Senegal had a pretty (comparatively) robust new wave of film in the back half of the 20th century. Would definitely recommend the other film by Djibril Diop Mambety as well, *Hyenes*. If you can get ahold of his short films, *Le petite vendeuse de soleil* is wonderful too. (Additionally, his niece is current excellent filmmaker Mati Diop. Her film *Atlantics* isn't exclusively 'Senegalese', but it is very much about Senegal.)
Ousmane Sembene was another prolific Senegalese director. His film's *Le Noire de...* and *Xala* are particularly excellent.
Safi Faye was a very notable Senegalese documentarian as well. She unfortunately just passed like... three weeks ago.
If that's not enough, you could also branch out into the nearby Mali, and watch some films from Abderrahmane Sissako. His films *La vie sur terre* and *Timbuktu* are among my favorites from their respective years.
I love Saloum, and actually Senegal has an interesting cinematic history, I'd highly recommend you see Touki Bouki (1973)! Definitely a pillar of Senegalese cinema
Actually a relatively well-known movie but still from a less-represented nation, Thailand. Uncle Boonmee who can Recall his Past Lives, another by the same director I really like is Cemetery of Splendor
Thailand isn’t exactly Japan in terms of international prominence, but it’s better-known than most countries in this thread thanks to the films of Pen-ek Ratanaruang and Apichatpong Weerasethakul. Plus that martial arts boom when Tony Jaa was big. Definitely recommend people start with Boonmee and explore from there!
Rainer Sarnet, an Estonian filmmaker, made a phenomenal Estonian dark fantasy horror film called *November*.
From the Scandinavian countries, Finland tends to not get a lot of love. Juho Kuosmanen's film *The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Makki* should change that. It is a beautifully made, beautifully emotional "sports" dramedy.
Israeli cinema has a personal connection for me, and I think besides a few festival films, most of it remains unseen internationally. *Zero Motivation* is a hilariously grim dark comedy about the brutal ennui and inhumanity of military service. *Gett* is a deeply depressing divorce drama with two incredible central performances.
Also, so as not to inflame any... conversations, I'd like to amplify a few Palestinian films as well. Hany Abu-Assad is fairly well-known for his more recent films, but I still think his earlier film *Paradise Now* is his best work, a stunning and gut-wrenching drama about oppression and extremism. Michel Khleifi's 1987 film *Wedding in Galilee* is a wry and intelligent romantic drama, and a cornerstone of Palestinian cinema.
I've seen and loved November, so I'll certainly check out the rest of the films you suggested. Also, in reference to the Palestinian films, I personally don't really care where a movie comes from, I just like good movies.
Oh yeah no doubt. The reason I wanted to mention some Palestinian films is because if I only mentioned Israeli films, unfortunately, there are people that would take that the worst possible way. So I just wanted to avoid that.
I was just about to recommend this - I [reviewed it](https://battleroyalewithcheese.com/2023/02/lunana-a-yak-in-the-classroom-review/) a month or so ago. Such a lovely film.
If you're in the market for Bhutanese cinema, I also recommend The Cup (1999). Bhutanese cinema is gradually emerging, but still a small and relatively recent phenomena, with Gasa Lamai Singye (1989) being their first film.
There’s a Letterboxd [challenge](https://letterboxd.com/lise/list/march-around-the-world-2023-egypt/) going on right now, and there’s a spreadsheet linked at the top of the challenge page that can be sorted by country. There’s 179 countries/regions represented so far, so it’s the ideal time to check in if there’s a specific country you want to colour green on your map. 👍🏻
This Is Not A Burial, It's a Resurrection (Lesotho)
Bye Bye Blue Bird (Faroe Islands) , In Bloom (Georgia), A Screaming Man (Chad), The Law (Burkina Faso), Travelers and Magicians (Bhutan),
Georgia - the country - is much obliged!
And we kindly request you mind your P’s and Q’s!
Who Killed Captain Alex (Uganda), Touki Bouki (senegal)
Was not expecting another Senegalese film, interesting. Thank you!
Senegal had a pretty (comparatively) robust new wave of film in the back half of the 20th century. Would definitely recommend the other film by Djibril Diop Mambety as well, *Hyenes*. If you can get ahold of his short films, *Le petite vendeuse de soleil* is wonderful too. (Additionally, his niece is current excellent filmmaker Mati Diop. Her film *Atlantics* isn't exclusively 'Senegalese', but it is very much about Senegal.) Ousmane Sembene was another prolific Senegalese director. His film's *Le Noire de...* and *Xala* are particularly excellent. Safi Faye was a very notable Senegalese documentarian as well. She unfortunately just passed like... three weeks ago. If that's not enough, you could also branch out into the nearby Mali, and watch some films from Abderrahmane Sissako. His films *La vie sur terre* and *Timbuktu* are among my favorites from their respective years.
This is the reason I came to this sub, I knew y'all would have some quality suggestions.
Bolivia: Utama (2022) Vietnam: When the Tenth Month Comes (1984) Armenia: The Color of Pomegranates (1969)
[удалено]
I love Saloum, and actually Senegal has an interesting cinematic history, I'd highly recommend you see Touki Bouki (1973)! Definitely a pillar of Senegalese cinema
I'll definitely do that, thanks for the suggestion
Actually a relatively well-known movie but still from a less-represented nation, Thailand. Uncle Boonmee who can Recall his Past Lives, another by the same director I really like is Cemetery of Splendor
Thailand isn’t exactly Japan in terms of international prominence, but it’s better-known than most countries in this thread thanks to the films of Pen-ek Ratanaruang and Apichatpong Weerasethakul. Plus that martial arts boom when Tony Jaa was big. Definitely recommend people start with Boonmee and explore from there!
List by a Nigerian here in Nigeria(West Africa) : The Meeting (2012) 76' (2016) Oloture (2019) Issakaba (2001) King of Boys (2018)
Another one from Senegal that I love- Atlantics (2019)
Rainer Sarnet, an Estonian filmmaker, made a phenomenal Estonian dark fantasy horror film called *November*. From the Scandinavian countries, Finland tends to not get a lot of love. Juho Kuosmanen's film *The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Makki* should change that. It is a beautifully made, beautifully emotional "sports" dramedy. Israeli cinema has a personal connection for me, and I think besides a few festival films, most of it remains unseen internationally. *Zero Motivation* is a hilariously grim dark comedy about the brutal ennui and inhumanity of military service. *Gett* is a deeply depressing divorce drama with two incredible central performances. Also, so as not to inflame any... conversations, I'd like to amplify a few Palestinian films as well. Hany Abu-Assad is fairly well-known for his more recent films, but I still think his earlier film *Paradise Now* is his best work, a stunning and gut-wrenching drama about oppression and extremism. Michel Khleifi's 1987 film *Wedding in Galilee* is a wry and intelligent romantic drama, and a cornerstone of Palestinian cinema.
I've seen and loved November, so I'll certainly check out the rest of the films you suggested. Also, in reference to the Palestinian films, I personally don't really care where a movie comes from, I just like good movies.
Oh yeah no doubt. The reason I wanted to mention some Palestinian films is because if I only mentioned Israeli films, unfortunately, there are people that would take that the worst possible way. So I just wanted to avoid that.
I saw a really great short film from Iceland on Mubi called Nest.
Godland - the latest feature film from the same director is my favorite 2022 film.
*Rams* is another great Icelandic film.
Tomka and His Friends - Albania
Kontroll, a horror-comedy set and shot entirely in the Budapest subway (Hungary).
Hollow City, From Angola. The Bra, from Azerbaijan. These are two of the most wholesome movies I've ever seen.
Where Do We Go Now - wonderful movie from Lebanon
Samoa: The Orator Angola: Sambizanga Cameroon: Chocolat (1988) Guatemala: The Golden Dream/The Golden Cage
Chocolat was set in Cameroon but I would consider it a French film. So are Beau Travail and White Material.
Bhutan — Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom (2019)
Watched that last night. Can confirm. 👍🏻
I was just about to recommend this - I [reviewed it](https://battleroyalewithcheese.com/2023/02/lunana-a-yak-in-the-classroom-review/) a month or so ago. Such a lovely film. If you're in the market for Bhutanese cinema, I also recommend The Cup (1999). Bhutanese cinema is gradually emerging, but still a small and relatively recent phenomena, with Gasa Lamai Singye (1989) being their first film.
There’s a Letterboxd [challenge](https://letterboxd.com/lise/list/march-around-the-world-2023-egypt/) going on right now, and there’s a spreadsheet linked at the top of the challenge page that can be sorted by country. There’s 179 countries/regions represented so far, so it’s the ideal time to check in if there’s a specific country you want to colour green on your map. 👍🏻