Rent on Amazon Best Films

The Battle of Algiers – Be a Part of the War Against Colonialism

Ali La Pointe and friends in Battle of Algiers

Battle of Algiers Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

Battle of Algiers is brilliant. If you want to feel like you’re part of the revolution against colonialism, this is the closest you can get. Shot on location in Algiers and using non-actors, it’s one of the first and best examples of cinéma vérité – a film that feels like a real documentary. So dive in and experience both sides of this war – the French colonizers and the Algerian freedom fighters. You’ll come out a more enlightened revolutionary.

From: Algeria, Africa
Watch: Trailer, Rent on Amazon, Buy on Amazon, Kanopy
Next: Che, Z, Elite Squad

Embrace of the Serpent – Lose Yourself in the Amazon

Embrace of the Serpent Film Difficulty Ranking: 4

Wow. Possibly the best film I have seen this year so far, Embrace of the Serpent is many things at once. It is a beautifully shot film set deep in the Amazon jungle that delves into many themes, including Life and Death, Culture, Civilization, Religion, and Exploration. This is a must see.

From: Colombia, South America
Watch: Trailer, Rent on Amazon, Buy on Amazon, Hulu
Next: Aguirre, Apocalypse Now, Black God, White Devil

I am Cuba – A Soviet Made Masterpiece

I Am Cuba Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

Soviet-made Cuban films don’t do half measures, they go all in. I am Cuba is no exception. The cinematography is more stylish than most films you’ll ever see and some of the shots are truly unforgettable. Add in Cuban history from the 1920s to the 1950s and you’ve got one truly epic film.

From: Cuba, North America
Watch: Trailer, Watch on Amazon
Next: Lucia, Battle of Algiers, Battleship Potemkin

City of God – Get Involved in the Drug Dealing Gangs of Rio

City of God Film Difficulty Ranking: 2

“If you run, the beast catches you; if you stay, the beast eats you”

Opening the film with a chicken chase, City of God is the most gripping history of drug-wars in the Rio de Janeiro favelas that anyone could hope for.

From: Brazil, South America
Watch: Trailer, Rent on Amazon, Buy on Amazon, Netflix
Next: Elite Squad, El Infierno, Traffic

Araby – The Enchanting Story of an Everyday Life

Araby Film Difficulty Ranking: 3

The brilliance of Araby is hard to pinpoint. This analogy might not do it justice, but it’s a bit like going to a retirement home and meeting a fascinating storyteller who intimately reveals to you their life story in 90 minutes. There’s nothing particularly special about Cristiano’s life in Araby, but it’s told so intimately and warmly, that you just can’t help but watch and listen. The patient viewer will reap it’s rewards.

From: Brazil, South America
Watch: Trailer, Kanopy, Rent on Amazon, Buy on Amazon
Next: Tabu, Djon Africa, Extraordinary Stories

Read The Full Review