By Diana Garrido
Making a film is a big challenge already. But making a masterpiece is so much more: it involves an overwhelming odyssey very few people can even begin to accomplish. Throughout the years, these 15 filmmakers have managed to hit it out of the park—not once, but several times. And with their reputation and dignity on the line, they ultimately made films that are truly impactful, timeless, and incredibly powerful.
The British Film Institute put together a comprehensive list of filmmakers and their best or most relevant film in order to show how some works are beyond the boundaries of time and space, reaching people across the world as much as across the ages. So, if you know anything about the film industry, you’ve probably watched these wonderful creations… right?
Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)
Chantal Akerman
This masterful piece is considered the first great film made by a woman. Or at least, this was the very first time that mass media (more specifically, The New York Times) recognized such an accomplishment to a female filmmaker, Chantal Akerman—the independent-cinema legend, who introduced feminism to alternative films. The movie tells the story of a widow whose routine lifestyle is challenged by an extraordinary circumstance.
Det Sjunde Inseglet (1957)
Ingmar Bergman
A man looking for life’s answers plays chess with Death itself during the infamous Black Death. This strange story is definitely out there, but it established Ingmar Bergman as a profound and talented filmmaker. For its deep themes, complex reflections, and masterful direction, Det Sjunde Inseglet remains one of the most important works in film history.
Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne (1945)
Robert Bresson
This one’s another gem that manages to empower women. The protagonist is tired of being a victim of her husband’s neglect and hires a prostitute to get well-deserved revenge against him. This earned Bresson high praise from women and critics all around the world.
Los olvidados (1950)
Luis Buñuel
Los olvidados is, simply put, one of the most accurate portraits of Mexico as it was in the middle of the 20th century—and it was a Spanish filmmaker who masterfully painted it. That’s the reason why, when presented at Cannes, the film earned Buñuel numerous awards and positioned him as a raw, satirical, and eclectic director that could just as easily portray his own fetishes as the fetishes of a whole nation, thus faithfully capturing its citizens’ dark side.
The Great Dictator (1940)
Charles Chaplin
Interestingly enough, we owe one of the best speeches in the history of cinema to Chaplin, who originally refused to make anything but silent films. But when the legendary filmmaker finally decided to use sound, his words were so thunderous that we’ve rarely seen such power since. Chaplin plays the dictator of Tomania—a man so ridiculously dangerous and ambitious that it represents the worst humanity has to offer. Based on Adolf Hitler himself and the Nazi regime, the character lived on as one of the most iconic parodies of all time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zroWIN-lS8E
Um Filme Falado (2003)
Manoel De Oliveira
The film, depicting a journey in which a man and his daughter discover the wonders of cultural diversity, deals with the themes of adventure and self-discovery through the exploration of the world as a whole. This Portuguese director show us like no other the beauty our planet has to offer, and thanks to Um Filme Falado, he was introduced to one of the most prestigious lists any film director could aspire to.
Vampyr (1932)
Carl Theodor Dreyer
Through the full use of cinematic expressionism in all its glory, Dreyer talked about the deepest problems in a dying society. Back then, the director believed that the world was approaching its demise—not knowing that, almost 100 years later, it would keep falling still without reaching any discernible bottom. As such, Vampyr tells a kind of fable where its main protagonist, a female vampire, beautifully performs Dreyer’s elegant and rather unique style.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xEWT23yA3o
City of Women (1980)
Federico Fellini
Chasing a woman he met on a trip, Marcello reaches a city where a feminist convention is underway. His very actions are basically the kind of reason why the convention is taking place, so besides depicting Fellini’s keen and visionary perception of his time, this piece remains extremely relevant in today’s world. City of Women is definitely a must-watch.
Vertigo (1958)
Alfred Hitchcock
One of Alfred Hitchcock’s best and most famous films, Vertigo portrays a man’s obsession with a case that’s far more complex than it appeared. Here, the legendary director masterfully questions the very concept of honor and bravery, and regardless of what we might personally think of Hitchcock as a person, it’s hard to deny the extraordinary artistic value of his works.
The Misfits (1961)
John Huston
Huston succeeded in bringing out Marilyn Monroe’s full acting potential in this history-making filmmaking masterpiece. He portrays her as a fragile, lonely woman in love who, despite everything, keeps it together and remains strong. Her defying attitude is mirrored by an old cowboy who’s trying to take care of her. The Misfits is perhaps the single most important film in Huston’s career, even though he considered it lacking.
Paths of Glory (1957)
Stanley Kubrick
It may not be Kubrick’s most important or popular film, but it’s certainly one of his best. It also happens to be one of the most explicit war films in terms of sheer rawness and violence—an unusual depiction of war for its time. Kubrick rose to fame with other movies, but Paths of Glory made him a true creator whose style was worthy of the imitation that followed.
Taxi Driver (1976)
Martin Scorsese
A Vietnam veteran suffers from PTSD and a terrible inner struggle, and his search for less chaos leads him to become a night-time taxi driver—which, as it turns out, is not as quiet as one might imagine. This film marked Scorsese’s career and was the first in a series of extraordinary cinematic works.
Xala (1974)
Ousmane Sembène
This seems to be, at its heart, a satire of American influence in other cultures. In trying to break away with their own customs, one country falls in a kind of enamored trance with Western ideals, which turns everything on its head. The same can be said of the film’s protagonist, who believes to be the victim of a curse after failing to consummate a marriage, leading to extreme results. With Xala, Sembène wanted to question the notion of patriotism and love for one’s own culture. And he did so beautifully.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zt8BReAHx54
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
Steven Spielberg
False love is among the central themes in Spielberg’s celebrated film. It is widely-known that the beloved filmmaker likes to use strange and original beings in his stories in order to emphasize the depth of human feeling—but the creation of a whole alternate reality in this particular work is rather unique for him. A boy-robot by the name of David wishes to be human, and in his quest to be loved he soon finds himself alone and confused.
Visages Villages (2017)
Agnès Varda
Though it’s a documentary, Visages Villages was praised by critics and audiences as one of Varda’s greatest achievements. She collaborated with artist JR and together they take a striking visual journey consisting of great pictorial performances in streets and rooftops throughout the globe. She was already known as one of the most talented filmmakers in the world, and this film is simply the perfect love letter to her own genius.
As you can see, each filmmaker has their own merit. These films represent their essence, and though many of them have sadly passed away by now, their legacy will forever remain with us—much to our delight.
Translated by Oliver G. Alvar
Check out these other articles:
A Beginners Guide To Ingmar Bergman’s Films For Any Aspiring Film Buff
12 Movies For Those Nights When You Want To ‘Netflix And Chill’ With Your S.O.
10 Movie Adaptations That Are Way Better Than The Book
