Films for Fantasts and Wonder Kids

This post serves to introduce a few lesser-known films to the stargazing subset of the cinema crowd.

1.) Wandâfuru raifu (After Life): Supposedly an inspiration for Linklater's Waking Life, this film directed by Japanese director Hirokazu Koreeda is about a waiting room in the spirit world where the recently deceased must choose only one memory from their life on earth to take with them into Heaven.


2.) Mitt liv som hund (My Life as a Dog): Though quite a hit in its day (1985), especially in its native Sweden, Lasse Hallström's wonder-filled childhood heartwarmer is not a typically recognized title with today's younger audiences. If you're a sucker for childhood love sagas, this is the one.


3.) Le Ballon Rouge (The Red Balloon): Have people seen this? Directed by Albert Lamorisse in 1956, this one tells the story of the young Pascal's tragic love affair with...that's right, a red balloon. Five stars.

4.) The New World: Though must of you have heard of Terrence Malick's depiction of John Smith meets Pocahontas, it seems that far less have realized how worth it was to have actually seen it. Malick, a master of subtle form, conveys life as it naturally occurs with a rare integrity not often found amongst the melodramatic tendencies of 99.99% of the world's filmmakers.


5.) Abre los ojos (Open Your Eyes): Though I don't necessarily prefer the original to the remake (Vanilla Sky) I just want to give proper credit to the idea's maiden master, Alejandro Amenabar, who did such a good job, in fact, that Cameron Crowe hardly changed a thing.