There are many iconic movies that everyone should experience in their lifetime. These movies have stood the test of time and continue to be enjoyed by audiences of all ages. So here is the list of Iconic Movies Experienced in a Lifetime:
Mr. Hulot’s Holiday
Mr. Hulot’s Holiday, which we’ve talked about before on Postmodern and in a review, is one of those comedies you never get tired of. You will always discover a funny detail that escaped you during the first viewing. This is normal because director Jacques Tati worked on it like a master jeweler. Each scene is crafted with meticulousness, and nothing is left to chance. The main character, reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, is a disheveled man, always with a pipe in his mouth, who always acts with the best intentions but is extremely clumsy. With subtle satire and images that lack sound except in certain places, Mr. Hulot’s Holiday will make it to the top of your comedy list. one of the best Iconic Movies Experienced in a Lifetime.
Director Jacques Tati is a classic in the genre and the one who inspired Rowan Atkinson in creating the character Mr. Bean. Beyond the situational comedy brilliantly constructed and directed by Jacques Tati, one of the distinctive features of “Mr. Hulot’s Holiday” is the minimal dialogue along with the fading of sound.
“Mr. Hulot’s Holiday” is innocent irony aimed at the migratory waves of bourgeoisie leaving for vacation with all their belongings. For the irrecoverable charm of the 1950s and for the originality of the humor that flows lively and effervescent like freshly uncorked champagne, “Mr. Hulot’s Holiday” is a film worth (re)watching. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Holy Motors (2012): Iconic Movies Experienced in a Lifetime
If you want to see a completely different kind of comedy, something that takes you out of the ordinary rhythm and leaves a strong impression on you, then “Holy Motors” is a good choice. It’s considered by many as one of the best films of 2012.
This was also an incredibly appreciated film at the time of its release in 2012. It’s a comedy so different from anything you’ve seen that you’ll feel like you’re on a carousel throughout the entire film. Surprises abound. It’s a surrealist comedy in which everything only comes together at the end, in a climax that’s just as surprising. “Holy Motors” is an experimental film centered around a character who moves from one scene to another, each completely different from the previous one, with no narrative connection. So, don’t expect a linear film, but rather a Matryoshka doll that you open to find another Matryoshka doll, and so on.
The Woman in The Dunes: Iconic Movies Experienced in a Lifetime
Although a Japanese avant-garde film from the ’60s, “The Woman in The Dunes” was even among the Oscar nominees because it tells a universal story in an extremely original way. It’s the story of a man named Sisyphus who struggles every day with the sand that covers everything. In reality, the man is a captive of the villagers who battle the dunes, and after being lowered into the dwelling of a widow, he is not allowed to leave. A strange relationship develops between the two, based on desire but also rejection, as the woman is, in fact, complicit in the capture of the man. The erotic scenes between the two are extremely poetic, and their relationship based on guilt, complicity, and betrayals is illustrative of the relationships of many couples, even if they’re not trapped in a sand dune. It’s human nature…
Contempt (Le Mépris)
This is a creation of a classic of French cinema, Jean-Luc Godard. So, it’s an art film; don’t expect a simple love story. The film tells the story of Camille, played by Brigitte Bardot when she was remarkably attractive, and Paul (Michel Piccoli). He is a screenwriter who accepts collaboration with an American producer in Italy. Camille feels their love waning due to compromises related to the American producer’s attraction to her. Essentially, Paul subtly throws her into the arms of the producer… The tension arising from this situation is simultaneously moral, erotic, and very cinematic.
Annie Hall (1977): Iconic Movies Experienced in a Lifetime
When you say Woody Allen, you say comedy. And “Annie Hall” is the comedy for which Woody Allen is most renowned. The core of this comedy is the love story between two New York intellectuals. Woody Allen is the main character, constantly analyzing everything that happens in the relationship, either alone or with friends.
If you’ve already seen “Annie Hall,” you can try other comedies by Woody Allen, like “Love and Death,” “Whatever Works,” “Zelig,” or “Sweet and Lowdown.”
Hiroshima Mon Amour – HBO Max
This is also an art film, just like “Contempt.” A weighty, conceptual film about memory, forgetting, and love. Essentially a cinematic essay by Alain Resnais. It’s difficult to follow, but it’s one of the most influential and beautiful films ever made. So, if you have the patience and availability, try to watch it. Alain Resnais is also known for another highly influential film in world cinema, “Last Year at Marienbad.” It is one of the best Iconic Movies Experienced in a Lifetime.
A French actress and a Japanese architect find themselves parting ways after a brief relationship. The two discuss and debate aspects of their relationship before their separation. At the time of its release in 1959, it was highly praised for its originality. And it continues to influence authors and directors, even many years after its release.
Pierrot Le Fou
“Pierrot Le Fou” is a melancholic love film, like all good love films 🙂 The protagonist leaves his settled and bourgeois life and escapes Paris with a former lover. He falls madly in love with her, and they end up being chased by the mafia throughout France, all the way to the French Riviera. But their relationship is filled with misunderstandings and silences…
“Pierrot Le Fou” is a film directed by French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard, starring Jean-Paul Belmondo and Anna Karina. Jean-Luc Godard has created many outstanding films throughout his career, but I couldn’t include too many in this list. If you enjoy the recommended ones, look for films like “Alphaville” or “Masculin, féminin.”
Breathless (À bout de souffle): Iconic Movies Experienced in a Lifetime
If you want to see a different kind of love film that’s relatively easy to follow compared to other classic French films, then choose “Breathless.” It’s another classic of French cinema, also with Jean-Paul Belmondo and written and directed by Jean-Luc Godard. Belmondo is on the run from the law, and she’s an American student in Paris 🙂 What a romantic combination, you have to admit. In one of the most renowned genre magazines in the world, Sight and Sound, “Breathless” is considered one of the best films ever made. Read the “Breathless” review and watch the “Breathless” trailer.”
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