The World of Movies: Ranking our Top 25
Written by Rachael Crawley
The World of Movies is a series that explores global cinema, drawing on films from many countries, industries and eras. This week, we pause our journey and look back.
That’s right, we’ve reached twenty-five reviews! (Well, technically twenty-six – but we’ll get to that later.) In celebration, rather than adding to the pile this week, I’ve decided to rank the ones we’ve looked at so far. This list will be updated when we hit fifty – and who knows what we’ll have seen by then?
Some fun facts to start off:
Our range of movies goes from 1918-2020. The most represented decade is the 2010s, with ten movies, half of which are from 2017 alone. The least represented are the 1920s and 1940s, with no films in either decade – something I soon hope to remedy.
I have written about four shorts (including documentary and animated) and twenty-two features.
In terms of geography, there have been five movies from Africa, five from Asia, six from Europe, six from the Americas, two from Oceania, and one from Antarctica. One movie, İstanbul Kırmızısı, is classified as Europe/Asia, as Istanbul sits on both continents.
I am so grateful for all those who have read these articles, shared them with others, or left comments. Here’s to many more movie adventures!
Now, on to the ranking.
Honorable Mention: Oorlog en Vrede (Netherlands)
It doesn’t seem fair to review a movie that only exists in fragments, and this really was a backdoor pilot for Lost Films, so it is excluded from our ranking. That said, if you want to learn more about this lost film, you can read more here.
25. So Much Love to Give (Argentina)
Of all our movies, this is the only one I honestly disliked – it starts as a cheeky romantic comedy with some promising moments, but loses its way in the second half before falling into pointless slapstick. The others are worth checking out, but I would give this one a miss.
Read our review here.
24. Road to Yesterday (Nigeria)
This intense romantic drama has great performances and an interesting story, but is tripped up by slow placing and a less-than-stellar screenplay. A good watch for anyone interested in the sadder type of love story.
Read our review here.
23. Disconnect (Kenya)
A charming rom-com with fun characters. Short on substance, but it’s a lot of fun along the way, and avoids serious missteps. Brenda Wairimu is a standout among the cast.
Read our review here.
22. Arctic (Iceland)
This movie looks great and tells a realistic survival story. The eerie mood is enhanced by stunning shots of Iceland. Mads Mikkelsen is excellent, but the movie flounders while trying to maintain tension in the second half.
Read our review here.
21. 30 Minutes, Mister Plummer (Canada)
A breezy look at a Canadian theatre festival, focused on one of its greatest actors. Diving deep into the productions, it is an immersive look at creating art. This short film ably shifts between tone and experiments with different artistic techniques, elevating it above a straightforward documentary.
Read our review here.
20. Heaven Without People (Lebanon)
Family tensions rise at an Easter luncheon. Heaven Without People portrays family relationships very accurately, and is adept at connecting the personal with the political. Though it does not sustain these strengths for the entire movie, it is still quite compelling.
Read our review here.
19. İstanbul Kırmızısı (Turkey)
Questions of identity loom over this movie, an effective mystery and character study. While it fumbles its romance plot and has a slightly too passive main character, it is an interesting exploration of what it means to be home.
Read our review here.
18. One Day We’ll Talk About Today (Indonesia)
This down-to-earth ensemble drama covers the dynamics between family members with refreshing honesty. For young adults starting their lives, this one will especially resonate. And it has a great soundtrack, too!
Read our review here.
17. The Dish (Australia)
If you’re into history, this one will appeal – it portrays the moon landing from a little-known perspective, and evokes the wonder of that achievement. It’s also highly enjoyable with a good dose of clever humour. This fun story is well-paced and makes for a relaxed movie night.
Read our review here.
16. Lorena, Light-Footed Woman (Mexico)
This film is primarily visual, and it makes the most of its images, which are gorgeous. It also tells the story of an incredible athlete. Though it is short, it packs a lot into less than half an hour – it is a film I would describe as a rich experience.
Read our review here.
15. South of Sanity (Antarctica)
Staying in Antarctica for months on end? Not sure how to fill those long, cold nights? I know – let’s make a no-budget slasher film! This non-professional movie is a great ride, playing into horror movie tropes and making the most of its confined settings. It’s safe to say there is no movie quite like it.
Read our review here.
14. Rockers (Jamaica)
It’s a mystery, a concert movie, and a takeoff on Italian neorealism, all performed by some of reggae’s greatest talents. Rockers blurs the line between documentary and fiction, and never fumbles this careful balance. Of course, its music is a highlight.
Read our review here.
13. An Island (Ireland)
A beautifully animated short with a deceptively simple story of a man on a mission. In only a few quick frames, it dives deeply into its protagonist’s life and psyche. It’s a great example of Ireland’s stellar animation scene.
Read our review here.
12. The Death of Mr Lazarescu (Romania)
This is not an easy watch. It can be relentlessly grim and discusses some uncomfortable truths. A story of a man in his (final?) decline, it hammers home the inadequacies that many face in finding health care. Definitely not a movie to be viewed casually, but well worth it.
Read our review here.
11. My Happy Family (Georgia)
While it examines women’s roles in society, My Happy Family is most memorable for one woman in particular – Manana, who seeks independence for the first time in her life. Ia Sugliashvili is stunning as the protagonist. While this movie boasts strong camera work and great use of tone, her performance makes this an absolute must-see.
Read our review here.
10. Ainu Mosir (Japan)
This coming-of-age story examines complicated questions of Indigenous identity in contemporary Japan. It is nuanced and features well-rounded characters, particularly the protagonist. Filmed in Hokkaido, it is beautiful to watch, too.
Read our review here.
9. The Strategy of the Snail (Colombia)
When a group of residents are threatened with eviction, they create a clever plan to save their homes. Veering between dark humour and serious commentary, this film balances entertainment and reflection with aplomb.
Read our review here.
8. Cinema of Unease (New Zealand)
While at first it seems like a simple look at New Zealand’s film industry, Cinema of Unease takes a hard look at the influences behind this national cinema. Narrator Sam Neill examines his home country’s intense and often frightening films, and the societal changes that produced them. Movie buffs will be entranced with this unusual documentary.
Read our review here.
7. The Baker’s Wife (France)
Our very first review was about this touching and hilarious portrayal of small-town life. Raimu gives one of cinema’s all-time great performances, and Marcel Pagnol takes a frank (but always funny) look at a Provençal village. Do not miss this legendary comedy.
Read our review here.
6. Make Way for Tomorrow (USA)
Leo McCarey’s heartbreaking story of old age and economic hardship has been remade several times. Surprisingly realistic for a Golden Age Hollywood film – yet curiously overlooked – its well-drawn characters will resonate with many viewers.
Read our review here.
5. Cairo Station (Egypt)
Cairo Station takes us through a twisted story of obsession, and introduces us to the changing city of Cairo in the 1950s. This truly frightening piece is considered one of Egypt’s greatest films, and is an excellent introduction to director Youssef Chahine.
Read our review here.
4. Adventures of a Dentist (USSR)
I would call this movie quirky. It is rife with strange asides and unusual tropes, centering around a dentist who may or may not have a magic power. Underneath lies a larger discussion on the nature of success. A bizarre offering from the Soviet Union, it’s one of my personal favourites on this list.
Read our review here.
3. Borom sarret (Senegal)
Every frame of this short has a purpose, and they are combined into an extraordinary twenty minutes. The result is a compact story that communicates incalculable meaning. While there are many great films out there, this one comes very close to perfection.
Read our review here.
2. Norte, the End of History (The Philippines)
Not many movies should be four hours long. This one is an exception. It manages to sustain one narrative thread for that length of time, and creates an epic in the process. Utterly engrossing, it has time to seriously explore its themes of injustice and remorse. This is the type of movie that will leave you in deep thought for the rest of the day.
Read our review here.
1. Trances (Morocco)
You’ve never seen a music doc quite like this one. Its fierce energy, and thoughtful look at the creative process, make for a real visual and auditory treat. The film is a soundtrack, a history lesson, and a hangout with the band all in one. The best concert movies show innovation in both music and film – and Trances brings forth the very best of each medium.
Read our review here.
Rachael Crawley holds a Master's Degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Ryerson University, and has worked with film in Canada and in Europe. She adores language and cinema, and how these subjects interact with each other.