Top30 Favorite Film Discoveries of 2016
15. Stilyagi (Стиляги)
We all deserve musicals in all languages.
14. Jodhaa Akbar
I caught up with Ashutosh Gowariker’s historical romance epic because of Mohenjo Daro xD Grave mistake, huh? I fell in love with that aerial shot of the people going in circles in that Azeem O Shaan Shahenshah number, which is basically Indian Cinema 101.
13. El Hijo de la Novia
Ricardo Darin catch-up!
12. Lilya 4-Ever
Why are you playing with my feelings, Lukas Moodysson?
Now that I think about it Lilya 4-Ever has a lot in common with Xiu Xiu: The Sent-down Girl. Yes, this one is depressing as well. Oksana Akinshina also plays double duty on this list (#15), just like Hrithik (#20 + #14). xD
11. The Battle of Algiers
I don’t know, this seems quite appropriate. It’s astonishing the fact that we keep making the same mistakes over and over again.
10. The Chinese Botanist’s Daughters (Le Filles du Botaniste)
Forbidden love that’s TRUE feelings! It’s beautiful (so gorgeous), it’s tragic, it kills! Mylène Jampanoï and Xiaoran Li are so good together ToT Let them love each other, yo! Why can’t people just let others be!?!?!!?! WAE!?!
9. The Barbarian Invasions (Les Invasions Barbares)
Hit me right in the third-world-country heart that I have. I laughed, I cried. I thought I wasn’t going to be moved by it, but I was.
8. Familia
# Catching up with my French-Canadian films. Double Catherine duty, too, with Sylvie Moreau and Dominique Michel back-to-back. Mothers and daughters are complicated; mothers, daughters, sisters and cousins… and grandmothers are worse. LOL
7. La Grande Illusion
And the restoration is A-plus!
6. The God of Cookery (食神)
Stephen Chow is an incredible filmmaker~ and incredible comedic actor, but Karen Mok is AMAZING in this. The heart of the movie. Turkey is the heart of the movie. Precious. When she just starts singing the theme song Lu Xiaofeng (陸小鳳) [1] at the drop of a dime, it’s both hilarious AND meaningful!
Righteousness and honesty are valuable.
I dare to go to hell to fight.
I’m willing to sacrifice for buddies.
I’m willing to die for girls.
Good buddies! My blood is bleeding for love.
I’m prepared to die, who dare challenge me?
