Voilà AWAV’s annual list, for the 13th year running (for last year’s, go here). I saw a lot of movies this year—almost all on the wide screen—probably too many. Problem is, three or four movies a week, sometimes more, open here to good reviews and look sufficiently interesting, so even though I can’t see everything I do try—though some were inevitably forgettable and/or not worth my time. And I missed several Hollywood blockbusters, e.g. ‘Top Gun: Maverick’, which I had nothing against seeing but didn’t get around to, and ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’, which did not, in fact, figure on my “too see” list. I did want to see ‘The Woman King’ but it quit the salles before I could get to it. I have yet to see ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’. Maybe I will, maybe I won’t. On verra.
TOP 10:
Boy from Heaven (Cairo Conspiracy صبي من الجنة)
Flee (Flugt)
Full Time (À plein temps)
Les Harkis
Other People’s Children (Les Enfants des autres)
Rise (En corps)
R.M.N.
The Beasts (As Bestas)
The Night of the 12th (La Nuit du 12)
Vortex
HONORABLE MENTION:
Harka (حركة)
Holy Spider (Les Nuits de Mashhad عنکبوت مقدس)
Limbo
Red Rocket
The Chef
BEST MOVIE FROM BHUTAN:
Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom (ལུང་ནག་ན)
BEST MOVIE FROM COSTA RICA:
Clara Sola
BEST MOVIE FROM MALTA:
Luzzu
BEST MOVIE FROM KOSOVO:
Hive (Zgjoi)
BEST COMING-OF-AGE MOVIE FROM KOSOVO:
The Hill Where Lionesses Roar (Luaneshat e kodrës)
BEST COMING-OF-AGE MOVIE FROM CROATIA:
Murina
BEST COMING-OF-AGE MOVIE FROM IRAN:
Sun Children (خورشید)
BEST COMING-OF-AGE MOVIE FROM FRANCE SET IN AND AROUND SÈTE:
My Brothers and I (Mes frères et moi)
BEST COMING-OF-AGE MOVIE FROM ITALY SET IN CALABRIA:
A Chiara
BEST COMING-OF-AGE MOVIE SET IN 1980 QUEENS NEW YORK:
Armageddon Time
BEST COMING-OF-AGE MOVIE FROM NORTHERN IRELAND SET IN 1969 BELFAST:
Belfast
BLEAKEST RUSSIAN COMING-OF-AGE MOVIE FROM NORTH OSSETIA:
Unclenching the Fists (Разжимая кулаки)
BEST ANIMATED COMING-OF-AGE MOVIE FROM LATVIA ABOUT GROWING UP IN THE LATE SOVIET ERA:
My Favorite War (Mans mīļākais karš)
BEST MOVIE SET IN 1980s POLAND ABOUT THE TRUE NATURE OF A DICTATORIAL REGIME:
Leave No Traces (Żeby nie było śladów)
BEST MOVIE FROM ROMANIA AFTER ‘R.M.N.’:
Miracle (Miracol)
MOST ONLY SO-SO MOVIE ABOUT THE CONDITION OF WOMEN IN BULGARIA:
Women Do Cry (Жените наистина плачат)
BEST MOVIE FROM UKRAINE:
Pamfir (Памфір)
BEST SLOVAK MOVIE FROM UKRAINE:
107 Mothers (Цензорка)
BEST CZECH MOVIE FROM UKRAINE:
Butterfly Vision (Бачення метелика)
BEST BELGIAN MOVIE SET IN SCOTLAND:
Nobody Has to Know
BEST BELGIAN MOVIE ABOUT THE ISLAMIC STATE IN SYRIA AND HOW IT RECRUITS ITS TERRORISTS:
Rebel
BEST DECIDEDLY SLOW-PACED BUT NONETHELESS ABSORBING MOVIE FROM TURKEY:
Commitment Hasan (Bağlılık Hasan)
BEST MELODRAMA FROM IRAQI KURDISTAN:
Goodnight Soldier (شەوباش پێشمەرگە)
BEST ALBEIT VERBOSE AND NOT-EASY-TO-FOLLOW MOVIE FROM IRAN:
Leila’s Brothers (برادران لیلا)
MOST BITING SATIRE FROM EGYPT ABOUT A PATRIARCHAL MAN WHO TURNS INTO A CHICKEN:
Feathers (ريش)
BEST SOMALI MOVIE FROM DJIBOUTI:
The Gravedigger’s Wife
BEST MOVIE ABOUT WOMEN ON A FIG FARM IN TUNISIA:
Under the Fig Trees (تحت الشجرة)
MOST AUSTERE MOVIE ABOUT WOMEN ON A FARM IN 19TH CENTURY DENMARK:
As In Heaven (Du som er i himlen)
BEST MOVIE FROM ISRAEL ON HOW IT CAN HAPPEN THAT PALESTINIAN CITIZENS OF ISRAEL ALSO FIND THEMSELVES UNDER CONDITIONS OF OCCUPATION:
Let It Be Morning (فليكن صباحا ויהי בוקר)
MOST ONLY OKAY MOVIE ABOUT SEX DRUGS AND MUSIC IN THE YOUNGER GENERATION IN ISRAEL:
All Eyes Off Me (מישהו יאהב מישהו)
BEST ANIMATED CZECH MOVIE ABOUT LIVING AS A WESTERN WIFE IN A FAMILY IN POST-2001 AFGHANISTAN:
My Sunny Maad (Moje slunce Mad)
MOST SOPORIFIC MOVIE FROM LAOS:
Goodbye Mister Wong
BEST MOVIE FROM JAPAN ABOUT THE COURTSHIP MORES OF THE JAPANESE UPPER CLASS:
Aristocrats (あのこは貴族)
STRANGEST MOVIE FROM JAPAN:
Plan 75 (プランななじゅうご)
MOST OVERRATED MOVIE FROM SOUTH KOREA:
Decision to Leave (헤어질 결심)
BEST MOVIE FROM SPAIN’S BASQUE COUNTRY ABOUT REPENTANT TERRORISTS WHO ARE GENUINELY SORRY FOR THEIR TERRORIST ACTS:
Maixabel
BEST MOVIE FROM SPAIN ABOUT A GOOD BOSS WHO TURNS OUT NOT TO BE SUCH A GOOD BOSS WITH JAVIER BARDEM IN THE LEAD ROLE:
The Good Boss (El buen patrón)
BEST MOVIE FROM SPAIN ABOUT THE ATTEMPTED COLLABORATION OF EGOTISTICAL PRIMA DONNAS WITH PENÉLOPE CRUZ AND ANTONIO BANDERAS IN THE LEAD ROLES:
Official Competition (Competencia oficial)
BEST BY-THE-NUMBERS HOLLYWOOD MOVIE CELEBRATING THE DOGGED INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING OF AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS WITH CAREY MULLIGAN AND ZOE KAZAN IN THE LEAD ROLES:
She Said
BEST HOLLYWOOD MOVIE IF ONE ENJOYS MOVIES ABOUT CANNIBALS FEASTING ON THEIR PREY BUT WORST MOVIE IF ONE DOES NOT ENJOY MOVIES ABOUT CANNIBALS FEASTING ON THEIR PREY:
Bones and All
BEST NOT BAD INDIE MOVIE ABOUT WHITE PEOPLE MOVING INTO A HISTORICALLY BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD IN NORTHEAST WASHINGTON AND THE SENTIMENTS THIS SPAWNS:
Residue
BEST BIOPIC ABOUT A GREAT AMERICAN ROCK AND ROLL SINGER:
Elvis
BEST NOT BAD BRITISH HISTORICAL DRAMA ABOUT A DECISIVE MOMENT IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR:
Operation Mincemeat
BEST SOCIAL DRAMA FROM FRANCE WITH JULIETTE BINOCHE IN THE LEAD ROLE:
Between Two Worlds (Ouistreham)
BEST POLITICAL DRAMA FROM FRANCE WITH ISABELLE HUPPERT AND REDA KATEB IN THE LEAD ROLES:
Les Promesses
BEST POLITICAL DRAMA FROM FRANCE WITH LÉA DRUCKER IN THE LEAD ROLE ABOUT A SOON TO BE EX-PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC SUDDENLY FACED WITH THE IMMINENT VICTORY OF THE EXTREME RIGHTWING CANDIDATE WHO WILL SUCCEED HER:
Le Monde d’hier
BEST DRAMA FROM FRANCE SET DURING THE GERMAN OCCUPATION WITH DANIEL AUTEUIL AND GILLES LELLOUCHE IN THE LEAD ROLES:
Farewell Mr. Haffmann (Adieu Monsieur Haffmann)
BEST THRILLER FROM FRANCE BASED A TRUE STORY ABOUT A FRENCHMAN IN PUTIN’S RUSSIA WHO FALLS AFOUL OF THE F.S.B. WITH GILLES LELLOUCHE IN THE LEAD ROLE:
Kompromat
BEST ENVIRONMENTAL THRILLER FROM FRANCE BASED ON A TRUE STORY ABOUT CORPORATE MALFEASANCE WITH PIERRE NINEY AND GILLES LELLOUCHE IN THE LEAD ROLES:
Goliath
BEST DRAMA FROM FRANCE ABOUT THE PITILESS WORLD OF GLOBALIZED CORPORATE MANAGEMENT WITH VINCENT LINDON AND SANDRINE KIBERLAIN IN THE LEAD ROLES:
Another World (Un autre monde)
BEST COMEDY-DRAMA FROM FRANCE ABOUT WORKERS IN AN ENTERPRISE IN THE HAUTE-SAVOIE WHO TAKE ON FINANCE CAPITAL AND WIN:
Reprise en main
BEST HIGH OCTANE THRILLER FROM FRANCE ABOUT THE POLICE INVESTIGATION IN THE DAYS FOLLOWING THE WORST TERRORIST ATTACK EVER TO HIT FRANCE WITH JEAN DUJARDIN AND ANAÏS DEMOUSTIER IN THE LEAD ROLES:
November (Novembre)
BEST DRAMA FROM FRANCE WITH VIRGINIE EFIRA AND BENOÎT MAGIMEL IN THE LEAD ROLES ABOUT SURVIVORS OF THE PARIS TERRORIST ATTACKS AND HOW THEY COPED:
Paris Memories (Revoir Paris)
BEST ROMANTIC DRAMA FROM FRANCE WITH LÉA SEYDOUX IN THE LEAD ROLE ABOUT A FORTY-SOMETHING SINGLE MOTHER IN PARIS AND HOW SHE MANAGES AN AGING PARENT ROMANCE WITH A MARRIED MAN AND JUST LIFE IN GENERAL:
One Fine Morning (Un beau matin)
MOST TOUCHING FEEL-GOOD BORDERLINE MELODRAMA FROM FRANCE WITH DANY BOON AND LINE RENAUD IN THE LEAD ROLES ABOUT A WORLD-WEARY CAB DRIVER WHO SPENDS A DAY CRUISING THE STREETS OF PARIS WITH A 92-YEAR-OLD CLIENT AS SHE TAKES A FINAL TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE:
Driving Madeleine (Une belle course)
BEST ALMOST AGONIZING-TO-WATCH DRAMA FROM FRANCE WITH SARA GIRAUDEAU AND BENJAMIN LAVERNHE IN THE LEAD ROLES ABOUT TWO HOT-SHOT PARIS LAWYERS WHO ARE SO DESPERATE TO ADOPT A CHILD THAT THEY BREAK THE LAW IN THE PROCESS:
The Sixth Child (Le Sixième enfant)
MOST AMUSING FRANCO-ALGERIAN COMEDY WITH KAD MERAD IN THE LEAD ROLE ABOUT A NOBEL PRIZE-WINNING FRANCO-ALGERIAN NOVELIST WHO RETURNS TO HIS HOMETOWN IN ALGERIA AND THE AMUSING RECEPTION HE GETS THERE:
Citoyen d’honneur
BEST NOT BAD DRAMA FROM FRANCE INSPIRED BY THE TRUE STORY OF A FRENCHMAN EXECUTED BY THE FRENCH ARMY DURING THE ALGERIAN WAR WITH VINCENT LACOSTE AND VICKY KRIEPS IN THE LEAD ROLES:
My Traitor, My Love (De nos frères blessés)
MOST WILDLY OVERRATED ROMANTIC COMEDY-DRAMA FROM FRANCE WITH SANDRINE KIBERLAIN AND VINCENT MACAIGNE IN THE LEAD ROLES ABOUT A SINGLE MOTHER AND MARRIED MAN WHO HAVE AN AFFAIR THAT MAKES NO SENSE AND DURING WHICH THEY FRIVOLOUSLY TALK ABOUT NOTHING OF INTEREST:
Dairy of a Fleeting Affair (Chronique d’une liaison passagère)
MOST DROLL OFFBEAT ORIGINAL COMEDY FROM FRANCE THAT TELLS THE ACTUAL STORY OF AN EPHEMERAL LONG-FORGOTTEN PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC WITH JACQUES GAMBLIN AND ANDRÉ DUSSOLLIER IN THE LEAD ROLES:
The Vanished President (Le Tigre et le Président)
BEST MOST ENTERTAINING PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER FROM FRANCE WITH LAURE CALAMY IN THE LEAD ROLE:
The Origin of Evil (L’Origine du mal)
BEST FEMINIST COMEDY-DRAMA FROM FRANCE WITH LAURE CALAMY IN THE LEAD ROLE:
Angry Annie (Annie colère)
BEST BIOPIC FROM FRANCE ABOUT AN EXCEPTIONAL FRENCHWOMAN OF OUR ERA:
Simone Veil, A Woman of the Century (Simone, le voyage du siècle)
MOST UNPLEASANT WASTE-OF-TIME OF A COMEDY-DRAMA FROM FRANCE WITH PIERRE NINEY AND ISABELLE ADJANI AND THE REST OF AN ENSEMBLE CAST IN THE LEAD ROLES:
Mascarade
BEST MOVIE FROM FRANCE WITH SAMI BOUAJILA AND ROSCHDY ZEM IN THE LEAD ROLES ABOUT A HAPPY SUCCESSFUL CLOSE-KNIT FRANCO-MOROCCAN FAMILY BUT WITH AN ACCIDENT UPENDING THE FAMILY IDYLL:
Our Ties (Les Miens)
BEST COURTROOM DRAMA FROM FRANCE WITH KAYIJE KAGAME AND GUSLAGIE MALANDA IN THE LEAD ROLES:
Saint Omer
BEST NOT PERFECT BIOPIC FROM FRANCE ABOUT A NOTORIOUS POLICE MURDER WITH REDA KATEB AND LYNA KHOUDRI IN THE LEAD ROLES:
Our Brothers (Nos frangins)
WORST MOVIE FROM NETFLIX ABOUT TUMULT IN A BANLIEUE HOUSING PROJECT THAT CAN ONLY COMFORT THE VIEWS OF THE FRENCH EXTREME RIGHT:
Athena
MOST UNDESERVED CANNES FILM FESTIVAL PALME D’OR WINNER THAT WAS NONETHELESS MORE DESERVED THAN LAST YEAR’S PALME D’OR WINNER:
Triangle of Sadness
MOST POWERFUL DOCUMENTARY FROM SYRIA ON THE MARTYRDOM AND SUFFERING OF THE PALESTINIANS IN THE SUBURBS OF DAMASCUS BUT WITH ONE BIG FLAW:
Little Palestine, Diary of a Siege
MOST REMARKABLE DOCUMENTARY FROM RUSSIA OF A PRIVILEGED INDUSTRIAL CITY IN THE URALS WHERE THE WORKERS HAVE A COMFORTABLE STANDARD OF LIVING AND NATURALLY SUPPORT THE SYSTEM:
Kombinat
MOST CROWD-PLEASING DOCUMENTARY FROM GERMANY ABOUT A TURKISH HOUSEWIFE WITH ATTITUDE IN BREMEN WHO TAKES THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO COURT AND WINS:
Rabiye Kurnaz vs. George W. Bush
MOST EXCEPTIONAL THOUGH NOT FLAWLESS DOCUMENTARY FROM UKRAINE ON THE LARGEST SINGLE MASSACRE COMMITTED BY NAZI GERMANY AND WHICH WAS HUSHED UP DURING THE SOVIET ERA:
Babi Yar. Context
BEST MOVIE BY LAURENT CANTET:
Arthur Rambo
BEST MOVIE BY JEAN-PIERRE & LUC DARDENNE:
Tori and Lokita
BEST MOVIE BY PANAH PANAHI ABOUT IRANIANS FLEEING OVER THE TURKISH BORDER:
Hit the Road (جاده خاکی)
BEST MOVIE BY JAFAR PANAHI ABOUT IRANIANS FLEEING OVER THE TURKISH BORDER:
No Bears (خرس نیست)
MOST MOVING PAEAN TO ANIMALS BY JERZY SKOLIMOWSKI:
EO
BEST MOVIE BY HIROKAZU KORE-EDA:
Broker (Les Bonnes Étoiles 브로커)
MOST TONGUE-IN-CHEEK COMEDY-HORROR MOVIE BY MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS:
Final Cut (Coupez!)
MOST ENTERTAINING COMEDY CAPER BY LOUIS GARREL:
The Innocent (L’Innocent)
MOST RIDICULOUS LITTLE MOVIE BY WOODY ALLEN CONFIRMING THAT HE REALLY SHOULD RETIRE FROM MAKING MOVIES:
Rifkin’s Festival
MOST OVERRATED MOVIE BY PAUL THOMAS ANDERSON:
Licorice Pizza
MOST FORGETTABLE MOVIE BY GUILLERMO DEL TORO:
Nightmare Alley
MOST PLODDING MOVIE BY DAVID O. RUSSELL:
Amsterdam
MOST ANNOYING AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL MOVIE BY VALERIA BRUNI TEDESCHI:
Forever Young (Les Amandiers)
MOST TEDIOUS MOVIE BY FRANÇOIS OZON:
Peter von Kant
MOST INSUFFERABLE MOVIE BY JORDAN PEELE:
Nope
ABSOLUTELY THE WORST MOVIE POSSIBLE BY CLAIRE DENIS:
Both Sides of the Blade (Avec amour et acharnement)
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