This is a list of some of the films I have enjoyed. To read a short introduction, click on the link.
Asterisks * are my ratings: 5=best.
Iranian Films
- The Song of Sparrows: Iranian (Farsi) 2008: Dir: Majid Majid.****
Iranian A man working on an ostrich farm makes several bad choices and almost unravels his life. - Baran: Iranian (Farsi), 2001. Dir: Majid Majid.****
About Afghan refugees living outside Tehran. (wiki) - Children of Heaven Iranian, 1997. Dir: Majid Majid.****
Touching film about a brother and sister.
German & Turkish Films
- The Edge of Heaven: German-Turkish, 2012: ****
- My Heart is Mine Alone: German, 1997 *: Poet – Else Lasker-Schüler (1869-1945)
- Run Lola Run: German, 1998 *****: Serious Groundhog day.
-
John Rabe : German, 2009: *** Germans in China WWII
- Otomo: German, 1999: *** about Cameroonian in Germany
- Head-On: German-Turkish, 2004:*** about Turkish workers struggles. (IMDb)
Japanese Films
- Departures : Japanese, 2008 ***** : About a funeral director. One of my absolute favorites!
- Oshoshiki (The Funeral): Japanese, 1984
- Tampopo (Dandelion): Japanese, 1985 comedy about noodle shop
- ALL of Hayao Miyazaki Films! *****
- Grave of the Fireflies (Hotaru no Haka) 1988, Japanese Anime: ***** director Isao Takahata. An amazing anti-war film from one of the Japanese towns where I use to live. The dark history from such a bright down made me feel deeply. (wiki)
Indian Films
- Harischandra: Indian-Tamil, 1948 (see another post here)
- Hey Ram (Oh God!): Indian-Tamil & Hindi, 2000 *****
- A Peck on the Cheek: Indian-Tamil, 2002 *****
Chinese Films
- Confucius: Chinese, 2010. ***
Mongolian Films (gorgeous language)
- The Story of the Weeping Camel: Mongolian, 2003. by Byambasuren Davaa. Wiki Wonderful!
- The Cave of the Yellow Dog: Mongolian, 2005. by Byambasuren Davaa. Wiki Loved it!
- Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan : Mongolian, 2007. Superb!
Israeli Films
- Ushpizin: Israel-Hebrew & Yiddish 2004 ***** : about a conservative Jewish couple during the Succoth festival.
- Footnote: Israel-Hebrew, 2011. a bit cerebral, neurotic and long but mildly enjoyed. (wiki)
Saudi Films
- Wadjda: Arabic, 2012 ***** : a girl’s goal to get a bicycles against the odds of sexism and religion in Saudia Arabia. I can’t believe this film was made in Saudi Arabia.
French Films
- The Intouchables: French, 2011. Quadriplegic & his African caretaker. (IMDB)
- Monsieur Ibrahim French, 2003 *****. Turkish sufi befriends a young man.
Spanish Films
- Sleep Dealer : Spanish, 2008 Scifi
- 5 Argentina Films: Spanish: On the Desaparecidoes (the Disappeared) in the Dirty War.
Other Foreign Films
- Yesterday: South African (Zulu), 2004: AIDS
- The Man without a Past : Finnish, 2002.
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: Swedish 2009 trilogy (wiki) – preferred the Swedish, not the American, version
- Welese: “The Wedding” (Polish), 2004. I did not enjoy this
English Films
- Lawrence of Arabia: (1962) (wiki) *****
- Judging Janitors : documentary “The philosopher kings” ***
- Toy Story 3 (2001): English children anime
- Moon (2009) : English. SciFi
- Adam (2009) English Asperger syndrome (an Autism variant) ****
- Cold Souls (2009) English: A company extracts souls and rents them.
- Gran Torino (2008) English, Clint Eastwood. Touching.
- 3:10 to Yuma (2007) English. Western with a savior figure.
- In the Valley of Elah (2007) English, How to kill a soul.
- Lady in the Water (2006) English. M. Night Shyamalan
- Elah: English, 2007: about war and how to kill a soul
- The Serious Man: ha-Shem: English 2009, American Judaism
- Benjamin Button: English, 2008 ****
Triangulations 