Yes, I’m obsessed with film. So it was inevitable that eventually I’d give in and let that obsession merge with the content of this class. Lists of “best foreign films” are often dominated by European films, probably because these have received more attention over the years. This is unfortunate, because Asian cinema is not something to be overlooked.

So here they are, my 3 favorite Asian films:

Princess Mononoke (Mononoke Hime) (?????)

I’m a big fan of Hayao Miyazaki’s films. Although I love each and every one of them, my favorite is Princess Mononoke. There seems to be a fairly common misconception that Miyazaki is to Japanese cinema what Disney is to American cinema. This is absolutely untrue. Miyazaki’s films, though animated, are more meaningful than most American blockbusters. Depth of characters, beautiful artwork, intricate plots, and important underlying themes all come together in each of his works. I like this one the best because he perfectly captures the complexity of relationships (of many kinds) between characters while tying everything into environmental and antiwar themes. If you haven’t seen it already, you should. Preferably right now.

Other especially great Miyazaki films are “Spirited Away,” “Howl’s Moving Castle,” and “My Neighbor Totoro.”

NOTE: The narrator mispronounces the title slightly. It should be Mononoke (pronounced like Mononokay, rather than Mononokee, as he says it)

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Fallen Angels (Duo luo tian shi)

This is the kind of movie you can’t really explain, at least not in any way that would make sense. Created by Chinese director Wong Kar Wai, it’s human, gritty, beautiful, breathtaking, tragic, and hopeful, all at once. The choppy style takes a while to get used to, but it’s an asset to the film rather than a distraction. Other good Wong Kar Wai films to check out are “Happy Together,” which is (roughly) about two gay Chinese men and their relationship, and “Chungking Express,” which was intended to be a companion film, of sorts, to “Fallen Angels.” He also directed “In the Mood for Love,” which won multiple awards at film festivals all over the world, including Cannes.

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Rashomon (???)

By legendary director Akira Kurosawa (The Seven Samurai), this is a brilliant film about a crime that treats its subject in an unusual way. Four different versions of the same story are offered, leaving the audience to sort reality from fabrication. Human nature captured on 35 mm film. “Yojimbo,” also a Kurosawa film, is another one you shouldn’t miss.

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OTHER GREAT ASIAN FILMS… look ‘em up and see if any interest you :)

Train Man (Japanese, 2005)

Masala (Indian & Canadian, 1991)

Monsoon Wedding (Indian, 2001)

Water (Indian & Canadian, 2005)

Children of Heaven (Iranian, 1997)

Floating Weeds (Japanese, 1959)

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Taiwanese, 2000)

Ikiru (Japanese, 1952)

Raise the Red Lantern (Chinese, 1991)

Ran (Japanese, 1985)

Sansho Dayu (Japanese, 1954)

Throne of Blood (Japanese, 1957)

Tokyo Story (Japanese, 1953)

Ugetsu (Japanese, 1953)

The World of Apu (Indian, 1959)

Baraka (1992; Not strictly speaking an Asian film, but has scenes from around the world, including Asian countries. This is one of those films that you have to see at least once in your lifetime. It has no dialogue, narration, or even an identifiable plot structure. The cinematographers went all over the world–24 countries in 6 continents–and it took over a year to get all the footage. Essential.)

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As you can see, this list is dominated by Japanese films. All this means is that these are the more well-known ones. I don’t know a whole lot about Korean cinema, and couldn’t find many reliable recommendations online, so if you know of any great Korean movies (or any other Asian movies that should be on this list), just comment with them :)
And for the love of God, gods, politically correct euphemism, or entire lack thereof, do not watch Memoirs of a Geisha. Or if you must, definitely read up on all of the Japanese complaints of inaccuracy and cultural simplification in it.