Asian cinema

Asian cinema has a lot to offer. Interesting stories, an extremely refined technical aspect, but above all, a wide variety of themes and genres that make almost all movie enthusiasts find something for themselves in it. Visually stunning box office hits from the Far East mix with Iranian dramas or Bollywood films, because Asia is not just Japan, China, and Korea. From Japan, we are accustomed to very wild proposals, horror movies, and also to complete tranquility, while from Hong Kong we have almost unbeatable action thrillers, which were outshone by violent Korean films full of twists and almost perfect narrative tricks.

We know that a large part of Asian films are deeply rooted in local culture, but they are made in such a way that the stories become universal and are equally well understood all over the world. Few titles make it to our country, considering all the productions released each year, but the situation is much better than a few decades ago. And this increase in our interest began mostly during the 50s (mainly due to Japan), a time when Asian cinema was experiencing a great moment with the already mature Yasujirō Ozu and Akira Kurosawa.

It’s very difficult to choose the best productions among so many great and completely different works over the years. That’s why in this label, variety is everything. But in addition to the articles you’ll find at the end, we also wanted to provide you with a list of the 5 best Asian films of recent years. It could have been much longer, obviously, but we want you to also discover other lesser-known films that we have talked about on the blog.

The Best Asian Films of the 2000s

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Taiwan, 2000)

In the year of its release, this film was considered a phenomenon. Its director, Ang Lee, already had a established position in Hollywood (having directed, among others, the acclaimed adaptation of Sense and Sensibility), but he decided to start a production in Mandarin, referencing the most classic elements of Asian culture. The film grossed over 200 million dollars worldwide and was nominated for up to 10 Oscars (winning four awards).

Critics and audiences agreed that it was something truly special. Above all, the excellent fight scenes supervised by Yuen Woo-ping, responsible for the choreography in The Matrix, were praised. This film popularized the wuxia genre worldwide.

3 Idiots (India, 2009)

A great surprise that has become a gem of Indian cinema. The movie delighted not only the local audience but also the industry award-giving bodies. It embarked on a journey around the world, convincing audiences outside of India as well.

Of course, it includes dance and music scenes, but 3 Idiots avoids the typical Bollywood image. This simple yet endearing story perfectly combines comedy and drama, never letting you get bored (even though it’s nearly three hours long). A big tribute to friendship and life in general, which should bring a smile to every viewer’s face.

A Separation (Iran, 2011)

Winner of the Berlin Festival, the Golden Globe, the Oscar, the César, and dozens of other awards. Most importantly, they are well-deserved. Asghar Farhadi is a master of scriptwriting. His previous film, About Elly, was a small masterpiece in that regard, but in A Separation, he surpassed himself.

Once again, a trivial, seemingly insignificant situation triggers an avalanche of arguments. This story is universal and could really happen anywhere; it involves and grips you until the end. Realistic dialogue and very believable characters further enhance the work. Thus, it’s not only one of the best Iranian or Asian films but also one of the best in the world. It’s hard to find many better titles from the decade.

In the Mood for Love (Hong Kong, 2000)

A tasteful film about an unusual love that unexpectedly connects Mrs. Chan and Mr. Chow. They rent rooms in adjacent apartments and both suspect that their spouses, who often go out, are unfaithful to them. They feel very lonely, but when affection slowly starts to form between them, they have the opportunity for a big change. But will they have the courage to seize it? This story could have been a trivial romance, but director Wong Kar-Wai created a unique and captivating film, not only in terms of the plot but also in its visual solutions.

Oldboy (South Korea, 2003)

For many, Korean cinema is synonymous with Park Chan-wook and his revenge trilogy, especially in this decade. However, we know that it’s much more complex and has many more talents and great films lately. Each of these three films has something special, but perhaps the best is Oldboy, about which Quentin Tarantino once said, “This film is more Tarantino than anything I’ve done myself.” The plot, theoretically simple, based on the revenge of a stalker, hides a bunch of strange yet intriguing solutions. Dark, intelligent, and surprisingly well-executed cinema. Everyone remembers the hallway fight scene, but that’s just one more peak in its visual iceberg.