15 Movies for Cinema Fanatic: A Year with Women

11. Amreeka

Nisreen Faour plays a Palestinian woman moving to the United States with her son to live with her sister (played by Hiam Abbass) for a brighter future in Palestinian-American director Cherien Dabis’ (pictured 4th with the headphones) film.

10. English Vinglish

It’s all about the English Vinglish!

Director Gauri Shinde wrote and directed this Sridevi starrer comeback role in honor of her mom, and despite some cringe-worthy multicultural clash (that I think might be intended), English Vinglish manages to entertain and warm the depths of your stone-cold heart.

It’s the quintessential movie for all of us with English as a second language!

19. Rent-A-Cat (レンタネコ, RENTANEKO)

Japan represent!

FYI, I had also considered adding directors Mika Ninagawa (Sakuran, さくらん), Miwa Nishikawa (Sway), Nami Iguchi (Don’t Laugh at my Romance, 人のセックスを笑うな)… and specially Yuki Tanada with One Million Yen Girl (百万円と苦虫女). But alas~

Naoko Ogigami it is and Rent-A-Cat it is because Marya would love to watch this with Mr. Rochester.

This is, after all, a list for Marya ;)

amy

YAM Magazine editor, photographer, blogger, translator and part-time web designer. Film junkie, music junkie… and lately series (a.k.a. TV) junkie.

6 Responses

  1. Rodrigo says:

    Lucia Puenzo and Celine Sciamma from the top of my head. From the latter, I do want to see Girlhood.

  2. hmm, more to add…I know these titles are at least on DVD or legal streaming services in the US. Excellent: The Night of Truth 2004, Fanta Régina Nacro). Solid: Ratcatcher (1999, Lynne Ramsay), The Apple (1998, Samira Makhmalbaf- her At Five in the Afternoon is ok but not as contained imo), La ciénaga (2001, Lucrecia Martel), Loving Couples (1964) & The Girls (1968, by Mai Zetterling. Also check her 1962 short “The War Game”), Rachida (2002, Yamina Bachir). Pretty good: Sambizanga (Sarah Maldoror, 1972), Death is a Caress (1949, Edith Carlmar, dunno if on DVD but it’s been in film noir festivals), Hollow City (2004, Maria João Ganga), Something Necessary (Judy Kibinge, 2013). Interesting with some qualms: ’49-’17 (1917, Ruth Ann Baldwin), My Dog Killer (Mira Fornay, 2013), Sleepwalking Land (2007, Teresa Prata), In My Skin (2002, Marina de Van, very gory movie), Honeymoon (2014, Leigh Janiak). Claire Denis’ films are probably not too hard to find as well.

  3. reel411 says:

    I’ve gotta put some of these on my to-watch list! And i loooove Wadjda

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