15. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920, Germany)
AKA: Das Kabinett de Dr. Caligari Terrifying German expressionist horror that will chill you to the bone even now. A young couple are tormented by the events of the previous night when they visited a local fair and a particular exhibition called The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Within the exhibit lies a near comatose somnabulist by the name of Cesare who the couple believe is carrying out murders in his sleepwalking state. When the pair alert the authorities the mysterious Caligari and Cesare vanish without a trace calling into question the validity of the couples claims. As they dig further and further into what is happening their lives slowly begin to unravel as the truth behind Dr Caligari, Cesare and the spooky cabinet attraction falls into place. Horror like only the pre-war German's could do. You wont be able to take your eyes off this for a moment and the twist - although somewhat cliché today - was ground breaking at the time. Superior in many ways to Nosferatu The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is widely considered the greatest German horror movie of all time and to be honest I'd struggle to argue with that.
14. F**king
mål (1998, Sweden)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j9ENzrF1Vc
AKA: Show Me Love As much a coming out drama as it is a coming of age drama Show Me Love shows touches of real comedy as two young Swedish girls find the only thing they need to help them survive the mundanity of life in the small village of
mål is each other. Lukas Moodysson excels once again with his offbeat Swedish dramas touching upon the tentative 'romantic' relationship between the teenage leads while exploring what it is to be a young female with big dreams that are continually stifled by the small town mentality they have forced upon them. Compelling as always Moodysson's work was highly criticised at the time of its release but has amassed a substantial cult following and is considered essential viewing for all teenagers around the world by the BFI. If it's good enough for 13 year olds then it's sure as Hell good enough for you. Find a copy now.
13. My Neighbour Totoro (1988, Japan)
AKA: Tonari no TotoroLegendary animation from the awesome folk at Studio Ghibli. Totoro has no real plot as such but is instead a meandering tale about youth and wonderment that sees a family move to a new home in the country to be closer to their hospitalised mother. As the father busies himself at work his two young daughters find adventure alongside the wonderful forest spirits including the bizarre soot sprites and a giant, furry spirit by the name of Totoro. Totoro is Ghibli's finest work by far and hasn't aged a day since it's original release back in 1988. In Japan the Totoro character is as beloved as Winnie the Pooh is in the West and his cultural impact in undeniable. A cuddly Totoro even appears in a shot during Disney's Toy Story 3 which just goes to show how important this film still is almost 30 years after its release.
12. Funny Games (1997, Austria)
Morally reprehensible horror thriller about two men who target and then systematically destroy the lives of a young couple and their son just for the Hell of it. Michael Haneke's intense, grotesque yarn is some of the most uncomfortable viewing you're ever likely to witness but it is without a doubt an absolute classic. Words like vile spring to mind when you think of the nihilist tandem known simply as Peter and Paul who somehow worm their way into the country home of George and Anna and strip away their dignity, their security and their sanity second by gruelling second, minute by agonising minute. Astonishingly the film becomes even more difficult to watch as Peter and Paul break the so-called fourth wall and begin including the viewers at home in their crimes. Without realising it by watching this film you become an accomplice and a voyeur as if you're there with them or watching a snuff movie at home. But don't take what I have written as reason NOT to watch the original Funny Games. Oh no. You owe it to yourself to sit through it in its entirety because despite being remade in the US you'll never see anything quite like this in the cinema ever again.
11. Battleship Potemkin (1925, Russia)
AKA: оненое «омкин» If you've ever studied film at school, college or university then you're probably more than aware of Battleshuip Potemkin, the 1925 black and white Russian film from the mind of Sergei Eisenstein and MosFilm. Battleship Potemkin retells the story of the 1905 uprising and mutiny by the crew of the Potyomkin (the more accurate translation) against their commanding officers installed in their roles by the Tsarist regime. In typical fashion the mutiny was squashed in bloody and violent fashion with men, women and children laying dead in pools of their own blood on the steps of the Odessa. Considered the greatest film ever made at one time it is undoubtedly the greatest propaganda movie ever made and even today is capable of getting the pulses racing of any wannabe revolutionary out there. Whether or not this film will indeed inspire you to cast off the shackles of modern society and stand up for what you believe in remains to be seen.