What are your 4 favourite films of all time and why do you like them so much?
It’s always difficult to choose… But, for me, it would probably be something like:
In the Mood for Love
I am a huge fan of the way Wong Kar Wai portrays desire, longing and self-denial. He does it in a way which I find personally very relatable. And while all of his films have these themes in common does it best in In the Mood for Love.
I also love the film for it’s brevity. How it conveys an overwhelming wave of feeling by deliberately cutting down and not showing things.
Cinema Paradiso
I love films which are bittersweet and emotionally satisfying.
There are a lot of films like that I could have picked from (Paris, Texas; Central Station; The Fall, etc.), but I pick Cinema Paradiso for the way it goes through the protagonist’s entire lifetime and ties everything together at the end. One of the most emotionally cathartic experiences in cinema for me.
Aftersun
I also delight in films which break my heart and leave me emotionally devastated at the end.
Again, there is a lot to pick from (Dancer in the Dark, Manchester by the Sea, Bridge to Terbithia, etc.). But I have to pick Aftersun for how real it is. It’s a reminder of how mundane moments which we don’t take care to notice often leave a lasting impact in our lives.
Caché
Films should engage in social commentary. And nearly all of Michael Haneke’s films do. Caché is my favourite among them. A sharp critique on colonialism and the insidious caste hierarchies it leaves behind in its wake.
Share your favourites in the comment section…