1. BLACK BOOK (2006; THE NETHERLANDS).
In the Nazi-occupied Netherlands during World War II, a Jewish singer, working for the Dutch resistance as a spy, infiltrates the regional Gestapo HQ, seducing a commander of the SD along the way. Being only familiar with Paul Verhoeven’s sci-fi work of the 80s and 90s (as well as Basic Instinct), it was certainly refreshing to see him tackle a war film. He nailed it.
2. I SAW THE DEVIL (2010; SOUTH KOREA).
When the pregnant fiancée of a secret agent becomes the most recent victim of a serial killer, he sets out on a relentless, unmerciful pursuit of revenge. For fans of both the serial killer genre and Ji-woon Kim’s hugely impressive filmography, comprising A Bittersweet Life and A Tale of Two Sisters, as well as the serial killer being Oldboy, I Saw The Devil is a must-see.
3. THE RAID: REDEMPTION (2011; INDONESIA).
A SWAT team storms an apartment block run by a ruthless gangster and his army of thugs and murderers. Being my first outing with the Indonesian film industry, I was unprepared and rather apprehensive. I was pleasantly surprised, to say the least. Here we are bombarded with a great storyline, round after round of bullets, and martial arts of the highest quality from the one remaining officer who single-handedly plans on taking down every scumbag in the block.
4. TROLL HUNTER (2010; NORWAY).
A group of student documentarians investigate a series of mysterious bear killings. They subsequently learn that something else is responsible for the deaths. They begin following a strange hunter, learning along the way that he is actually a troll hunter employed by the government. For lovers of the monster genre and documentary-style filmmaking, and people who are interested in discovering what different countries’ film industries are like, you should be prioritising this Norwegian gem.
5. DOGTOOTH (2009; GREECE).
Three teenagers are confined, by their parents, to an isolated country estate in an unknown location. The parents subject the trio to homemade tapes that evidently teach them a whole new vocabulary, with the über-controlling parents also terrorising their offspring into submission. More than it being a timeless classic, it is definitely interesting (a glimpse at what people’s lives can really be like behind closed doors).
6. AUDITION (1999; JAPAN).
Arranged by his friend, a widower agrees to hold a special audition as a means to seek out his new wife. The winner is not who she appears to be. Like Ichi the Killer, another of Takashi Miike’s cult classics, Audition is not one for the weak. Be prepared for the worst.
7. DOWNFALL (2004; GERMANY).
Traudl Junge, the final secretary for Adolf Hitler, explains the Nazi dictator’s last days in his Berlin bunker at the end of the Second World War. If nothing else, you should be watching Downfall for Bruno Ganz’s truly terrifying performance of Hitler. Nothing short of extraordinary.
8. PAN’S LABYRINTH (2006; SPAIN).
In the fascist Spain of 1944, the imaginative, whimsical stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer escapes into a mysterious, fantastical world. Straight off the bat, a masterpiece! With only a handful of films under his belt at the time, Del Toro proves, with Pan’s Labyrinth, why he is going to be a force to be reckoned with for many years to come.
9. CARLOS THE JACKAL (2010; FRANCE).
This rare French TV film tells the story of Venezuelan revolutionary Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, A.K.A. Carlos the Jackal, who launched a global terrorist organisation, raiding the 1975 OPEC meeting along the way. If you find the time, make sure you watch the full-length 6-hour version. With a riveting portrayal by Edgar Ramirez, Carlos is as good a biopic as you are likely to see.
10. THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES (2009; ARGENTINA).
A retired legal counselor writes a novel hoping to find closure for one of his past unresolved homicide cases and for his unreciprocated love with his superior, both of which still haunt him decades later. I took a punt on this film after its surprising win at the 2010 Oscars and it was well worth it. Ricardo Darin (Nine Queens) demonstrates why he is the biggest actor in Argentina with a truly cool and collected performance in an electrifying thriller.
Written by Conley Low
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