Picking up where we left off in Dutty's Apocalypto thread, I'll list some of my favorites to get the ball rolling, then we could dive into the discussion of the more interesting ones.
Farewell My ConcubineThe Emperor and the AssassinRaise the Red LanternHouse of Flying Daggers... or anything either starring Li Gong (Miami Vice, Memoirs of a Geisha) or directed by Zhang Yimou. House of Flying Daggers is the only kick up in the list, so doh go renting these expecting tuh see Silver Fox and Jackie Chan on allyuh screen, lol
Taboo - deals with homosexuality among samurais (disturbing, yet very visceral, very cerebral film...great budo exhibitions as well)
Rashomon- (12 Angry Men)
Yojimbo- (For a Fistful of Dollars)
Shichinin no Samurai- (The Magnificent Seven)
These three preceding films are in black and white, and are considered the crowning achievements of the late great Japanese master, Akiro Kurosawa. The English titles in parens aren't quite the same movies, but rather American movies that were made based on the storylines in the Japanese originals. While the remakes are exquisite in their own right, the originals are beyond compare, if for no other reason than they star the greatest Japanese actor to have graced the screen, Toshiro Mifune...with whom Kurosawa enjoyed a tempestuous yet fruitful working relationship.
Staying in Asia but switching scenery a bit...
Kama SutraSalaam BombayThe NamesakeMonsoon Wedding...and for good measure, Missippi Masala, which is actually and English language film...all by Mira Nair
Then there's...
Il Postino (The Postman...translation)
El Laberinto del Fauno (Pan's Labyrinth)
El Espinazo del Diablo (The Devil's Backbone)
...the latter two being works of mexican director Guillermo Del Toro, and set in Spain during the Spanish Civil War. Excellent period pieces.
Throw in de odd
Third World Cop,
Dancehall Queen of Jamaica and
Harder They Come...forrin by yanqui standards, but we know dem is we ting.
Ah short on de African titles..and beyond
Run Lola Run, short on Western European title too so allyuh fill mih een nah