1. Capernaum
Named after the biblical village that was doomed by Jesus, the film Capernaum, has set new standards for Lebanese cinema. Since its release in 2018, it has gathered several accolades including the Cannes Jury Prize. Till now, Nadine Labaki is one of the two female Arab directors to have been nominated for an Oscar in the Foreign Language Film category, and even though Capernaum lost to Roma in the 91st Academy Award, Labaki says that it was an honor to even be considered.
The film is based on the life of a 12-year-old Lebanese boy who after running away from his negligent parents and being sent to 5 years of jail for committing a violent crime, decided to sue his parents in protest of the life they have given him. The film tries to embody the chaos in the world through the perspective of a child, and by doing so, created a piece of emotionally compelling cinema.
“He’s not just suing his parents, he’s suing the whole system – one that is failing miserably,” Labaki told The New York Times.
2. The Wild Pear Tree
The Wild Pear Tree is a Turkish film that shares its title with the novel the protagonist has just finished writing in the film and focuses on the trepidations of an aspiring author. However, in many ways, it is also a film about a young man’s relationship with his father.
Nuri Bilge Ceylan, a former Palme d’Or winner, compares men to wild pear trees in this particular film, claiming that men, like pear trees, are gnarled and stunted, but sturdy enough to withstand harsh conditions of their surroundings. His masterful directorial approach to this film takes us on a bittersweet journey, which despite being a little slow-paced, is intensely dialogical and visually spellbinding.
Released in the summer of 2018, the film received international critical acclaim, getting nominated for several awards including Cannes Jury Prize and Palme d’Or. Despite not being able to bag any awards, The Wild Pear Tree left a significant mark in the history of Turkish cinema.
3. Shoplifters
In Shoplifters, Hirokazu Kore-eda, paints the heartwarming picture of a family stricken by poverty, stealing to make ends meet, and yet oddly content in their togetherness. This film depicts the condition of modern-day Japan – its dysfunctions and hypocrisies – by layering its screenplay with wry humor, which makes the film refreshing to its audience.
Kore-eda’s masterful approach of slowly unraveling the story and characters helped him turn Shoplifters into a textured film, which neither leans into the genre of horror, nor tragedy, but exhibits a little bit of both elements in its denouement.
Shoplifters, for its powerful storytelling, was awarded 18 awards in total, which includes the Palme d’Or 2018 and Japan Academy Prize for Picture of the Year.
4. Roma
Roma takes inspiration from Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron’s childhood, and it portrays an intensely personal story of a domestic worker named Cleo on the screen. Cuaron chose to tell this poignant story by combining close-up and wide shots in pellucid black and white. Which makes the film look authentic, real and keeps it true to its 1971 Mexico-City setting.
Cuaron’s Roma is a tragedy and comedy all in one – and it also captures the absurdity of our lives. Produced by the streaming giant, Netflix, Roma was premiered at the 75th Venice International Film Festival in 2018, where it won the Golden Lion. Moreover, Roma received several accolades, including ten nominations at the 91st Academy Awards. It went on to become the first-ever Mexican film to win the category of Best Foreign Language Film.
Even though the films above have gained much international recognition, they are still generally unheard of. However, now that you know better, go ahead and invest a couple of hours into watching one of these beautiful films. We promise that you won’t be disappointed.
