gun to my head and I had to pick one film from this list, it would be this one. So far, I am yet to be left disappointed by a Sam Mendes film. Away We Go tells the story of a couple, looking for a suitable environment for the birth of their first child.

It is a delightful, fresh and quirky take on relationships, marriage, human emotions etc. It is one of those films that engage you from the very first scene with its fantastic screenplay. The music by Alexi Murdoch is a delight and adds value to the film. After a very long time, I felt a personal connection with a film and the music and lyrics which are some of the best in recent times had a big contribution towards building that connection. The performances by the two lead actors John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph are absolutely charming to say the least. It is a must watch.

Bright Star

This is the film that prompted none other Quentin Tarantino to write a letter to director Jane Campion after he saw it at Cannes 2009. He wrote, “My favorite film of yours … I don’t like period pieces like that. I loved this!!! Never has heartache been so realistically and movingly portrayed as Abbie taking to her bed … The lovers kisses … Abbie and Ben … touching … Brilliant. I loved it!!! Love – Your fan – Quentin Tarantino”

I don’t think I would have been able to sum it up better myself. Like Tarantino, I am not a huge fan of period pieces either but this film just totally blew me over. Heartache, solitude, pain, bliss, everything that defines love is there. Add to that, the exquisite cinematography and soothing background scores.

Campion is a master director and there is nothing left to be said about her. However, I would just like to mention one scene, where Fanny’s younger sister is looking for her while she is with John Keats. As she walks along, we hear the rustle of the leaves and the chirping of the birds. Never before has the rustling of leaves sounded so poetic.

Fish Tank

This gritty, realist, coming of age drama is about growing up in modern Britain seen through the eyes of a 15 year old Mia Williams (played competently by Katie Jarvis).

She is disturbed, lonely, disillusioned and ignored by her mother and society in general. Her life changes drastically when her mother’s new boyfriend,(played by Michael Fassbender – the film critic cum spy from Inglorious Basterds) moves in with them.

The film is a brilliant character study of a 15 year old girl struggling to make her own place in this world.

Five Minutes of Heaven

This is an underrated gem which, for inexplicable reasons was totally ignored. I have absolutely no idea why no one has seen this film and why no one talks about this film.

Alistair Little was 17 years old in 1975 when, as a fledgling member of the Ulster Volunteer Force, he murdered his first and only Catholic. Little fired three shots through the downstairs window of James Griffin's home in Lurgan, County Armagh, killing the 19-year-old as he sat watching television. "I've scored," he told his masked accomplices as they drove off. Griffin's younger brother, Joe, who had been kicking a football around outside at the time, witnessed the whole thing. Their eyes locked and Little admits now that if had known that Joe was Griffin's brother, he would have killed him too.

This is the first half hour of the film. The next hour is a fictionalised account asking the ‘what if’ question. What if Alistair Little met Joe Griffin today?

The next 1 hour is absolutely riveting as the two individuals interact and attempt to make sense and ‘move on’ with their lives. Liam Neeson (as Alistair Little) is first rate and is ably matched by James Nesbitt who plays Joe Griffin. This film is not to be missed.

Inglorious Basterds

In a specatcular piece of arrogance, Brad Pitt as Lt. Aldo Raine is given the last line in the film “I think this might just be my masterpiece”. Quentin Tarantino fans will not find this line the least bit surprising as Tarantino has been wanting to make a WW2 masterpiece since 1998. In fact as early as 1994, when giving interviews for Pulp Fiction, he had spoken of his desire to make a western and a WW2 drama. Still waiting for the full on western but this is his WW2 revenge fantasy.

Sadly, Inglorious Basterds is no masterpiece. In a career that started off with Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, two films that would easily make it to any Top 100 films of all time, it is indeed difficult to make a film that would surpass those. However, that said, Basterds is still a hugely entertaining film like all Tarantino movies and one of the notable ones of the year.

The weakest link in the film is however the Basterds themselves. Other than that, typical Tarantino characters like Col Hans Landa, film critic cum spy Archie Hicox, or German war hero Frederick Zoller. Dialogues are always a highpoint in a Tarantino film and this is no different. The opening scene in the film is perhaps one of the best and most chilling openings in cinema.

Then he gives this particular line to Michael Fassbender’s character in a spectacular set-piece that culminates in a Mexican stand-off, “Well, if this is it, old boy, I hope you don't mind if I go out speaking the King's.There's a special rung in hell reserved for people who waste good scotch. Seeing as how I may be rapping on the door momentarily...I must say, damn good stuff, Sir. Now, about this pickle... we find ourselves in. It would appear there's only thing left for you to do.” Its lines like these that make a Tarantino film a Tarantino film.

Also, as brilliant as the lines maybe, a lot depends on the actor to pull it off. There is this particular line uttered by Brad PItt, “You know, fightin' in a basement offers a lot of difficulties. Number one being, you're fightin' in a basement! The way Pitt delivers it with his thick accent makes this such a hilarious moment in the film.

Out of the 5 chapters, 3 are absolutely gripping and despite the weak climax, the film is definitely one of the best ones of the year.

Moon

Moon is an old fashioned sci-fi movie. That means it does not use technology as a gimmick to substitute good story telling. Moon is a psychological human drama, dispensing with overweening CGI and loud flashy action sequences and relying more on characters and ideas.

Sam Rockwell handles all the acting bundle of the film with the utmost of ease and confidence. This performance should do wonders for this talented actor’s career.

But more importantly, Moon is the debut feature of a talented, brave and independent young director and for that reason alone it should be watched by all cinephiles.

New York, I Love You

This is an anthology film joining several love stories set in one of the most loved cities of the world, New York. The coming together of diverse, internationally acclaimed directors like Fatih Akin, Mira Nair, Shunji Iwai and Yvan Attai, each with their very own take on one of the most popular cities in the world is surely a treat for any love of cinema.

Out of the many segments, I loved the ones featuring Orlando Bloom, Andy Garcia, Robin Wright Penn and Qiu Shu.

Public Enemies

This highly awaited film was not as well liked as it should have been. Honestly, I do not understand why. But perhaps I am a bit biased here for the following reasons

1) Michael Mann is one of my most favourite American directors

2) Johnny Depp is my favourite actor of his generation

3) Marion Cotillard is exquisitely beautiful.

I have seen all of Mann’s films since Heat and I have liked all of them, with Heat and The Insider being my favourites. I don’t even mind his weaker films like Ali and Miami Vice.

So I got everything I look for in a Michael Mann film - Sharp suited gangsters, audacious bank heists, exhilarating shoot-outs and sentimental romanticism, carefully, meticulously researched and as historically accurate as a feature film can be. All this and more defines Michael Mann’s take on the depression era bank robber John Dillinger. Many of the key sequences including the shoot out at the Little Bohemia and Dillinger’s escape from Lake Country Jail are filmed in the actual locations where the events took place. This goes to show Mann’s dedication to keeping it real and true.

The set-piece shoot out scenes are some of the most chilling and power packed ones we have seen. The shoot out scenes in Mann films always make you forget about shoot out scenes in other films altogether and Public Enemies is no different.

I have always been a great fan of the visuals and cinematography of Mann films and this digitally shot film with the new HD camera is a treat for the eyes. Mann’s usual DOP Daniel Spinotti helps create a captivatingly cold, clear and detailed mise en scene that combines with lots of handheld coverage to give the film a distinctive look and feel.

The great soundtrack created by Otis Taylor compliments the film beautifully and the theme song Ten Million Slaves is my favourite.

There is a lot of criticism about this film that there is very little exploration of Dillinger the man, his motivations, his background, what made him the man he was. I am glad the film did not tread along that path because not much is known about all that. Having read Bryan Burrough’s Public Enemies, which is the source material for this film, I realized that we do not actually know for certain why John Dillinger is John Dillinger. In such a case, I felt Michael Mann and his writers did the right job by not even going there.

Sherlock Holmes

Guy Ritchie is another favourite director of mine. Apart from his disaster Swept Away, I have enjoyed all his films. I loved his last film RocknRolla but unfortunately it wasn’t as successful and Ritchie was unable to continue with parts 2 and 3 as originally planned.

But when Ritchie picked up Sherlock Holmes instead with Robert Downey Jr, I was no longer complaining.

Ritchie delivers a tightly structured, intriguing thriller full of the twists and turns and witty humour. The film does have its customary ‘explain everything in the end’ bit as commercial thrillers usually do but apart from that, I enjoyed every bit of it.

Downey Jr and Jude Law are in fine form and it was a treat to see Mark Strong deliver another strong performance after RocknRolla.

The Girlfriend Experience

Steven Soderbergh is known for maintaining his ‘one for them, one for me’ policy in Hollywood. So while he makes the Oceans series and Out of Sight, which are enjoyable to say the least, he also makes gems like Traffic, Che and now The Girlfriend Experience. This is his latest experimental film about a Manhattan call girl who offers not just rushed release but the more refined "girlfriend experience" -- a suite of services including, as we see in the opener, fine red wine and Marc Jacobs black dresses, soft kisses and small talk, and many more things, an experience that goes far beyond sex. Sex is everywhere in The Girlfriend Experience, except there's no sex.

The movie is set during October 2008, many of Chelsea’s clients are customers are seen talking about politics, the elections, McCain, Obama and the financial crisis. Through the main character Chelsea, we are also given a window to contemporary America.

But the soul of the film is Chelsea played by adult actress Sasha Grey. The film is shot-with-the-4K-Red-digital-camera and gives it a spectacular look. Soderbergh’s sense of colour and aesthetics is always pleasant and this is no exception.

The Messenger

The Messenger is about two soldiers whose job it is to inform families when loved ones are killed in the line of duty. They are messengers of bad news basically. The two soldiers are expertly played by Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster. This film brilliantly captures that 10 second period where one's life is turned upside, and it blissfully displays the heartache that thousands of loved ones have had to endure during this Iraq War. It depicts those of all backgrounds with many different reactions.... some of them were truly harrowing to watch. It was the kind of performances that make the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

For me as an audience, the film was much more effective than The Hurt Locker in getting the point across.

The Road

After the visual masterpiece that was The Proposition, I have been waiting with bated breath for John Hillcoat’s next venture. An adaptation of a Cormac McCarthy novel, this is a beautifully shot film with a haunting soundtrack that adds to the depressing and often disturbing story of a father desperately trying to keep his son alive in a post apocalyptic world. The masterful cinematography and score bring The Road to life.

The film is definitely not for the faint hearted. It is a deeply stimulating film that provides deep insight into human nature and the nature of life itself and is often bleak and heart crushing.

But if cinema or any form of art is supposed to stimulate your mind, then The Road definitely does a very good job of that and it stays with you long after the film is over.

Tetro

Tetro is a deeply personal and beautiful film written and directed by the old master Francis Ford Coppola, the most personal according to the man himself. I can see why.

This is the sort of artistic gems that a man who has nothing else to prove has the luxury of indulging in. This is the sort of film I wish Scorsese would do now rather than churning out studio products.

The plot is very simple. Bennie travels to Buenos Aires to find his long-missing older brother Tetro, a once-promising writer who is now a remnant of his former self. Bennie's discovery of his brother's near-finished play might hold the answer to understanding their shared past and renewing their bond but also long buried family secrets.

Vincent Gallo as Tetro is not a very familiar actor for me. I had only seen him once before in a Johnny Depp movie called Arizona Dream where he played an Italian American wannabe actor. So when he delivers a performance of such high class in this film, I was totally awe-struck.

This is a haunting, heart-wrenching cinema experience that needs to be seen. It pains me that a mediocre work like Shutter Island gets praised to death while a legend's return to form is ignored. See this film.

Honourable Mentions

District 9

Drag Me To Hell

Goodbye Solo

Invictus

The Limits of Control

30 Films of the decade (2000-2009) (Non-English)

This is in continuation from an earlier post

This was originally meant to be a list of 25 films but in the end it was just too difficult. So 5 more films have been added. These 30 films are amongst my most favourite films from all around the world. I am aware that there plenty I still haven’t seen or haven’t heard of. When it comes to foreign film, I have seen a larger proportion of Asian films (mainly South Korean) than Italian or German so this list will be heavily skewed towards Korean films.

Often I need to see a movie at least twice, sometimes even more to really enjoy it and make up my mind about it. I also need a minimum gap of 1 year before I can look back at it again and see if my perception of the film has diminished a little bit. As a result, I have not included any film from the year 2009 simply because it is just too early to put them in decade list although there have been some awesome films made in 2009.

1) 4 Months 3 Weeks 2 Days (2007) (Romania)

Written and Directed by: Cristian Mungiu

This little Romanian gem is gritty, brutal and sensitive all at the same time. Fiercely realistic to the point where you start wondering whether the film followed a script or just recorded a real situation with actual people instead of fictional characters. Performances are absolutely flawless from both the actresses Anamaria Marinca and Laura Vasiliu. I was expecting this film to win the Best Foreign Language Oscar that year but to my utter shock, it was not even nominated. But I am glad it deservedly won the Golden Palm at Cannes in 2008.

2) Amelie (2001) (France)

Directed by: Jean Pierre Jeunet

Written by: Guillaume Laurant, Jean Pierre Jeunet

If you love life and you love cinema, there is no way you cannot like this heart warming and absolutely adorable tale of a naive, idealistic girl called Amelie, played by the superbly talented Audrey Tatou. Amelie is one of those films that is about finding the small things in life, those little astonishing moments which don’t seem extraordinary but make our lives in ways we do not quite understand. I am not going write anything else about the plot because I watched it without having any idea what its about and I think that is the best way to approach this film.

3) Amores Perros (2000) (Mexico)

Directed by: Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu

Written by: Guillermo Arriaga

This is perhaps one of the most important films I have ever seen. I saw it for the first time 3 years ago. As it happens when a film has this kind of impact on me, I don’t have much to say except for the fact that this film changed forever the way I look at cinema, and more importantly, the way I look at life. Today, whenever I feel upset about life, I look back at Amores Perros and it re affirms for me the power of cinema as an art form.

4) And Your Mama Too (Mexico)

Directed by: Alfonso Cuaron

Written by: Carlos Cuaron, Alfonso Cuaron

This is another masterpiece from Mexico, directed by Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men, 2006). Two teenager meet an older woman and embark on a road trip that will transform their lives for ever. The film on its surface is brilliant in its exploration of human nature, relationships, jealousy, friendship etc. But Cuaron as a director also hits some glancing blows, by having his film revolve around three upper class characters against the backdrop of harsh poverty and cruelty of life in Mexico. Gael Garcia Bernal is supremely talented and the only reason this is not his finest performance is because his body of work is so brilliant. Diego Luna and Maribel Verdu (Pan’s Labrynth) are great too.

5) Battle Royale (2000) (Japan)

Directed by: Kinji Fukasaku

Written by: Koushun Takami (novel), Kenta Fukasaku

Battle Royale is a futuristic, highly controversial film that severely polarised opinions when it came out. The film focuses on what happens when a group of high school students are sent to an abandoned island to kill each other. What brings such a bizarre idea to fruition includes civil unrest, teenage anxiety, and a nation literally terrorized by their youth. The film does contain allusions to contemporary Japanese society in a large way and that prompted a negative reaction from the Japanese government.

As someone not very familiar with Japanese society, it intrigued me and led me to try to read and understand a bit more about the society.

The film is quite violent and can be disturbing at times. But it is a captivating story with intriguing situations and provides deep insight into human nature.

6) City of God (2002) (Brazil)

Directed by: Fernando Meirelles, Katia Lund

Written by: Braulio Mantovani, Paulo Lins (novel)

If there is one film that I am sure will make it to every “Films of the last decade” list, it is this. Based in a ghetto in Rio De Janeiro, the film shocked the world with its brutal portrayal of drugs, gang wars and children killing children. The film depicts three generations of gangs and is often reminiscent of Scorsese’s Goodfellas but is far more violent and uncompromising.

7) Head On (2004) (Germany, Turkey)

Written and Directed by Fatih Akin

Cahit is 40 something German male of Turkish descent. He is a failure, an acoholic and drug addict. Failing to struggle anymore, he attempts to end his life.

Sibel is 20 something German girl of Turkish descent. She is brought up in a strict environment by her parents and brother who want her to live in a certain traditional way. Sibel is free spirited and would do anything to escape from her life. She too attempts to end her life.

It is in the hospital where Cahit and Sibel meet and what follows is the most unlikely, and unconventional love story. What happens next, why the film is so brilliant, why Fatih Akin is one of the most talented filmmakers in the world today, for answers to these questions, you have to go see the film.

8) Hero (2002) (China)

Directed by: Zhang Yimou

Written by: Zhang Yimou, Feng Li, Bin Wang

When it comes to foreign films, I make it a point to watch it in its original language with its subtitles. The problem with that is, I often miss out on the visuals and other aspects while reading the subtitles. So when a particular director’s visuals and style appeal to me, I note the film and the scene and make it a point to revisit it later when I no longer have to read the subtitles to know what's going on.

10 minutes into Hero, I was so struck and enamoured by its beauty, I decided to ignore everything else, and just focus on the visual poetry. Zhang Yimou, who is known for his aesthetics and visual style, collaborates with the best cinematographer in the world – Christopher Doyle and the result is a visual masterpiece.

I had to watch Hero a second time, to read the subtitles and know what’s going on. Hero is not just a visually stunning film lacking in content. It is deeply spiritual, philosophical and along with great martial arts, heart touching background score, it is one of the strongest arguments for the power of cinema. This is the reason cinema exists. In heaven, every film would be directed by Zhang Yimou and photographed by Christopher Doyle.

9) Infernal Affairs Trilogy (2002-2004) (Hong Kong)

Directed by: Wai-Keung Lau, Alan Mak

Written by: Alan Mak, Felix Chong

This trilogy is for cinema of Hong Kong what The Godfather Trilogy is for American cinema. It is easy to see why this trilogy has such a cult following not only in Hong Kong but among movie lovers all over the world. The second film of the series is my personal favourite as it deftly incorporated spiritual and philosophical themes in a crime drama. The first one is absolutely riveting while the third one is a fitting end to the saga of cops and gangsters in Hong Kong. The three films have to be watched together really and treated as a single film. Forget about The Departed. This is the real thing.

10) In The Mood For Love (2000) (Hong Kong)

Written and Directed by: Wong Kar Wai

The first time I watched this film was 2 years ago in 2008. I knew there was something in this film which was beautiful, which struck me and stayed with me. Yes the characters were beautifully written, the score was great, performances were superb, but there are many films like that. I knew there was something else in this film which was so beautiful, but I did not know what it was. Later, having read a little bit about cinema and having talked to people into photography and art, I realized what it was about In The Mood For Love that was so spectacular. It was the aesthetics. Later when I saw other films made by Wong Kar Wai, I found it aswell. Wong Kar Wai’s sense of aesthetics is unmatched and that is what makes his collaboration with Christopher Doyle such an engaging experience for us viewers.

11) Joint Security Area (2000) (South Korea)

Directed by: Chan Wook Park

Written by: Chan Wook Park, Mu Yeong Lee, Hyeon Seok Kim, Seong Sang Jeon, Sang Yeon Park (novel)

Most of us movie buffs who heard of Chan Wook Park after Oldboy would probably have seen this after we were done with his revenge trilogy. This is why perhaps this film absolutely amazed me because it is so unlike a Chan Wook Park film.

In the DMZ separating North and South Korea, two North Korean soldiers have been killed, supposedly by one South Korean soldier. Maj. Sophie E. Jean is assigned by the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission to investigate the incident. We are then told the story from both sides.

In an age when nationalistic fervour is the order of the day and we live in a deeply polarised world and jingoistic war films win Oscars, Joint Security Area is perhaps one of the most important political thrillers because of its uncompromising take on the hollow nature of nationalism.

12) Memories of Murder (2003) (South Korea)

Directed by: Bong Ho Joon

Written by: Sung Bo Shim, Kwang rim Kim and Bong Ho Joon

Film lovers all over the world hail this as one of the best serial killer movies and I can see why. It is a top notch thriller of the highest class, absolutely compelling. A must watch for lovers of this genre.

I don’t want to reveal too much about the plot because I watched it without knowing anything, with a blank slate and I recommend that as the best approach to enjoy this gripping film.

13) Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran (2003) (France)

Directed by: Francois Dupeyron

Written by: Francois Dupeyron, Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt (novel)

This is a heart warming, adorable little film that finds its way into your heart gradually and before you know it, you find yourself deeply attached to the two main characters. It is the story of a lonely, Jewish teenage boy who is ignored by his parents and who befriends an older Muslim man who happens to be the owner of the local store right next to his house. Veteran Omar Sharif is excellent as Monsieur Ibrahim and Pierre Boulanger who plays the teenager is also first rate.

14) Oldboy (2003) (South Korea)

Directed by: Chan Wook Park

Written by: Jo Yun Hwang, Chun Hyeon Lim, Chan Wook Park

15 years of imprisonment, five days to seek vengeance. This is the film that catapulted Chan Wook Park as a cult figure, a powerhouse director among film lovers all over the world. For many film lovers like myself this, this is the film that introduced us to Korean cinema.

This film is so powerful and rich that it requires at least 2 to three to absorb it totally. The first time I was simply focused on the story and the proceedings – the plot. The second time I began to notice and appreciate the production designs, background colours, aesthetics etc. The third time it helped be reflect on the themes.

If I was asked to provide an argument for the power of cinema, my answer would be Oldboy.

15) A One and a Two (Yi Yi) (2000) (Taiwan) (Japan)

Directed by: Edward Yang

Written by: Edward Yang

This movie is a magnificent piece of art. Every shot of the movie is like a painting in its own right. Hats off to cinematographer Wei-han Yang for getting so many splendid images on film. From his serene reflective shots against a city nocturnal background, to innovative bird eye-view shots, to neat mirror shots, to the perspective of the bedridden grandmother in a coma, to cars passing by in front of the actors, to gorgeous corporate buildings... everything on camera was meticulously thought out. The beautifully written characters and scenes compliment the beautiful photography to make a truly heart touching film.

16) Pan's Labyrinth (2006) (Spain) (Mexico)

Directed by: Guillermo Del Toro

Written by: Guillermo Del Toro

I was absolutely blown away by this absolutely dazzling gem of a film. I watched it initially at the movies when it came out in 2006. But I watched again a second prior to writing this list on DVD and was just as fascinated and intrigued as I was the first time. The film presents us two worlds, one is a fairy tale, the other is a civil war.

The fairy tales are weaved perfectly into the story of a country amidst a civil war, I guess that's why the film is so poetic - it flows like poetry. The fairy tale world is violent but not as violent as the world around the little girl however unlike the world around around her – there’s at least hope that she will find something better, richer.

17) Paradise Now (2005) (Palestine)

Directed by: Hany Abou-Assad

Written by: Hany Abou-Assad

“How can the occupier be the victim? If they take on the role of oppressor and victim then I have no other choice but to also be a victim and a murderer as well.”

This is a very important film about a very controversial topic from one of the most unlikeliest and unheard places – Palestine. I have always felt that the world does not hear enough from Palestinian writers, artists, filmmakers. Paradise Now attempts to do just that, provide a voice to Palestine in this complex conflict by taking us through the humane journey of two friends in densely populated and occupied West Bank.

18) Sex and Lucia (2001) (Spain)

Written and Directed by: Julio Medem

I absolutely loved this beautifully photographed, philosophical, surrealistic, multi-layered film about sex and a waitress Lucia. But we soon realize it is also about various lives, connected by an author whose novel has become inextricably entwined with his own life. The film is very Lynchian in its lack of structure and non adherence to any linear time-line and as a result is open to various interpretations. It is another triumph for the rich and diverse cinema of Europe.

19) Talk To Her (2002) (Spain)

Written and Directed by: Pedro Almodovar

After a chance encounter at a theater, two men, Benigno and Marco, meet at a private clinic where Benigno works. Lydia, Marco's girlfriend and a bullfighter by profession, has been gored and is in a coma. It so happens that Benigno is looking after another woman in a coma, Alicia, a young ballet student. The lives of the four characters will flow in all directions, past, present and future, dragging all of them towards an unsuspected destiny.

This Almodovar film with beautiful cinematography, rich and intriguing characters and sensitive performances will go down as one of the more accomplished films in the career of the veteran film director. Considering the fact that Almodovar’s career is more than 30 years old, this makes Talk To Her one of the best films of the decade and a must watch.

20) The Beat That My Heart Skipped (2005) (France)

Directed by: Jacques Audiard

Written by: Jacques Audiard, Tonino Benacquista

This is a gripping, stylish, intense and gritty film from acclaimed director Jacques Audiard whose film A Prophet (2009) won the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes last year. The movie is shot stylishly with a hand-held camera which is my favourite anyway, so that played a great role in making me love this film. The music is beautiful. But most of all, the film should be watched for its high drama quotient and fantastic character study of a real estate agent on the fringes of crime. Romain Duris as the real estate agent is absolutely unforgettable in a brilliant role.

21) The Chorus (2004) (France)

Directed by: Christophe Barratier

Written by: Christophe Barratier, Phillipe Lopes Curval

This delightful story set in an extremely strict school for problematic children in 1948 France is full of life and beauty and is an absolute pleasure to watch. Slightly reminiscent of Peter Weir’s Dead Poets Society (1989), newly arrived teacher Mathieu Clement uses music to transform the lives of in-disciplined and unruly children in a very strict school. This film rides heavily on the heart warming performance of Gerard Jugnot and is sure to take you to a high at the end of the film.

22) The Day My Parents Went on Vacation (2006) (Brazil)

Directed by: Cao Hamburger

Written by: Claudio Galperin, Braulio Mantovani, Anna Muylaert, Adriana Falcao and Cao Hamburger

This is another Brazilian gem about World Cup fever in the land where Pele was born amidst the backdrop of political upheaval and violent dictatorship in 1970 Brazil from the writers of cult classic City of God (2002). We follow the life of a kid, whose parents are leaving for "vacations". He's left at his grandfather's apartment, only to find out that he died hours before his arrival. Finding himself in the unnatural environment of a Jewish community, having no news about his parents and having to live with a grumpy old man, he finds comfort in football and everything that deals with it.

This heart warming, soulful tale will instantly find resonance with lovers of cinema who are tired of Hollywood artificiality and empty shells. Lovers of World Cinema should pounce upon this gem immediately.

23) The Edge of Heaven (2007) (Germany) (Turkey)

Written and Directed by: Fatih Akin

This is another of those realer than real movies in the same category as Amores Perros, Three Monkeys, 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, and like those films, a supreme piece of art. Every once in a while a film like this comes that portrays life and human beings so well that you are left to wonder how this could all have been scripted and acted. It was perhaps unfortunate to compete with 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days at Cannes in 2008. Honestly I wouldn’t be able to pick a winner from the two.

A German man of Turkish descent travels to Turkey to find the daugther of his father’s ex girlfriend after her death. A Turkish political prisoner enters Germany illegally to look for her mother. This is a compelling, emotionally charged film that explores the concept of ‘chance’ and coincidence and how are lives are effected by forces unknown to us.

24) The Edukators (2004) (Germany)

Directed by: Hans Weingartner

Written by: Katharina Held, Hans Weingartner

This is a film very close to my heart. How close a film gets to my heart is directly proportional to how long it stays with me after the end credits are on screen. I kept thinking about this film, the characters, their ideals, their backgrounds, and where they would be in 5 or 10 years time.

It is a film about political activism, love, friendship, ideals in life and how we feel compelled to betray them as we grow older, and have to compromise ideals for pragmatism. The use of the song Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley is very effective as well. I loved the camera work in the film. The constant motion puts us right into the characters' world and helps foster an instant connection with them.

I have heard of a Hollywood remake. Go watch this one as soon as you can before the remake ruins it for you.

25) The Host (2006) (South Korea)

Directed by: Bong Ho Joon

Written by: Chul Hyun Baek, Won Hu Ja, Bon Ho Joon

The monster/disaster movie genre has been overdone and somewhat ruined by bad films like Godzilla and Cloverfield. Once again, the cinema of South Korea leads the way and shows its Hollywood counterparts how its done. This film proves that any genre, no matter how over done, has something entertaining, captivating to its audience if made by a good director. Bong Ho Joon who gave us a serial killer masterpiece Memories of Murder (2003) earlier delivers a captivating, suspenseful film that manages to send a tingle down your spine and make you laugh at the same time.

26) The Lives of Others (2006) (Germany)

Written and Directed by: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

This is a brilliant and beautifully acted peek behind the curtain of mid 80s East Germany into both the dynamics and functions of its government and the heart of its people. One lonely man, whose job is to spy on a couple (German artists) discover through them a new appreciation of life, art and love.

It poses a very basic question, and while having a warm and tender core, never compromises on the reality of the situation for the safety of a feel good moment.

The story is basically of a saga of two good men, a Stasi officer Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Muehe) who was in charge of spying on and tracking people suspected of treason during the totalitarian period of East Germany history and a theatre director Georg Dreyman (Sebastian Koch), who is under suspicion.

These characters pose a very basic question: What does a truly good man do, when being good involves going directly against the ideas you believed in for so long? When doing the right thing would imply committing treason against your country? Its such an irony that the only dutiful communists in the movie are the ones trying to find a way around the system.

The movie has the pace of a thriller, the heart of a love story and the sweep of a saga.

27) The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) (Argentina) (Brazil)

Directed by: Walter Salles

Written by: Ernesto Che Guevara (book), Alberto Granada (book), Jose Rivera

“Before he changed the world the world changed him”

Lovers of international cinema are no stranger to the name “Walter Salles. In 1998 he gave us the much loved Central Station. So when he was making a film on one of the most fascinating personalities of the last century, it was going to be incredibly special.

Nor surprisingly, the film garnered pretty negative reviews from Western critics. But regardless of one’s political inclinations, this film should not be missed because first and foremost, its a beautiful story, well told.

This movie is based on the true story that took Ernesto Guevara (Gael Garcia Bernal) and Alberto Granado (Rodrigo de la Serna) on a road trip all across and along South America in the 1950's. The movie concentrates on how the world changed Ernesto which in turn led him to try to change the world. The movie ends at the end of their road trip. Great photography, humour, action, and drama are all ingredients of this movie. This movie also provides a great window to life and culture in South America as the director allows us in on the journey with Che and Alberto.

Gael Garcia Bernal is an extremely accomplished director with a a body of work unmatched, so it is perhaps hard to say if this is his best performance but it surely is an incredible performance. He is ably supported by Rodrigo De la Serna.

28) The Orphanage (2007) (Spain) (Mexico)

Directed by: Juan Antonio Bayona

Written by: Sergio G Sanchez

This film is executive produced by Guillermo Del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth) and is very similar in terms of its styling, imagery and attempt to explore darker themes using fairy tales and fantasies.

The horror film genre has long been tarnished by poorly made films, high on blood, gore and gratuitous violence. This film shows that when handled by talented people, even a genre believed to have reached its saturation point can produce a gem.

The production designs and cinematography is absolutely stellar and creates the right atmosphere and ambience.

29) The Tunnel (2001) (Germany)

Directed by: Roland Suso Richter

Written by: Johannes W Betz

This is a true story a group of East Berliners escaping to the West. Harry Melchior was a champion East German swimmer at odds with the system under which he has already been imprisoned. On his own escape, he is determined the arrange the escape to the West of his sister and her family. The idea of the tunnel is born.

I hadn't really seen anything about the Berlin Wall in cinema and what life was like during that transitional period in Berlin. The director uses old fashioned, no-frills film making, and the almost 3 hour running time means character development gets full preference which is the way I like it. Despite its length, the film managed to remain a gripping thriller and a very human drama at its core.

30) Three Monkeys (2008) (Turkey)

Director: Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Written by: Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Ebru Ceylan, Ercan Kesal.

This is an elegant exercise with four characters trapped by class, guilt and greed, beautifully photographed, with minimum dialogue, no background music. Satyajeet Ray once said a great director is one who is able to use silence to communicate. If that is the test, then Three Monkeys should catapult Nuri Bilge Ceylan to the list of a grade directors of our times.

Every once in a while, a film which is an amalgamation of various thoughts and result of various thought processes and ideas has a moment or two that find their way into our hearts, finds resonance somewhere inside our hearts. It is something very personal and the same scene will perhaps have a totally different impact on another viewer and was probably intended for a totally different purpose by the maker. That is the beauty of art.

Three Monkeys for me had this moment when the father and his son stare at each other through the bars of a prison cell. The son is there to visit his father, but both struggle for words. They love each other, and they know that visiting hours are limited, yet they cannot quite find the words to express themselves other than the customary “how are you, how are studies, did you get the money” kind of talk. That a film is able to capture so beautifully that moment is a testament to the skill and talent of everyone involved with the film.

Honourable Mentions:

2046 (2004) (Hong Kong)

13 Tzameti (2005) (France)

A Bittersweet Life (2005) (South Korea)

A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) (South Korea)

Brotherhood of War (2001) (South Korea)

No Man’s Land (2001) (Bosnia)

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring (South Korea)

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002) (South Korea)

Thirst (2009) (South Korea)

Three Times (2005) (Taiwan)