Everyone loves a good blockbuster, but there’s a special place in cinephiles' hearts for arthouse films. These are movies, typically independent, that are made on a smaller budget and with a more intimate scope to appeal to a specific niche rather than to mainstream audiences. They are usually experimental and driven by the auteurial voice of the director at their helm, exploring difficult and even challenging yet intriguing subjects.
Throughout the world,many artistic voices from non-English-speaking countries have redefined what an arthouse movie can be. From poetic directors likeAndrei Tarkovskyand hisStalkerto Latin American icons likeAlfonso Cuarónand hisY Tu Mamá También, there are plenty of foreign arthouse masterpieces that have stood the test of time. They’re a window into different realities, a portal that takes audiences into a completely different way of making artistic cinema.
15’Tokyo Story' (1953)
The Japanese master filmmakerYasujirō Ozuhad one of the most distinctive voices the film industry has ever seen. Known for his naturalistic and slow-burning narratives about real human conflicts, filmed with some of the most inconspicuous cinematography one can find in Asian cinema, Ozu was one of the most influential auteurs to ever come out of Japan. His most popular film, arguably his best, isTokyo Story, about an old couple visiting their children and grandchildren in the city, where they find that they may not be as welcome as they’d have liked.
Tokyo Storyis one ofthe best and most influential movies of the ’50s,telling a deeply moving storyof gut-wrenching emotional power in a way so admirably understated that it makes it all the more of a tearjerker. It displays all of its director’s greatest artistic skills in all their splendor, and though its slow pace and simple story may not be to general audiences' taste, it’s a fantastic introduction to Ozu’s style for those interested.
14’La Haine' (1995)
There are countless exceptionalFrench films that all cinephiles should watchat least once in their lives, andLa Haineis undoubtedly one of the best. The highest-rated French movie on Letterboxd, and the site’s 18th-highest-rated film overall, this politically charged cult classic has only increased in timeliness and impact with the passage of the years.
The performances are incredibly hard-hitting, andMatthieu Kassovitz’s direction has tremendous bite, imbuing the narrative with an irresistibly engrossing style.This isn’t one of those style-over-substance cult gems, however;La Hainehas an excellent script, full of fascinating themes and deeply felt emotion. Nuanced and ambitious, it’s one of the 1990s' best movies.
13’Yi Yi' (2000)
The lateEdward Yangwas arguably the greatest Taiwanese filmmaker of all time, but he only managed to make seven features before his untimely passing from colon cancer in 2007. One of his best isYi Yi, one of the most endearing slice-of-life dramas ever made. Even those who don’t usually like slow-paced character-focused films should giveYi Yia shot.
After all, it’s not often that a director is able to capturethe beauty and charm of mundaneness and everyday lifewith this kind of artistic dexterity.Yi Yiis sweet, tender, and thought-provoking; deeply emotionally affecting without ever shying away from its more observational tone. Life itself can be monotonous, but films that reflect that monotony can only hope to be as riveting as this.
12’City of God' (2002)
Brazilian cinema is full of criminally underappreciated gems that usually go under the radar of mainstream non-Brazilian audiences, but notCity of God. This indie classic, one of thebest international films of the last three decades, found admirable success all around the world—and for good reason. Absolutely harrowing yet never falling into the category of trauma porn, it’s a bleak and complex look at a coming-of-age tale in the slums of Rio.
The film’s disturbing tone and lack of fear in showing all manner of shocking scenes definitely make it a drama not suited for weak stomachs, butthose in the mood for the best that South American arthouse has to offer ought to checkCity of Godoutat some point. Thematically nuanced, tonally layered, and gorgeously written and directed, it’s a classic of every genre that it falls into.
11’Y Tu Mamá También' (2001)
Mainstream cinema tends to be pretty afraid ofsex-heavy and intimate films— so arthouse tends to be the perfect home for them. Alfonso Cuarón proved that withY Tu Mamá También, one of the most beloved Mexican films by international audiences. It’s about two teenage boys and an older woman who embark on a road trip that teaches them a thing or two about life, each other, and themselves.
On the surface,Y Tu Mamá Tambiénis sexy and jovial until it becomes emotionally devastating. Beneath that surface liesa powerful critique of Mexico’s political and socioeconomic state at the time, which can be appreciated and enjoyed by audiences of any nationality. It’s a tremendously potent film with three exceptional lead performances byMaribel Verdú,Gael García Bernal, andDiego Luna, proving that there’s nothing wrong with movies that aren’t scared to get a little steamy, especially if sexuality is used to explore the character’s psyche.
10’A Brighter Summer Day' (1991)
There’s no doubt about it:A Brighter Summer Dayis arguably Edward Yang’s best movie. One ofthe best arthouse epics of all time, this nearly 4-hour-long teen crime drama is based on a true story about a conflict between two youth gangs. The clash between the head of one of the gangs and a 14-year-old boy’s girlfriend leads to a violent climax.
This powerful coming-of-age may be set in Taipei, butA Brighter Summer Day’sthemes are relatable to anyone who has ever experienced issues of identity and generational conflict. The runtime is certainly daunting for a film like this, but those willing to patiently watch how Yang’s fascinating characters and story unfold will be treated to a timeless classic that will stay with them for a long time.
9’The Seventh Seal' (1957)
Ingmar Bergmanis perhaps the greatest and best-known Swedish filmmaker who has ever lived, and for good reason. One ofthe most influential filmmakers ever, he made masterpiece after masterpiece throughout his career, all of which have left an indelible mark on pretty much every arthouse filmmaker who has worked after Bergman. There’s one of his movies, however, that’s easily the best-known of the bunch. It is, without a doubt,The Seventh Seal.
One of the most beautiful, poetic, and thought-provoking explorations of Death and of the silence of Godthat cinema has ever offered,The Seventh Sealis proof that arthouse can be deeply entertaining without sacrificing its slower-paced and experimental qualities. It’s an engrossing masterpiece both intellectually and spiritually, and it certainly doesn’t hurt that its black-and-white visuals are so strikingly beautiful.
8’Come and See' (1985)
It may not exactly be a horror movie, butCome and Seeis perhapsthe most horrifying arthouse filmever made. Set during WWII, it follows a young boy who finds a rifle and joins the Soviet resistance against German forces. Experiencing the horrors and atrocities of the war through the eyes of a child (particularly one played as impeccably asAleksey Kravchenkoplays his role) is a truly harrowing experience.
The way directorElem Klimovpaints the Russian countryside as a violent and unpredictable hellscape is as admirable as it is devastating. As Flyora’s soul is slowly twisted and corrupted as the war rages on,audiences are forced to sit through some of the most discomforting scenes they will ever watch. It may not be an easy experience, butCome and Seeis absolutely worth the effort for its sheer power and willingness to confront some of the darkest aspects of the human experience.
7’The Holy Mountain' (1973)
Chilean-French filmmaker and artistAlejandro Jodorowskyis definitely an acquired taste, but his contributions todefining and redefining cinematic surrealismare undeniable.The Holy Mountainis the head-scratching work that’s typically praised as his best. In its corrupt world fueled by greed and not governed by the typical rules of reality, a powerful alchemist leads a messianic figure and seven colorful characters to the Holy Mountain, where they will achieve enlightenment.
Bizarre, graphic, gorgeous, and transcendentally spiritual,The Holy Mountainis the work of a master in full control of his craft.The movie is pure and unrestrained arthouse goodness, unafraid of being controversial with its themes of religion and humankind’s inherent corruption or with how it depicts them. Getting into Jodorowsky as a newcomer will always be a challenge, but one might as well start with his masterpiece.
6’Angel’s Egg' (1985)
Clocking in at only 71 minutes long,Angel’s Eggis surreal anime bliss. Heavily allegorical and visually stunning, it’s about a mysterious girl wandering in a desolate, otherworldly landscape while carrying a large egg. DirectorMamoru Oshii’s vision of motherhood, femininity, and the connection between dreams and reality is deeply provocative and enthralling, butAngel’s Eggleaves limitless room for other interpretations of its narrative.
Thanks to its incredible animation, haunting music and sound design, and compelling story, this is one of thebest and most ambitious animated arthouse moviesof all time.Its impenetrable imagery and ample use of surrealism can definitely be a bit of a challengefor general audiences, especially those unaccustomed to such elusive narratives. However, the short runtime makes it much easier to feel motivated to interpret everything displayed on screen.
