Your favourite films!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(palau @ Apr 18 2006, 07:21 PM) [snapback]241766[/snapback]</div>

Thanks, but honestly I don't know much about movies as I would like to due to not having enough time for viewing, my film diet consists of one to two screenings daily, but I've been doing it for few decades now. So I guess viewed films automatically piled up. I tend to read a lot about film from journals and blogs and whatever libraries stockpile about film. I love attending festivals and special retrospectives or events featured at MoMA http://www.moma.org/exhibitions/index.html#FilmMedia or Film Society of Lincon Center http://www.filmlinc.com/ now running all Kieslowski's films, the master of cinema of moral consciousness.
All of this is just a habit not even a main interest of mine, I guess part of the fact that I like art in general and film has made tremendous impact in past century and is continuing now.

I admit you're endowed with a beautiful name 'palau', so cool sounding.

I've not seen Noe's 'I stand alone' yet, thanks for reminding me about it. I will eagerly check it out. Thank you for sharing.

Fassbinder's 'ALI:FEAR EATS THE SOUL', fantastic film, I remember making me catatonic after first viewing. I like most of Fassbinders films, especially monumental series of Alexander Platz, what an epic. I'm not sure if you know but the main protagonist from 'Ali:Fear...' the Moroccan actor had to flee Germany for some crime and never has been found ever since. Fassbinder himself had a cameo role in the film (as in many) kicking the tv set in her mother's flat, do you remember that?

Few more contemporary directors that I like a lot: Hsiao-hsien Hou (poetic visualist) he literally paints with his framing and choses best DP's out there, Hirokazu Koreeda, Dardenne Brothers with striking renditions of social injustices 'Rosetta', 'The Son', Bela Tarr's 'Wreckmiester harmonies', 'Damnation', 'Satantango', Tsai-ming Liang, Jacques Rivette there are so many...

Enjoy the films...
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mystery Squid @ Apr 18 2006, 07:21 PM) [snapback]241766[/snapback]</div>

Hey Squidly, we may have something in common as I did like 'The Wicker Man' as well. It could be one of the best British horror films ever. I'm not sure how crazy you might be about this film, but there is this double set ONLY available in Britain that has both versions of the film the known original theatrical version and the director's cut version (thought to be lost, but recently re-discovered) with additional 15 minutes of footage and different editing of the film. Great commentary by Lee on the second disc.

Sadly is only available in UK as a region 2, but perhaps you might have multi-region stand-alone player.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005UL6G/

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nmrickie @ Apr 18 2006, 10:29 PM) [snapback]241872[/snapback]</div>

indeed a roller coaster of laughter

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rancid13 @ Apr 19 2006, 04:47 PM) [snapback]242268[/snapback]</div>

superb list, the goddesses of film in particular Norma, Esther, Myrna and Carole!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Traanya Drinker @ Apr 19 2006, 05:49 PM) [snapback]242299[/snapback]</div>

great list!

I share same fondness for most of your picks: 'Mulholand Drive', 'Chen's Xiu Xiu...', 'Germinal' classy Berri's adaptation of Zola, Yimou's 'Ju Dou' in which Li Gong is just stunning!

I've not seen 'Children of the revolution' nor 'Liberty Heights' to my chagrin, but will promptly cue in my netflix queue.

Thanks for sharing


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RonH @ Apr 19 2006, 06:51 PM) [snapback]242337[/snapback]</div>

really a great idea to set up seasonal viewings of thematical films, I've never done this before

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(palau @ Apr 19 2006, 07:38 PM) [snapback]242357[/snapback]</div>

Christine,
Great to hear from you again.

Congrats on having Hungarian hubby. My deepest regards to him!

I'd like to take an opportunity to present some of my favorite Hungarian films. In addition to before mentioned Bela Tarr of course and the ones you've commented on Koltai's 'Fateless' (I admit I haven't read a single Kertesz's novel yet) and Antal's 'Kontroll'

Miklos Jansco's masterpieces: 'Silence and cry', 'Round up' and especially 'Red and the white'. Great filmmaker with powerful scripts, deep humanism, unparalleled style of directing.

I also did like films by Istvan Szabo, Ildiko Enyedi, Andras Kovacs.

Special recognition goes for all films of Marta Meszaros, in particular 'Girl', 'Riddance' and of course 'Adoption'. What a wonderful and peculiar directing style, very creative. I'd love to see her early films from the 50's and 60's. I bow to her in recognition as there are not to many great directing ladies out there of this caliber, perhaps Claire Denis, Vera Chitylova, Von Trotta and Liv Ullman, it's mostly a man's territory. I wonder how much her former marriage to Jansco's shaped her as a director in the same vain as Ullman's directing after parting from Bergman and Von Trotta separating from Schlondorff, funny how all these individuals are so interwoven into the pantheon of great filmmakers.

Karoly Makk!!! another master!
If I was about to select a single film from Hungary except Tarr's, it must be 'Szerelem' (Love), hard to describe the intensity of this film, it's so pure, poetic realism almost Bressonian existentialism. I'd love to revisit this gem with a bottle of fine Tokaj same day.

Gyorgy Palfi's 'Hukkle' was another loving film, completely without dialog, wonderful story line.

Oh, lastly I just saw one of the first post WWII Hungarian films by Geza Von Radvanyi 'Somewhere In Europe' portraying the ravages of of war so dramatically and sensually at the same time.

Thank you for giving me an opportunity to refresh my Hungarian film experiences, lurking via eyes of great directors of this tiny but fascinating country.

Don't hesitate suggesting any films, it's always nice to see something new.
Perhaps you could tell us something about that essay you wrote on New German Cinema from years ago?
Best,

dsunman (the sun man a.k.a the emoticon man)

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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ltu1542hvy @ Apr 20 2006, 01:45 AM) [snapback]242523[/snapback]</div>

Fine films and great suggestions again.

I'll be glad to follow up on your superb picks with a few of mine.

Unbearable lightness of being' gathers more accolades! Bravo!

Kaurismaki's 'Match factory girl' and 'La vie en boheme' superb, I've omitted them before as I didn't want to list almost all of his films. I got all four pack's of his films from Sweden and I don't regret it, as I don't think there is an independent studio picking those for releasing in Region 1 anytime soon.

'Faraway so close', 'Alice in the cities' great films, I've enjoyed 'Buena Vista Social Club' as the music and the rhythms are irresistible, wasn't Ry Cooder slapped with 40 thousand dollars fine for visiting Cuba without State Dept's permission while partaking in this? I think Clinton pardoned him if I'm not mistaken. Anyway friend of mine smuggled some stogies from Canada years back and we've smoked them while viewing the 'Ritmo Cubana'. I'm so envious of Jayman from PC here, lucky guy for having an ability to cruise back and forth to the place where Hemingway used to chill out. I can only romanticize.

The master Tarkovsky again, don't feel bad for not clicking with his visual style on every film of his, this happens to many, including me. 'Andrei Rublev' is one of the greatest examples of art in film imho, but I had to revisit it at least 3 times and alone for better concentration. On each viewing discovering subtle beauties of his mastery. Monumental filmmaker, even his student short 'The Killers' has so much to gather from. 'Stalker' another masterpiece of his gotta be viewed several times as well. His films may not appeal to people that concentrate on a narrative in film alone. 'Mirror' and 'Sacrifice' equally masterful and Erland Josephson (so known through Bergman's oeuvre is so connected in 'Sacrifice').

Three films that occupy my top 10 of all times are very difficult and I'm always being challenged by my friends. #1 Dreyer's adaptation of Munk's 'Ordet' my best film of all times!!! Further in top 10 are 'Muchette' and 'Balthazar' both by Bresson and are not easy films. Many of my film friends that I highly regard as astute cineasts always question me 'what the hell is it with you and 'Balthazar'? and I tell them that he is the best actor captured on film ever' and to this response we all laugh. My point is that cinematic maturity may not necessarily be an indicative of accepting a given film or not, it could be anything, bad day, too much distraction etc. In the end all very subjective. You're a fine cineast. I also recognize your willingness to revisit some films later on. Seeing films chronologically definitely helps in appreciating the development of an artist as in all art forms. I love retrospectives, those are my favorite film times.

Fellini, I'm glad you've mention him, highly regarded by me. 'La Starda' where Gulietta Massina and Anthony Quinn gave an astonishing performances, I love the scene where Masina is trying to plant some tomatoes, unforgettable shots. Few more masterpieces in addition to 'Satyricon' and 'La dolce vita' are '8-1/2' best film on filmmaking imho. 'Nights of Cabiria', 'Juliet of the spirits', 'Amacord' most his films are so good.

I'm a big fan of Italian Neorealism, where would the film be without Roberto Rossellini, Vittorio de Sica, Luchino Visconti and Gouseppe de Santis?
My favorites are' Rome: Open City' - Rossellini, 'La terra trema', 'Ossessione' both of Visconti. 'Children are watching us', 'Bicycle Thieves', 'Miracle in Milan' by De Sica. My personal #1 Italian neorealist film is absolutely 'UMBERTO D.' if one loves pets this must be the film to be seen! I'll never forget the images of the relationship that are rendered in this very powerful film. Flike (the pet's name, cute dog) and Carlo Battisti at it's best!

Alain Resnais another great one, 'Hiroshima mon amour' is just stunning film, the power of love trying to overcome two clashing civilazations, what a great suggestion so is the devastating 'Night and fog' (suggesting this one for all those that have a proclivity for authoritarian leadership as it might act as an awakening for one's consciousness).

Luis Bunuel, the grandfather of surrealism on film, always independent, never succumbing into big producers, once even when approached to film 'Robinson Crusoe' was offered 400,000 dollars (not sure on exact sum) he reject the amount saying the the half of the sum will suffice. 'Un Chein Andalou' way ahead of it's times so was 'L'Age d'Or'. I happen to like his entire oeuvre. Few titles are a must see 'Viridiana', 'Las hurdas', 'El brute', 'El', 'Nazarin', The exterminating angel', 'The Diary of a chambermaid', 'Obscure Object of Desire' and 'Tristana' (again Catherine Deneuve, sorry for my blatant fascination with her)

Great choice with suggestions on Japanese front with Miike, and master of yakuza flicks Fukasaku 'Battle royale' and also want to add films of Shohei Immamura's 'The eel', 'Vengence is mine', 'Black Rain' and bizarre 'Pornographers'

Splendid suggestion with Korean films, 'The isle' and 'Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring', there are so many greats I don't know where to begin, but for starters Park Chan-Wook's 'Old boy', quite shocking film.

Juzo Itami, wow fantastic to see him here! I'm fond of 'Tampopo' as well. How about Hiroshi Teshigahara and his unbelievable ';Woman in the dunes' or 'Pitfall' and 'Face of another' highly recommended.

And lastly the PASOLINI, very daring filmmaker, surly controversial but completely misunderstood because of one single film that supposedly casts bad shadow over the great oeuvre of his, yes 'Salo...' I think this is the most misunderstood film of all times, is this film for everyone NO! Is it artfully done, absolutely. His metaphorical representation of scatological deviations was to represent fascism and it's leaders, in particular their sick and perverse absolute power with it's infliction that has reign over last few week of northern states of fascist Italy during the events of WWII. Script being based on Marquis de Sade's unfinished gruesome writings. When it came out on Criterion I bought a copy, few weeks later it has been withdrawn from the market, perhaps there are 300 legitimate copies with white ring around the center hole of the dvd. Stupid me I should have grabbed 20 copies at least. They go on ebay sealed for 1,200 to 1,500 dollars each!!!! All the rest are bootlegs. But one can get the official one from BFI (British Film Institute) in UK or French and Italian editions without English subs. Nobody is holding legal right to distribute this film in USA and legalities are in limbo.

Be aware, 'Salo...' not for everyone!!!!

Pasolini also made the best film about the life of Jesus Christ imho 'The Gospel according to St. Matthew' highly recommended. Check also 'Medea' , "Mama Roma' and 'Toerama'

It was a pleasure to go over your list.


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