Cinema 2022 continues to push its boundaries. Our international festivals and new forms of consumption of the film spectacle, in an increasingly organized coexistence (in the absence of organizing in an intelligent and fair way, for both parties, the time of showing in the different windows), have allowed us to enjoy products from countries far from the usual circuits of distribution and exhibitions.
This trend will increase in the coming years, but this year marks a drastic turn. Such as the fact that important North American Western productions have been left at the gates of this choice (tarFrom Todd FieldAnd the Everything everywhere at onceFrom Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert As for Banshees by InisherinFrom Martin McDonald), steeped in the creativity and oriental originality of countries such as Lebanon, India or Pakistan.
Without a doubt, the best news of the year is the landslide victory for our best filmmakers. They not only conquered spectators in theaters, but also successfully conquered the best international festivals, thanks to Carla Simon, Estibalez Orisola, Irene M. Borrego, Albert Serra, Adrian Silvestre, Eduardo Casanova… (By the way, the last of the filmmakers, They have stayed at the gates of the best Spanish-language cinema in impeccable style My emptiness and me s Mercy).
Without further ado, here are the 15 best foreign-language films of the year, in any of their duration or genre formats.
fifteen. the fire of loveBy Sarah Dosa (United States). Or how to make the best romantic movie of the year with a lot of volcanoes and a sense of hypnosis, editing and photography.
14. Sadness triangleBy Robyn Ostlund (Sweden). The Scandinavian filmmaker leaves no one cold or indifferent with its rays of paranoia, loss of reference, Western values and sure sense of humor.
13. It all breathesBy Chunak Sen (UK). It is impossible not to fall in love with this fantastic novel about the black kites of Delhi. No Mario camo No Miguel Delibes They could have imagined the fame a beautiful kite could achieve.
12. Joy LandBy Saim Sadiq (Pakistan). 126 minutes long, touching with grace, the best contemporary queer cinema has to offer. Impressive as necessary.
Eleven. Great Yarmouth: temporary charactersBy Marco Martins (Portugal). Portuguese-language cinema has been in full creative explosion for a few years and puts three films in this selection.
10. All beauty and bloodshedBy Laura Poitras (United States). Epic, raging, formidable, radiant… there are no adjectives to define it.
9. lukewarm fireBy João Pedro Rodrigues (Portugal). The director’s ability to distill the most burning current events into 67 minutes, with the best of humor and social criticism, is textbook. brilliant.
and bribery
8. and briberyBy Dania Bedir (Lebanon). One of the images of 2022 that will forever be etched into the viewer’s retina. And the short film that scares me the most in March OscarsIn front of our list of four candidates.
7. after the sunFrom Charlotte Wells (UK). Surprise of the year with Best International First Film. A perfect blend of beauty with exquisite sensibility.
6. heyWritten by Jerzy Skolimowski (Poland). The Polish film master never disappoints, but with this marvel of the seventh art he manages to surpass himself.
5. Holy spiderBy Ali Abbasi (Denmark). Dirty realism (reaffirmed by his method of photography) taken from its pure essence, in the form of a misogynistic and macho nightmare. The thriller of the year, if not of the decade.
four. Saint OmarBy Alice Diop (France). One of the few films of the year that must be watched at least three times. Fascinating.
3. closeBy Lukas Daunt (Belgium). One of those films that explains the meaning of life and the true value of friendship, while at the same time captivating you with its narrative construction and editing skills. The background and the figure are impeccable.
Regra 34
2. Regra 34By Julia Murad (Brazil). Literally radiant actress sun miranda, Along with one of the most promising directors on the world stage Regra 34 A gem of contemporary cinema.
1. Calm downWritten by Albert Serra (France). Berlanga arrabalesco’s contemporary touch, combined with his magical way of shooting and his boundless imagination, make Albert Serra One of our best directors. Awards nominee Judy Already surlyin Spain, at lumiere (Introduction to Césars), in France, indicates that they will sweep across the border (Prize Benoit Magimel It’s almost a given, but there might be more).
With Calm downAnd the Albert Sera He modernizes a post-colonial Don Quixote, alone (dare I say exactly how the director feels in the world of cinema), who has long lost his last and inseparable friend, Sancho, and who has nothing but company left the inspiring Dulcinea, the essence of femininity in the world of Leaves no room for personal identification. a Must From movie screens today and a classic future of the seventh art.
An exceptional annual harvest that heralds an even better 2023. Happy New Year everyone.
“Thinker. Professional twitter fanatic. Certified introvert. Troublemaker. Unapologetic zombie maven.”