Swarnavel Eswaran Pillai

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Tokyo Story

Because of its humanity, the universality of loneliness and age, and Ozu's minimalism and the specificity of Japanese culture.

Pather Panchali

Arguably, the most outstanding debut of a director since Ray's uniqueness in storytelling, pace, and aesthetics of realism is unparalleled in cinema history.

Au hasard Balthazar

Because of Bresson's austerity and minimalism and his authorial theme regarding inhumanity and violence at the core of existence.

Seven Samurai

Arguably, the most referenced and influential film in the history of cinema across borders.

Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles

It emblematizes the possibilities of art/slow cinema and the observational form.

Meghe Dhaka Tara

Because of Ghatak's authorial theme of displacement and his engagement with the epic form, harnessing melodrama, myth, and music specific to Bengali/Indian culture while addressing the (universal) trauma surrounding homelessness and the simultaneous burden on women and nostalgia.

Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans

Arguably, the most excellent silent film and Murnau's best in his signature exploration of an ideal visual language/form for compelling storytelling.

Close-up

Because of Kiarostami's aesthetics of realism in narrating an unusual story revolving around impersonation and identity based on an actual event/character.

Get Out

Because of the extraordinary way Jordan Peele engages with the horror genre to interrogate race and invert its presumed hierarchy by illuminating the horror of darkness and violence, predicated on extreme prejudice and hatred and the schizoid and savage pull to posses and own.

Mirror

Because Mirror is a confluence of Tarkovsky's incomparable poetry and philosophy through his profound meditation on time to narrate slices from his life and culture.