From De Sica to Hamaguchi, the past two years of hosting the podcast The One-Inch Barrier has allowed me to watch all that films that were selected by the Academy for its International Feature Film category - 74 winners and 337 nominees (all but one title). While this category has had its issues over the years, it has also put an international spotlight on non-English language cinema on Hollywood’s biggest night. While the category has always been far from a perfect encapsulation of world cinema, it's a great jumping off point as noted in the series finale. (Cláudio Alves did a beautiful summary of our discussion - video included!).
Here is my personal not-that-definitive ranking of the winners of the category. Things are very fluid especially in the midsection...
WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?
The nadirs of this category. It's not that these films have zero redeeming values but what was the necessity to recognize them as anywhere near the ‘best of year’. Also, their respective years had much stronger nominees as competition.
74. Madame Rosa (1977, France) - Dir. Moshé Mizrahi
73. Mediterraneo (1991, Italy) - Dir. Gabriele Salvatores
72. Sundays and Cybèle (1962, France) - Dir. Serge Bourguignon
UGH, WHATEVER.
These films are not at all representative of the excellence in their respective nominated lineups.
71. Get Out Your Handkerchiefs (1978, France) - Dir. Bertrand Blier
70. Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears (1980, Soviet Union) - Dir. Vladimir Menshov
69. Monsieur Vincent (1948, France) - Dir. Maurice Cloche
68. The Assault (1986, Netherlands) - Dir. Fons Rademakers
67. Character (1997, Netherlands) - Dir. Mike van Diem
66. A Man and a Woman (1966, France) - Dir. Claude Lelouch
65. The Barbarian Invasions (2003, Canada) - Dir. Denys Arcand
64. In a Better World (2010, Denmark) - Dir. Susanne Bier
NOT MY PICKS BUT... SURE.
These winners possess enough elements that make an argument for their wins that I wish I could love them more. Let's call this the ‘agree to disagree’ section.
63. No Man's Land (2001, Bosnia & Herzegovina) - Dir. Danis Tanović
62. Burnt by the Sun (1994, Russia) - Dir. Nikita Mikhalkov
61. The Counterfeiters (2007, Austria) - Dir. Stefan Ruzowitzky
60. Samurai, the Legend of Musashi (1955, Japan) - Dir. Hiroshi Inagaki
59. Volver a Empezar (1982, Spain) - Dir. José Luis Garci
58. Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (1964, Italy) - Dir. Vittorio De Sica
57. Dangerous Moves (1984, Switzerland) - Dir. Richard Dembo
56. The Great Beauty (2013, Italy) - Dir. Paolo Sorrentino
55. Belle Époque (1993, Spain) - Dir. Fernando Trueba
MIDDLE OF THE PACK
Titles that I respect more than I love. No issues with the wins -- it's easy to understand why others love them more and in some cases I think I should give them another shot.
54. Tsotsi (2005, South Africa) - Dir. Gavin Hood
53. Pelle the Conqueror (1988, Denmark) - Dir. Bille August
52. Shoeshine (1947, Italy) - Dir. Vittorio De Sica
51. The Walls of Malapaga (1950, France/Italy) - Dir. René Clément
50. Mephisto (1981, Hungary) - Dir. István Szabó
49. The Tin Drum (1979, West Germany) - Dir. Volker Schlöndorff
48. Gate of Hell (1954, Japan) - Dir. Teinosuke Kinugasa
47. The Virgin Spring (1960, Sweden) - Dir. Ingmar Bergman
46. La Strada (1956, Italy) - Dir. Federico Fellini
45. The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972, France) - Dir. Luis Buñuel
44. 8½ (1963, Italy) - Dir. Federico Fellini
43. Indochine (1992, France) - Dir. Régis Wargnier
SOLID CHOICES
Potent and empathetic storytelling.
42. Nowhere in Africa (2002, Germany) - Dir. Caroline Link
41. Journey of Hope (1990, Switzerland) - Dir. Xavier Koller
40. The Sea Inside (2004, Spain) - Dir. Alejandro Amenábar
39. Kolya (1996, Czech Republic) - Dir. Jan Svěrák
38. Another Round (2020, Denmark) - Dir. Thomas Vinterberg
37. The Garden of the Finzi-Continis (1971, Italy) - Dir. Vittorio De Sica
36. The Lives of Others (2006, Germany) - Dir. Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck
35. Ida (2014, Poland) - Dir. Paweł Pawlikowski
34. Through a Glass Darkly (1961, Sweden) - Dir. Ingmar Bergman
33. Amarcord (1974, Italy) - Dir. Federico Fellini
32. Black Orpheus (1959, France) - Dir. Marcel Camus
31. My Uncle (1958, France) - Dir. Jacques Tati
30. Dersu Uzala (1975, Soviet Union) - Dir. Akira Kurosawa
29. The Secret in Their Eyes (2009, Argentina) - Dir. Juan José Campanella
LOVE AND/OR RESPECT
This is a formidable set of winners that I am glad the Academy recognized even if most of them weren't my personal picks from their respective years.
28. Babette's Feast (1987, Denmark) - Dir. Gabriel Axel
27. The Salesman (2016, Iran) - Dir. Asghar Farhadi
26. Fanny and Alexander (1983, Sweden) - Dir. Ingmar Bergman
25. Forbidden Games (1952, France) - Dir. René Clément
24. War and Peace (1968, Soviet Union) - Dir. Sergei Bondarchuk
23. Black and White in Color (1976, Ivory Coast) - Dir. Jean-Jacques Annaud
22. Drive My Car (2021, Japan) - Dir. Ryusuke Hamaguchi
21. Cinema Paradiso (1989, Italy) - Dir. Giuseppe Tornatore
20. Departures (2008, Japan) - Dir. Yōjirō Takita
FANTASTIC CHOICES
Some of the best work this category has seen.
19. Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion (1970, Italy) - Dir. Elio Petri
18. The Official Story (1985, Argentina) - Dir. Luis Puenzo
17. A Fantastic Woman (2017, Chile) - Dir. Sebastián Lelio
16. Nights of Cabiria (1957, Italy) - Dir. Vittorio De Sica
15. Closely Watched Trains (1967, Czechoslovakia) - Dir. Jiří Menzel
14. The Shop on Main Street (1965, Czechoslovakia) - Dirs. Ján Kadár & Elmar Klos
BARELY MISSED THE TOP TEN
Ask me on another day and they might have made it.
13. All About My Mother (1999, Spain) - Dir. Pedro Almodóvar
12. Antonia's Line (1995, Netherlands) - Dir. Marleen Gorris
11. Day for Night (1973, France) - Dir. François Truffaut
THE TOP TEN
These films alone give this category the justification of its existence. Again it's a personal ranking and these films have definitely stayed with me long after watching them.
10. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000, Taiwan) - Dir. Ang Lee
This sweeping romantic epic set during the 19th century China wastes no time in pulling you into its milieu. While its action sequences are breathtaking, its emotional sensitivity fuels the film with a finely textured undercurrent. Features career-best work from its cast.
9. Life is Beautiful (1998, Italy) - Dir. Roberto Benigni
This Holocaust comedy-drama realizes its power through humor amidst turmoil in depicting the tenacity of a father's love. On a personal note, I will never forget the emotional wallop of the last thirty minutes when I saw this film roughly three years after my father's passing.
8. Amour (2012, Austria) - Dir. Michael Haneke
A film that continues to grow on repeated viewings, this piercing drama is about an aging couple faced with impending mortality. Haunting stillness looms throughout the film, with miniscule actions showing the painstaking process of marriage. Emotionally draining but rewarding.
7. Roma (2018, México) - Dir. Alfonso Cuarón
This Netflix drama brings us back to 1970s Mexico City through the eyes of Cleo, its observant central character. Through its distinctive vision, the minutiae of daily life builds into an affecting crescendo. Stunning cinematography capture the nuanced beauty of the performances.
6. Son of Saul (2015, Hungary) - Dir. László Nemes
Harrowing right from the beginning, this claustrophobic drama holds us and never lets go throughout its runtime. Géza Röhrig paints his face with crushing defeat. Through limited visual perspective and ominous soundscape, the horrors of war become more tangible and shattering.
5. Z (1969, Algeria) - Dir. Costa-Gavras
This political thriller does not pull any punches in taunting us to challenge political authority with its story. Filled with rage but executed with clarity, this is a true-blooded subversive spitfire that uses the cinematic language to incite radical change beyond the film.
4. Bicycle Thieves (1949, Italy) - Dir. Vittorio De Sica
De Sica brings us to the war-torn streets of Rome to tell a powerful story of survival: that of parenthood during trying times. In its refusal to sensationalize its drama, the film fleshes out its characters with honesty and its empathy to them feels genuine. Deeply affecting.
3. A Separation (2011, Iran) - Dir. Asghar Farhadi
Unfolding with clockwork precision, this complex tale of morality sees its multifaceted characters clash with a series of unfortunate events. The progression of the narrative is a masterclass in incisive storytelling. Meanwhile, its story is brought to life with powerful acting.
2. Rashomon (1951, Japan) - Dir. Akira Kurosawa
Four conflicting accounts of the same incident become the core of this film. Its narrative fragmentation brings forth an energized form of storytelling that continues to thrill. The film dares to ask questions about the truth and the very human nature that complicates it.
1. Parasite (2019, South Korea) - Dir. Bong Joon-ho
An engrossing take on class conflict told with palpable vigor, this genre-bending film brings its central story to life with searing vitality. Its humor cuts deep while its violence is a startling reminder of society's mercilessness. As universal and timeless as cinema could get.
What are your favorite winners of International Feature Film?