Awaken your passion for cinema by (re)discovering Asian classics. Make yourself comfortable with a bowl of popcorn, and let yourself be carried away by these must-see works.
Here's a selection of cult films to see at least once in your life.
Must-see Asian films
Rashomon (1950)
Director: Akira Kurozawa
Synopsis : After a murder in a forest, several witnesses give contradictory versions of the facts, blurring the line between truth and lies.
Why see it? A timeless masterpiece that questions the subjectivity of truth and has left its mark on cinema history.
Furyo (1983)
Director : Nagisha Oshima
Synopsis : In a Japanese camp during the Second World War, British prisoners confront their captors in a clash of cultures and wills.
Why see it? An intense, poignant drama about honor, resistance and understanding between enemies.
Sonatine (1993)
Director : Takeshi Kitano
Synopsis : A disillusioned yakuza is sent with his men to settle a dispute, but the mission takes an unexpected and tragic turn.
Why see it? A contemplative, stylized thriller that blends violence, humor and melancholy with great mastery.
Dark Water (2002)
Director : Hideo Nakata
Synopsis : A divorced mother moves in with her daughter in an old building, where strange water-related phenomena reveal a dark secret.
Why see it? An atmospheric, shocking horror film that blends fear, family drama and ghosts of the past.
Peppermint Candy (1999)
Director : Lee Chang-Dong
Synopsis : A man revisits the milestones of his life in reverse, revealing the personal and historical wounds that led him to despair.
Why see it? A powerful and moving drama that explores memory, destiny and the impact of the past on the individual...
Memories of a murder (2003)
Director : Bong Joon-ho
Synopsis : In 1980s Korea, two policemen with opposing methods investigate a series of unsolved murders.
Why should you see it? A captivating, deeply human thriller that blends suspense, social criticism and reflection on failure.
A toute épreuve (1992)
Director : John Woo
Synopsis : An intrepid policeman takes on a network of arms dealers, sparking a bloody battle on the streets of Hong Kong.
Why see it? A masterpiece of action cinema, combining spectacular scenes and virtuoso direction by John Woo.
Chungking Express (1994)
Director : Wong Kar-Wai
Synopsis : Two lonely policemen wander around Hong Kong, each marked by a broken love affair and new, unexpected encounters.
Why see it? A poetic, vibrant film that captures the essence of loneliness, love and urban chance.
The music room (1958)
Director : Satyajit Ray
Synopsis : A deposed Bengali aristocrat devotes his last resources to organizing concerts, refusing to accept that his world is coming to an end.
Why see it? A melancholy masterpiece about decline, pride and the power of music in the face of passing time.
A Family Affair (2018)
Director : Hirokazu Kore Eda
Synopsis : A family living on petty theft takes in an abandoned little girl, upsetting the fragile balance of their daily lives.
Why see it? A sensitive and moving drama that questions blood ties and the true meaning of family.
