Maryanne Redpath

The revolution is over, but outlaws in the arid Chaco still harass the poor. An old woman reluctantly welcomes a lone gaucho passing by. Her hospitality leads to a genuine connection after they share their hardships and injustices. Elegant, timeless, poignant, soulful, sparse- opens window into a mysterious world. Imagery and soundscape are sublime.

Romeo and Polly sit in separate cars outside a pub, waiting for their parents. They’re bored until they notice each other.   At first the bicker and play it cool, but by the time they have to say good-bye the sparks of first love are flickering. Glances and gestures, precise, tender, and funny, exquisitely timed. Classic Waititi, Oscar-shortlisted.

Many years ago, Taha had begged his sweetheart to escape their war-torn town together with him. She chose to stay behind, promising to give her heart to the one who appeared to her as the white-winged horse. When Taha returns with high hopes, amnesia has taken over his old hometown and hardly a soul still believes in poetry and magic. Poetic, other-worldly, existential, a sad story of unrequited love. Striking visuals and setting burn into the memory.

Hundreds of dogs are cooped up inside the red clay walls of the shelter, ultimately following the rules and dynamics of the pack. A contemplation drawing parallels of dreary everyday life under the burning North African sun. Framed by the enclosure they are forced to live in, hundreds of rescue dogs go about their business, in unison and separately. They are allowed to be dogs, not humanised, but the human viewer may wonder whether they contemplate life outside the compound. Philosophic, animal wisdom, imagery and rhythms, use of light and shadow, contemplative poetry focusing on the incarcerated.

Three boys make their way to an Indigenous community in Mexico’s Huasteca region, where they are supposed to perform for a funeral. The magical power of the music takes hold quickly and is echoed in the faces of the guests and young musicians. The soulful songs offer solace and make it easier to say goodbye. Then the widow requests a fourth song. In the cinema, the young Mariachi band steals the hearts of viewers. The kind of music you may like to have played at your own funeral. Soulful, sad but hopeful, up-lifting, beautifully filmed in black and white. Film stays in your heart and soul forever.

Juck is sex. Juck is energy. Juck is protest. Juck is therapy. Juck is dominance. Juck is movement. Juck is fantasy. Juck is arousal. Juck is utopia.’ Femininity is a word that we can fill up with whatever we want,’ they say. They fill it up with Juck. Brilliant, daring, energetic, angry, funny, confrontational, unapologetically demanding, full of life, dance, music and movement...everything already written here and more. Strong statement, visually and aurally thrilling.

Little Bory is supposed to pick up soybean sprouts for her family. On a journey of her own for the very first time, she gets lost in an unfamiliar part of the city and makes an enigmatic acquaintance. Tender portrait of a five-year-old wandering around the streets of her hometown alone. Director tenderly captures her mood, her looking simultaneously inward and outward, consciousness awakening, she’s making discoveries, having little adventures being a brave and self-determined child, sensitively captured. Lovely coming-of -age, not ‘acted, pure.

What are their biggest dreams? When did they last cry. Six girls in glittery dresses talk. One of them will be cast for the role of Oksana Baiul, former young Ukrainian figure-skating superstar. Pleasurable re-discovery! Kitty Green’s exciting feature-film career was kick-started by this little film.  Her chosen format is ground-breaking and original and holds attention in such an interesting way. Documentary feeling. Girls speaking directly into the camera in an interview/casting situation. Secure and insecure at the same time. Every little flicker of an eyelid and glance counts, and we the viewer are given access to their souls.

Its’s Geanina’s birthday and the whole village is at the local nightclub. The neon palm is lit up and the DJ wearing his golden shirt. Alin and his friends arrive in style on their horse-drawn cart and take over the dance floor. Rivalry is in the air and emotions are running high. Laconic humour, highly entertaining. Young louts having a good time testing their muscles. Colourful coming of age far away from the big city. Simply for enjoyment.

A crocheted fox and a crocheted dinosaur enjoy a moment of pure harmony before everything begins to unravel. A parable of love and willpower. Outstanding in technique and tempo, simplicity and complexity. A funny and moving love story between two plush animals. Totally original animation, clever, representative of all the awesome animation films which cannot be placed on this list due to space.