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This is a selection of 8 of my favourite films of all time (though a total of 26 films are mentioned!). From unforgettable narratives to striking cinematography, each holds a special place in my heart. I’ve included a range of genres, so I hope something here resonates with you.
- Mulholland Drive (2001), dir. David Lynch
When asked about my favourite movie, I’m known for blabbering on about the Lynchian beauty of Mulholland Drive – but I’ll exercise restraint here. Set against the backdrop of Hollywood’s allure, the film follows an amnesiac woman and an aspiring actress as they unravel a mysterious car accident, only to find themselves entangled in a labyrinth of dreams, delusions and conspiracies.
David Lynch left behind a lasting legacy, where surrealism, mystery, and the unsettling beauty of the human psyche intertwined to create art that will haunt and inspire for generations. Other films of his that I love include Lost Highway (1997), The Elephant Man (1980), Twin Peaks, and Blue Velvet (1986).
- Nobody Knows (2004), dir. Hirokazu Kore-eda
Nobody Knows follows four siblings who are left to fend for themselves in a small Tokyo apartment after their mother disappears. It is a story of neglect, a condemnation of a world that allows such neglect to exist and a portrait of children forced to grow up too soon. Kore-eda weaves tender moments of playfulness and fleeting joy into the tragic events that unfold. His rejection of melodrama in favour of quiet, observational storytelling makes the film all the more heartbreaking – grab a massive box of tissues.
My other Asian cinema favourites include The Handmaiden (2016), Still Walking (2008), Audition (1999), An Elephant Sitting Still (2018) and Harakiri (1962).
- Raw (2016), dir. Julia Ducournau
Whenever I try to explain the premise of this film, I’m often met with bewildered stares, hence why this review may seem slightly cryptic. Ducournau’s unsettling imagery combined with the absurdist realism of the performances continues the French body horror tradition of uncomfortable intimacy. Her fascination with the body and flesh originates from her childhood, growing up with both parents being doctors – a gynaecologist and dermatologist.
The film follows Justine whose descent into cannibalism mirrors her awakening to evolving desires she cannot fully comprehend or control. Julia Ducournau ate this up – she also ate up Titane (2021), and will be eating up Alpha (2025) – and leaves you something profound to chew on.
- All the Beauty and Bloodshed (2022), dir. Laura Poitras
Through a combination of archival footage, intimate interviews, and photography, All the Beauty and Bloodshed is a poignant documentary that weaves together the life and art of photographer Nan Goldin with her crusade against the Sackler family’s role in the opioid crisis. Goldin’s art has always sought to destigmatise and humanise the marginalised, including the queer community and those who lost their lives to the AIDS epidemic. She documents their beauty and resilience in the face of circumstances that those in power have yet to be held accountable for. This film is both a tribute to Goldin’s art and activism, and a sobering reflection of the systemic corruption that prioritises profit over human lives.
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), dir. Michel Gondry
Does having a spotless mind really bring about eternal sunshine?
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind came under media spotlight again in 2013 when MIT neuroscientists discovered the memory-erasing gene in mice and subsequently developed a drug which successfully extinguished traumatic memories when tested on mice. Memory-erasure isn’t an insurmountable possibility, and has potential therapeutic benefits. Eternal Sunshine, however, hypothesizes a different application: the protagonists, Joel and Clementine, impulsively decide to have their memories of each other erased following their breakup. Written by the grandmaster of non-linear storytelling Charlie Kaufman, as the movie unfolds, it becomes clear that wiping the characters’ memories triggers its own cascade of turmoil and blowbacks.
Special mention to Kate Winslet/Clementine’s beautifully vibrant rotation of hair colours in the film.
- Perfect Blue (1997), dir. Satoshi Kon
Perfect Blue is a Japanese animated psychological thriller that follows Mima, a former J-pop idol who abandons her music career to pursue acting – only to find herself trapped in a harrowing spiral. The film examines the performative nature of identity, the ways in which it is constructed and consumed by others, and the cost of ambition.
A major influence on Darren Aranofsky’s Requiem for a Dream (2000) and Black Swan (2010), it dissolves the line between reality and delusion to create a sense of lingering unease.
Other animes I adore are Grave of the Fireflies (1988), Ponyo (2008), Ghost in the Shell (1995) and Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995).
- Vagabond (1985), dir. Agnès Varda
Varda presents leading character Mona as a woman who embodies a raw radical independence and whose qualities defy the conventional image of womanhood. Told through fragmented flashbacks and from the perspectives of those she encounters, Vagabond follows her journey as a drifter wandering through the French countryside.
Mona exists solely for herself and and in that self-sufficiency lies her freedom – whether or not the world accepts her is of no consequence. But that freedom comes at a cost.
This film left me with a strange sad feeling that’s hard to put into words.
- Incendies (2010), dir. Denis Villeneuve
While many of you have probably seen Dune, it was Incendies (2010) and Prisoners (2013) that first drew me to Villeneuve’s work.
Incendies follows twins Jeanne and Simon as they embark on a journey to the Middle East after their mother’s death, uncovering the painful and violent history she never spoke of. Villeneuve intertwines personal and political narratives to create a meditation on the lasting impact of war on individuals and families, inherited trauma and resilience.
The soundtrack is also masterfully composed… cue Radiohead’s You And Whose Army?
So if any of these stood out to you, I hope that you all take a well-deserved break from studying for exams or working on assignments to watch a film, whether from the comfort of your home or in theatres.
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