I've seen Chunking Express after staying at the Chunking Mansions years ago. I thought it was a bit slow, but my tastes have changed since then, so I might try it again.
It's Chungking - not Chunking. I wouldn't call it slow. A better way to look at most of my recommendations might be some combination of the following:
- Meditative
- Hidden meanings
- Parallel stories
- Alternative film grammars
- Significant
- Critically acclaimed
Most of my recommendations aren't what the average joe is looking for on Saturday night.
I've added Late Spring and Sansho, both look really good and definitely a films I feel I should see. I'll check the others out after I've seen these but it may be some time.
Please approach both of these films with the proper context to derive maximum pleasure. Google the two directors and read some blogs, critical studies, etc. The directors are, respectively, Yasujiro Ozu and Kenji Mizoguchi. Both the directors, and their films are huge within the context of cinema history.
Unfortunately it doesn't seem Pale Flower is available.
If you're in the U.S., check here for availability on Hulu Plus:
http://www.criterion.com/huluI'm not sure I like the sound of The Cruel Story of Youth but I've added Ivan's Youth and Marketa Lazarova.
Cruel Story of Youth is an excellent introduction to Nagisa Oshima, who began making films as a general rebellion to the works of Yasujiro Ozu (see Late Spring, above). And Oshima was one of the members of the Japanese New Wave, of which Masahiro Shinoda was another (see Pale Flower).
If you're going to do Ozu right (director of Late Spring), then you do it this way: familiarize yourself with the reverence he is accorded by the film community and why. Get familiar with his themes and film grammar by earnestly watching two of his films, read more about him, and commit yourself to watching the following films if you like him:
- Late Spring
- Tokyo Twilight
- Equinox Flower
- Late Autumn
- The End of Summer
- Early Summer
- Floating Weeds
- An Autumn Afternoon
- Tokyo Story
Be aware that Tokyo Story was recently voted the greatest film ever made as voted by directors worldwide and Late Spring was voted the fifteenth greatest film ever made as voted by critics worldwide. From there, I strongly urge you to start exploring the work of Mikio Naruse, especially When a Woman Ascends the Stairs, Yearning, Floating Clouds, Flowing, and others - mostly those that star Hideko Takamine.
And finally, be sure Yi Yi is on your list, as that is something amazing.
Have you seen any Emir Kusturica films? Underground is a particular favourite of mine.
I have not, but I am now checking out what he has to offer on mubi.com. He looks interesting, but is getting mixed reviews from the crowd over at mubi, which is a crowd which leans towards the arthouse. I will still explore his offerings in more depth.
The directors I have mentioned, Ozu, Mizoguchi. Kar-wai, Naruse, and Edward Yang are in the stratosphere as far as love for their works and respect go.
