Favourite film discoveries of 2015
2015 was a year I kept track of all the films I watched by making a list evey month. It was a year I discovered a lot of old films. Thanks to online streaming and repertory film programming in cities like London I was able to watch a lot of films I never had a chance to see before and discover new old films.
Here's my list of top 25 favourite film discoveries of the year with a few lines added for some of the films.
1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick, 1968)
I watched this on 70mm at the Prince Charles Cinema in London. It was a glorious experience. I erased the memory I had of watching it on TV. Watching it in the cinema is the only way to experience this film.
2. Tokyo Story (Yasujirō Ozu, 1953, Japan)
It took me a long time, but I finally watched this film. So many painful truths expressed in this film. Profound and heartbreaking.
3. Films directed by Hou Hsiao-Hsien:
Flowers of Shanghai (1998), Millennium Mambo (2001), Cafe Lumiere (2003), Three Times (2005)
This was a major discovery for me this year, I watched these films on 35mm at the BFI in London and can't wait to see the rest of his films.
4. A New Leaf (Elaine May, 1971)
This film needs to be seen by more people. A comedy masterpiece.
5. Films directed by Eric Rohmer
L'Amour l'après-midi (Love in the Afternoon), 1972 / Le Rayon Vert (The Green Ray), 1986
I want to see more Eric Rohmer films in 2016.
6. Films directed by Tsai Ming-liang
The Wayward Cloud (2005), I Don't Want to Sleep Alone (2006)
7. Walkabout (Nicolas Roeg, 1971)
Image via The Guardian
8. The Conversation (Francis Ford Coppola, 1974)
9. Boom! (Joseph Losey, 1968)
I watched this on 35mm at the BFI in London. I had a grin from ear to ear the whole time. This film is fabulous. John Waters said "If you don’t like this film, I hate you." I agree.
Image via BFI
10. Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains (Lou Adler, 1982)
Starring a very young Diane Lane as feminist punk rock singer. "Every girl should be given an electric guitar on her 16th birthday" Corinne Burns (Diane Lane).
11. Contempt (Jean-Luc Godard, 1974)
12. The Servant (Joseph Losey, 1963)
13. Repulsion (Roman Polanski, 1965)
14. Rocco and his Brothers (Luchino Visconti, 1960, Italy)
15. Once Upon a Time in America: Extended Director's Cut (Sergio Leone, 1984, 2012)
I watched this at a screening organised by Badlands Collective in London and it was followed by a discussion with Elizabeth McGovern. Read more about it here.
16. Almayer's Folley (Chantal Akerman, 2011)
Planning to dedicate time in 2016 to watch as many Chantal Akerman films as I can get my hands on.
17. الأرض / Al Ard / The Land (Youssef Chahine, 1969)
18. صراع في الميناء / Sira` Fi al-Mina / Dark Waters (Youssef Chahine, 1956)
19. Black Girl (Ousmane Sembène, 1966)
20. Mon Oncle Antoine (Claude Jutra, 1971)
21. Strangers on a Train (Alfred Hitchcock, 1951)
22. Harvest: 3000 Years (Haile Gerima, 1976)
23. The Swimmer (Frank Perry, Sydney Pollack, 1968)
24. Valley Girl (Martha Coolidge, 1983)
25. Dogtooth (Greece, 2009, Yorgos Lanthimos)