If you’re looking for the best Asian films, there’s plenty to choose from. Asia holds approximately 60% of the world’s population, so it’s no surprise the continent has a wealth of great films. The continent hosts one of the world’s largest (if not the largest) film industries in India’s Bollywood, the most famous animation studio outside the U.S. in Japan’s Studio Ghibli, as well as the second largest film market in the world by box office receipts in China (second only to the U.S.).
But that’s not all. The Iranian art-house cinema scene is still booming despite government bans. Southeast Asia holds two of the most famous torch-bearers of the transcendental film movement in Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Lav Diaz. Plus, there’s South Korean, Bong Joon-ho, whose Parasite became the first foreign language film to win the Best Picture. And we haven’t even mentioned the growing film presence of the countries in Central Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, and the Caucasus.
So scroll down to see some of the best Asian films. Or, if you know where you want to go, pick a country from the links below.
Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, East Timor, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon,Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen
*We’re still looking for the best Asian films from countries without links. Send us your recommendations.
From: Tajikistan, Asia Watch: Trailer, Amazon Prime, JustWatch Next: Redemption, White Sun, WitnessesContinue reading “Angel on the Right – A Hot Head Returns Home”
Film Difficulty Ranking: 3
Another great film from the London Film Festival, The Bait explores the lives of a mix of people from Bengal. The Bait features an eclectic mix of characters: a young circus tightrope walker who tours the land with her parents, a postman who renounces his life to live up a tree with some monkeys, and a Rajah trying to capture his past glory by killing a tiger. There is magical realism, strong political undercurrents, and plenty of beautiful scenery.
The film starts with old music playing from an old gramophone. An middle-aged man (the old Rajah) dances round and round a door frame in the middle of grassy hills. Is this a dream? Probably not. This is the eccentric Rajah, a man whose family has always held power in these lands until recently. His power is questioned by some documentary makers who do not believe he can catch a tiger.
The Rajah always plays old music, and always plays it on his old gramophone which he takes wherever he goes. The old music reminds him of the past glory of his family, something that is fading rapidly. He can’t even entertain his wife, a woman trapped in his palace. Instead of adapting to modernity, he tries to recapture his former glory by going on a quest to kill a tiger.
Outside of the three main characters, the film is dominated by the beautiful Bengali landscape. The rolling green hills, the dry lands, and the marshy swampland captures the diversity of Bengal (which is also captured in the characters). Instead of city noise, we hear birds, monkeys, water – everything that is lost in the city. The country is always full of life. The only evidence of built up civilisation were a few electricity pylons in the far background of one shot and the grand palace of the Rajah slowly being covered with moss.
The Bait is like a collection of fables. Each storyline portrays a different part of society, from the rich Rajah to the wandering street performers. Their social statuses are clear throughout and their identification creates the strong political undercurrent. Is there still a semi-caste system in India? Under the magical realism and humour, it seems that Dasgupta believes there still is.
From: Turkmenistan, Asia Watch: YouTube, IMDb Next: When the Tenth Month Comes, Uski Roti, Beatriz's WarContinue reading “Daughter in Law – Alone in the Desert Waiting for A Soldier to Return”
Uski Roti is the antithesis of your typical Bollywood film. Instead of bombastic musical numbers and extravagant costumes and decor, Uski Roti‘s rural setting is banal and empty. There’s minimal action as the characters are plagued by having too much time; the wife occupies herself with domestic work and waiting, whilst the husband kills time busing around the country spending time with different lovers to keep from boredom. Both characters seem compelled to live out of a duty rather than because of their own happiness which is reflected in the slow pace of the film. For those with patience, Uski Roti is a portrait of the downtrodden of the world – those condemned by poverty and the patriarchy to a life of nothingness.
From: India, Asia Watch: Trailer, JustWatch, IMDb Next: When the Tenth Month Comes, Daughter in Law, The Cow
What would you do if you do if you had all the money in the world? Well, this film might give you a few ideas. These Qatari Sheiks have all the money in the world and are not afraid to spend it. Plus, more amazingly, director Yuri Ancarani has somehow got complete access to their lives. So this is your chance to see what some of the richest people do in their free time. You can watch it now with a free trial on Mubi (via Amazon).
The Challenge starts intimately with a montage of close up shots of a few Sheiks. Each one of them is looking upwards with excitement in their eyes, not dissimilar to the eyes of an inquisitive child. Ancarani then cuts to what they’re looking at; a big warehouse full of birds of prey flying around. Then it’s your turn to feel surprised as you’re treated to a full 5 minute shot of this peculiar warehouse. Welcome to the life of the richest Sheiks of Qatar.
First you’ll be amazed by the weird things these rich Sheiks own. One Sheikh hops into a Lamborghini with his pet Cheetah sitting in the front seat on a leash. Then you’ll meet a group of Sheiks motorbiking through the desert on golden Harley Davidsons. Or maybe you’ll be surprised by a mass of 4 wheel drives speeding across sand dunes like surf boarders. It’s not a world that you’ll be used to (unless you’re a rich Qatari yourself) and the vibrant cinematography enhances the opulence.
However, as the film progresses, there’s one emotion that seems consistent with all the wealthy sheiks on screen. They all seem to be fighting boredom. This is even more noticeable with the complete absence of dialogue. As even though they take part in all these different activities, it still appears that it’s not interesting enough to talk about. There’s one particular scene where this is particularly obvious. There’s one Sheikh who’s on his knees in the middle of a room tending to a bird of prey and surrounding him are a load of Sheiks sitting slumped on cushions around the edge of the room. None of them look interested in the guy in the middle of the room. But none of them also look like they can be bothered to move to try and find something else to do. Does too much money equal boredom?
Whilst you may be put off by some of the long shots and sudden movements of the ‘bird cams’ you should be able to appreciate the cinematography of the film. The vibrant colours and sunsets caught on film only add to the opulent lifestyle that will be so foreign to many of us.
If you’re looking for a more political Middle Eastern film, I recommend checking out Ajami or Sandstorm from Palestine and Israel.
However, if you’re looking for more opulence, you should check out the Academy Award winner, The Great Beauty (Amazon rental) from Italy.
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