Movie Lists 2018 – Present

I love movies and I really love lists.  I’m not sure why it took me so long to start compiling a yearly film list.

When I started in 2016, I originally wanted to include only foreign and indie films. That was hard to maintain because occasionally, a rom-com crept in. So instead, it’s a list of mostly foreign and indie films. 

The title of each film is followed by its country of origin.  I then add my personal rating (on a 5-point scale) after considering things like cinematography, acting, plot, and music.  Sometimes, the movie’s aftertaste helps me decide on the rating.

I included IMDB links only for those films I’ve seen multiple times or intend to re-watch. My rating should explain why.  🙂  At the end of each month, I’ll update the list the newest additions.

Hey! We’ve all been there – at home on a Friday night and we just can’t settle on a movie.  Feel free to use this list to dig yourself out of the ‘What should I watch?’ hole.

Movie List 2022 


January

  1. Tokyo  Godfathers (Japan) 4.2
  2. Flavors of Youth (Japan China) 3.8 ️
  3. The Man in the Hat (UK) 3 ️
  4. Mid August Lunch (Italy) 4.8 ️
  5. Spectre (UK) ️3.3
  6. Chocolat (US /UK) 4
  7. The County Doctor (France) 2.8 ️ 

February 

  1. The Wife of a Spy (Japan) 3
  2. The Descendants (US) 4.2  ️ 

March 

  1. St.  Vincent (US) 3.8
  2. They Say Nothing Stays the Same (Japan) 5
  3. Badhaai Do (India) 3.5 ️ 
  4. The Accidental Tourist (US) 3.4
  5. Tazzeka (France/Marroc) 4

April

  1. Délicieux (France) 4.2 ️ 
  2. Le Tableau (France) 4.5 ️ 
  3. The Starling (US) 3.2

May

  1. Oikko’s Inn (Japan) 3.4
  2. For Roseanne (US) 2.9
  3. Pride and Prejudice (UK) 5
  4. Stardust (UK) 3
  5. Toscana (Denmark) 3.2
  6. Zizou and the Arab Spring (Tunisia) 2.5 ️ 

June

  1. Une Hirondelle a fait le Printemps (France) 3.7
  2. Mauvaise Foi (France) 3.5
  3. Romauld et Juliette (France) 3.5
  4. Temor e Tremor (Belgium) 2
  5. Fauteuils d’orchestre (France) 4
  6. India Sweets and Spices (US) 3.3
  7. Arab Blues (Tunisia / France) 4
  8. Food Club (Denmark) 3.7

July

  1. 6 L.A Love Stories (US) 2
  2. French Dispatch (US) 3.4
  3. Boy (New Zealand) 5 ️
  4. My Summer in Provence (France)  4 
  5. No one Knows I’m Here (Chile) 3.5
  6. Cobalt Blue (India) 3.6
  7. L’equipier (France) 3.3

August

34. An Autumn Afternoon (Japan)
35. Fanny (France) 3.7
36. Marius (France) 3.8
37. Le Fils d’Epicier (France) 3.5
38. The Cat Returns (Japan) 3.7
39. Perfumes (France) 3.3

Movie List 2021


  1. Giraffe (Denmark) 2.7 ️ 
  2. A Simple Life (Hong Kong) 4.9 ️ 
  3. 37 Seconds (Japan) 4.7
  4. Mucize (Turkey) 2.5
  5. A Little Chaos (UK) 4 
  6. Marriage Story (US) 4.6 ️
  7. A Remarkable Tale (Spain) 3.6
  8. Live Twice Love Once (Spain)  3.9 ️
  9. Philadelphia Story (US) 3.9
  10. Another Round (Denmark) 3.6 ️  
  11. Dean (US) 3.9 ️
  12. Youth (Italy) 3.7 ️ 
  13. The Half of It (US) 3.4 ️
  14. Mumbai Diaries – Dhobi Ghat (India) 4.7 ️
  15. Is Love Enough, Sir (India) 5 ️
  16. The Violin Player (India) 4.4 ️
  17. The Dig (UK) 3.1
  18. The Silence (Tajikistan) 2.6
  19. An Affair to Remember (US) 3
  20. Once Again (India) 3.3 ️
  21. Melvin Goes to Dinner  (US) 3.2 ️
  22. Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (U.K.) 4.6 ️
  23. Waiting (India) 3.6 ️
  24. Madame (France) 4 ️
  25. Hope Gap (U.K.) 3.2 ️
  26. Warriker 1 (UK) 3.3 ️
  27. Warriker 2 (UK) 3.2 ️
  28. Warriker 3 (UK) 3.1 ️
  29. L’Attesa (Italy) 3.5 ️
  30. The Finger (Argentina) 3 ️
  31. I Still Hide to Smoke (Algeria) 4 ️
  32. East Side Sushi (US) 3.5 ️
  33. The Seventh Walk (India) 3.7 ️
  34. Datsche (Germany) 3.7 ️
  35. Dead Pigs (China) 4.5
  36. When Fish Fall in Love (Iran) 3 ️
  37. Back to Burgundy (France) 3.6  ️ 
  38. Pushing Hands (Taiwan) 3.1 ️
  39. Bill Cunningham New York (US) 4.3 ️
  40. A Quiet Passion (US) 3 ️
  41. Efrain (Lamb) (Ethiopia) 4
  42. Bombay Rose (India) 4 ️
  43. Bottle Shock (US) 3.7 ️
  44. It Happened in San Tropez (France) 3.7 ️
  45. Family is Family (France) 3.8 ️
  46. My Blue Heaven (US) 3.5
  47. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (US) 3.4 
  48. The Tale of Princess Kaguya (Japan) 3.6 ️
  49. A Suitable Boy (UK/India) 4.1 ️
  50. Mignons (Cuties) 3.7 ️ (France) 
  51. My Fair Lady (US) 3.9 ️ 
  52. Charade (US) 4  ️
  53. Chung King Express (Hong Kong) 3.5 ️
  54. Pad Man (India)  4  ️
  55. Love Happens (US) 3.5 ️
  56. Chopsticks (India) 4  ️
  57. The Great Indian Kitchen (India) 5 ️ x2
  58. Lust Stories (India) 4 ️
  59. Midnight Run (US) 4.2 ️
  60. Dry Martina  (Argentina / Chile) 3.2 ️
  61. The Operative  (US) 2.5 ️
  62. Down By Law  (US) 4 ️
  63. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown  (Spain) 3.5 ️
  64. Volver(Spain) 4
  65. Chef (US) 3.6 ️
  66. Stranger Than Paradise (US) 4 ️
  67. Short Cuts (US) 3.4 ️
  68. Minari (Korea/US) 4.7 ️
  69. Soul Kitchen (Germany) 3.8
  70. Pride and Prejudice (UK) 5
  71. The Whole Nine Yards (US) 3.2 ️
  72. Dave (US) 3.2 ️
  73. The Big Lebowski (US) 3 ️
  74. The Interpreter (US)  ️
  75. A Good Year (US)   ️3.3
  76. Wag  the Dog (US) 
  77. Chinatown (US) 
  78. Oceans 11 (US) 
  79. Burn After Reading (US) 
  80. Men Who Stare at Goats (US) 
  81. Thomas Crown Affair (US) 
  82. Oceans12 (US) 
  83. The Visitor  (US)  ️ 4.3
  84. Oceans13 (US) 
  85. The Tourist  (US) 
  86. The Social Network (US)
  87. Copenhagen (Denmark) 3.8
  88. Up In the Air (US) 2  ️ 
  89. Uncle Frank (US). 4.3  ️ 
  90. Bread & Tulips (Italy) 4.3 ️
  91. Lady in the Van (UK)   ️ 4.2
  92. Wives & Daughters (UK) ️ 3.9
  93. My Old Lady (UK) ️ 3.9
  94. Found Memories (Brazil) 4.3 ️ 
  95. On a Magical Night (France) 2.3 ️
  96. Bagdad Café (US) 3.6
  97. A Fish Called Wanda (US) 3.2
  98. Karen Cries on the Bus (Colombia) 4.5
  99. The Song of Lunch (UK) 4.4
  100. Delicacy (France) 2.8
  101. Little Women (US)  4
  102. Paris (France) 3

Movie List 2020 


  1. Enlightenment Guaranteed (Germany) 4
  2. Small Change (France Truffaut) 4.2
  3. Revanche (Austria) 3.8
  4. Little Boxes (US) 3.5
  5. Frances Ha (US) 4
  6. The Garden of Words (Japan) 2
  7. Fantastic Fungi (US) 4.5
  8. My Happy Family (Georgia) 5
  9. The Danish Girl (UK) 4.3
  10. While We’re Young. (US) 4
  11. As  Good As It Gets (US) 3.2
  12. Hunt for the Wilderpeople (New Zealand) 5
  13. Clouds of Sils Maria (France) 4
  14. The Land of Steady Habits (US) 3.8
  15. Lady J (France) 3.2
  16. I Am Not an Easy Man (France) 2.7
  17. The Little Hours (US) 3.7
  18. Whisky (Uruguay) 4.7
  19. Cookie’s Fortune (US) 3.5
  20. Nothing to Hide (France) 4.5
  21. Molière(France) 3.5
  22. Bad Seeds (France) 4 ️ 
  23. Departures (Japan) 4.2 ️ 
  24. Fantastic Mr. Fox (US) 4.1 ️
  25. The Handmaiden (Korea) 4.5
  26. In & Out (US) 3 ️
  27. 20th Century Women (US) 4
  28. Ema (Uruguay) 2.7 ️ 
  29. August at Akiko (US) 3.9
  30. The Artist (France) 4.2 ️ 
  31. A Silent Voice – (Japan) 2.8  ️ 
  32. BlacKKKlansman (US) 3.8 ️ 
  33. Crazy Rich Asians (US) 3.4 ️ 
  34. The Secret World of Arriety (Japan) 5 ️
  35. Family Romance LLC (Germany/Japan) 3.4 
  36. The Kids Are All Right (US) 4.5  ️
  37. Nowhere in Africa (Germany) 4  ️
  38. Wadjda (Emirates) 4
  39. The Game (US) 1.5  
  40. Hail Ceasar (US) 2.5 ️
  41. Burning (Korea)  4 ️
  42. Jean-Michel Basquiat The Radiant Child 3.5  
  43. Only Yesterday (Studio Ghibli) 2.7
  44. Milton’s Secret (US) 3.1
  45. Tigertail (US) 4.3 ️
  46. Jojo Rabbit (US/New Zealand) 5 ️ 
  47. Up On Poppy Hill (Studio Ghibli) 4
  48. Spring, Summer, Fall Winter…and Spring (Korea) 5
  49. Tampopo (Japan) 3.5 ️
  50. Bottle in the Gaza Sea (France) 4.7
  51. You’ve got Mail  (US) 4.3 ️ 
  52. Sleepless in Seattle (US) 3.7 ️ 
  53. Kung Fu Panda (US) 4 ️
  54. Late Spring (Japan -Ozu) 4
  55. Tomboy (France) 4.8
  56. Journey to Greenland  (France) 2
  57. The Color Purple (US)  3.5 ️
  58. Kodachrome  (US) 2 ️
  59. The Stranger (India) 3.2
  60. The Player (US) 3.5 ️
  61. My Octopus Teacher (S. Africa)  3.5
  62. Enola Holmes 3
  63. An Easy Girl (French) 3.5
  64. Chinese Take-Out (Un cuento Chino) (Argentina) 4.2 ️
  65. A Touch of Spice (Greece) 2.9 ️
  66. Mirai (Japan) 1.7
  67. Sense and Sensibility (U.K.) 3.7 ️ 
  68. A Portrait of a Lady on Fire (France) 4.5 ️
  69. Knives Out (US) 3.3 ️
  70. On The Rocks (US)  2.8 ️
  71. Umrika (India) 3.3
  72. Howard’s End (UK) 4 ️
  73. Electric Shadows (China) 3.7 ️
  74. A Year in Provence (UK) 2.7  ️ 
  75. He Loves Me He Loves Me Not (France) 3.5 ️
  76. The Summer of All My Parents (France) 3.5 ️ 
  77. Emma (UK) 3  ️
  78. Babette’s Feast (Denmark) 5 ️
  79. The Score (US) 4  ️
  80. Dog in a Sidecar (Japan) 4.2  ️
  81. Midaq Alley (Mexico) 3.9 ️
  82. Mia Madré (Italy) 4 ️
  83. Early Summer (Japan – Ozu) 3.6 ️
  84. Tokyo Story (Japan – Ozu) 4.3
  85. I Am Love (Italy) 3.7 ️ 
  86. Mongolian  Ping-Pong  (Mongolia) 4.3 
  87. Whisky (Uruguay) 4.6 ️ 
  88. Effie Grey   (UK)   3 ️
  89. Sometimes, Always, Never (UK) 4.4 ️
  90. The Bookshop (UK) 3.5
  91. The Meyorowitz Stories (US) 3.9 ️
  92. Out of Africa (US) 4.7 ️
  93. When Harry Met Sally (US) 3.3
  94. Watermelon Woman (US) 3.5   
  95. The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch (US) 3.6
  96. Klaus (Spain) 3.9 ️
  97. Ainu Mosir (Japan) 3.1
  98. Ikiru (Japan) (Kurosawa) 3.4 ️
  99. The Kindness of Strangers (US, U.K. France et. al.) 3.3 ️
  100. Muriel’s Wedding (Australia) 3.7 ️

Movie List 2019


  1. Right Now, Wrong Then (Korea) 2
  2. Before  the Leaves Fall (Japan) 3.9
  3. The Cakemaker (Israel) 4.5
  4. Mary and the Witch’s Flower 3.2
  5. He Even Has Your Eyes (French) 3.5
  6. Mon Oncle  (France) 3.3
  7. Keep the Change (US) 2.5
  8. Unrelated (UK) 2.8
  9. Desert Bride (Chile) 5
  10. Le Papillion  (France) 5
  11. Tales of the Night (France) 3.7
  12. Agatha and the Truth of Murder  3.7
  13. The Breadwinner 5
  14. Cider with Rosie (UK) 3.8
  15. Never Look Away (Germany) 4.1
  16. Man Called Ove (Sweden) 3.3
  17. Hunt for the Wilderpeople (New Zealand) 4.3
  18. Seeking Asian Female [Docu] (US) 
  19. Everybody Leaves (Cuba) 5
  20. The First Beautiful Thing (Italy) 3.1
  21. Sensitivity Training (US) 3.3
  22. My Neighbour Totoro (Japan) 5
  23. The Jane Austen Book Club (US) 3.7
  24. How to Steal a Dog (Korea) 4
  25. Priceless (France) 3.3
  26. 5 Flights Up (US) 3.3
  27. 15 August (India) 3.3
  28. Barakah Meets Barakah (Saudi Arabia) 3
  29. A Five Star Life (Italy) 3.5
  30. Queen of the Desert 4
  31. From the Land of the Moon (France) 4
  32. Lion heart (Nigeria) 2
  33. The Viceroy’s House (UK) 4.5
  34. April and the Extraordinary World (France) 2.8
  35. To Each Her Own (France) 3.5
  36. La Novia del Desierto (Desert Bride) (Argentinian) 4.2
  37. Once Again ( India) 3
  38. How to get over a Breakup  (Peru) 2.8
  39. Amu (Indian) 3.3
  40. Despite Everything (Spain) 2.8
  41. Juanita (US) 2.8
  42. Exhibition on Screen Matisse 
  43. In Family I Trust (Spain) 2.8
  44. The Second Mother (Brazil) 4.3
  45. Fits and Starts (US) 3.7
  46. Italian for Beginners (Denmark) 3
  47. Berlin I love you (?) 2
  48. A Town Called Panic (France) 2.8
  49. Incha Allah Dimanche (Algeria / France) 5
  50. Welcome to the Sticks ((France) 3.5
  51. Always Be My Maybe (US) 3.5
  52. Blue Jasmin (US) 4
  53. Meditation Park (Canada) 3.4
  54. Maktub (Israel) 3.5
  55. The King’s Speech (UK) 4.8
  56. Ramen Shop (Japan/Cantonese) 3.8
  57. Persuasion (UK) 4
  58. Le  Hérrison (The Hedgehog) (France) 5
  59. Sense and Sensibility (UK) 4
  60. We are family (France) 3.7
  61. I Love You (Sweden) 3.5
  62. 4L (Spain) 2.3
  63. Under the Eiffel Tower (US) 2
  64. Pride and Prejudice (UK) 5
  65. Private Life (US) 4.3
  66. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (Taiwan)  4.2
  67. Eat Drink Man Woman(Taiwan) 3.7
  68. Little Men (US) 4.3
  69. The Squid and the Whale  (US) 3.5
  70. Wedding Unplanned (France) 2
  71. Pelo Malo (Venezuela) 4.8
  72. Okja (Korea) 4.4
  73. The Incredible Jessica Jones 3.7
  74. Summer Hours (France) 3.7
  75. Cherry Blossoms (Germany) 3.9
  76. Zazie dans le métro (France) 1.5
  77. Tortilla Soup (US) 3,7
  78. Lady Bird (US) 4.1
  79. Tomorrow (France) 4
  80. Seventeen (Spain) 3.3

Linnea in Monet’s Garden (short film)

Movie List 2018


  1. Paterson (US) 4.5
  2. Midnight Special (US)1.5
  3. Blowup (UK) 1.1
  4. Red (US) 2
  5. Go for Zucker (Germany) 2.5
  6. Hitman’s Bodyguard ( US) 2
  7. Night on Earth (US) 3.5
  8. This Beautiful Fantastic (UK) 3
  9. Mother of George (Nigeria/US) 4.5
  10. La Fille Seule (“A Single Girl”) (France) 4
  11. The Trip to Spain (UK) 3.5*
  12. Odette Toulemonde (France) 3.5*
  13. The Women’s Balcony (Israel) 3
  14. Francine (US) 
  15. Full Moon in Paris (France) 2
  16. The Return (el Regreso) (Costa Rica) 4
  17. The Names of Love [Le Nom des Gens] (France) 3
  18. Un + Une (French) 3
  19. L’etudiante et Monsieur Henri (France) 4
  20. Madamoiselle Chambon (France) 5
  21. Salt of this Sea (Arabic) 4.6
  22. Miss Minoes (Danish) 2.5
  23. Louis en Hiver (France) 5
  24. Where I Grow Old (Brazil) 2.5
  25. After Love (French) 4
  26. As It Is In Heaven (Sweden) 2.7
  27. The Sweet Escape (France) 3.7
  28. Poetry (Korea) 4.3
  29. Cows Wearing Glasses (Puerto Rico) 3.7
  30. The Love Witch (US) 2.5
  31. Lost in Paris (France) 4.1
  32. A Long Way from Home (UK) 3
  33. Our Souls at Night 4* (US)
  34. A Letter to Momo (Japanese) 4.5
  35. Little Forest (S.Korean) 5
  36. Castle of Cagliostro (Japan) 3
  37. Flavours of Youth (China) 2.5
  38. Happy Hour 1 (Japan) 3.5
  39. Happy Hour 2 (Japan) 3.5
  40. The Chef’s Wife (France) 3
  41. Qarib Qarib Singlle (India) 2.5
  42. Kedi (Turkey) 3
  43. May in the Summer (US) 3.7
  44. In this Corner of the World (Japan) 4
  45. Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (UK) 4.3
  46. The Rabbi’s Cat (French) 3.8
  47. In the Mood For Love (Hong-Kong) 4.2
  48. The Scent of Green Papaya (Vietnam) 5
  49. L’iceberg (Belgian) 4
  50. A Summer in La Goulette  (France/ Tunis) 2.8
  51. Hospitalité (Japan) 3.5
  52. Tehran Taboo (Iran) 5
  53. LV (Polish-English) 5
  54. Women and Sometimes Men (US) 1
  55. Tie me up, Tie me Down (Spain) 3.3
  56. Meet the Guilbys (France) 2
  57. Happy Hour 3 (Japan) 3
  58. Adrift in Tokyo (Japan) 4.5
  59. Summertime (US) 4
  60. The Pool (India) 5
  61. Jellyfish (Israel) 3.5
  62. The Nightingale (China) 5 
  63. Travelers and Magicians 3.6 
  64. Pop Aye (Thailand) 4
  65. Lost in Translation 4 (US)
  66. What  We Do in the Shadows (New Zealand) 3.4
  67. Boy (New Zealand) 5

MdmTutliPutli (Short Film) (Canada)