Favorite Movie Discoveries of Oh Eight

This isn't really an end of the year list, as these aren't 08 movies (I only saw one 08 movie in 08) but rather movies I watched in 08.

Syndromes and a Century (Apichatpong Weerasethakul)



The strangest and best film I saw in 2008 is this little Thai film from 2006. It's a beautiful, meditative, funny, weird experience... completely unique, it's one of those movies that absolutely cannot be described.

Variations (Nathaniel Dorsky)

This was an amazing and blissful movie. I saw this along with the other 3 excellent Dorsky shorts that Andy Ditzler showed at the Eyedrum for his Film Love series. Abstract juxtaposition of images that are oddly emotive and effective. Editing, pace, colors and light.

Harlan County, USA (Barbara Kopple)



One of the very best documentaries. You feel like you really went through it all by the end; it's ugly and brutal and dirty, and features some of the most interesting people you wish you had met.

Other great discoveries:

• Vagabond (Varda)


• Profit Motive and the Whispering Wind (Gianvito)


• Innocence (Hadzihalilovic)


• Ritual in Transfigured Time (Deren)


• Nanook of the North (Flaherty)


• Hoop Dreams (James)


• It's a Wonderful Life (Capra)


• Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (Paradjanov)


• Planet Earth TV series


• Film Ist (Deutsch)


• Turtles Can Fly (Ghobadi)


• When Father Was Away on Business (Kusturica)