The Quiet Family (South Korea, 1998)

A humble family decides to buy a lodge in a remote hiking area. When they finally gets a customer, he ends up committing suicide, and the distraught family buries his body to avoid the bad publicity. But their luck gets worse, more customers ends up dying, and the family becomes desperate to save the situation.

The Quiet Family is director Kim Ji-woon's (I Saw the Devil, A Bittersweet Life) feature film debut and by far one of the funniest movies I've ever seen; pure 'black comedy' gold. People dies left and right, and it's downright hilarious. It also features pre-stardom Choi Min-sik (Oldboy) and Song Kang-ho (Memories of Murder) as two brothers who just can't get a break.

Everyone needs to see this one. Now!

Genre: Comedy/Crime. 1h 38min.

Peppermint Candy (South Korea, 1999)

Yong-ho, a depressed, mentally broken down man wanders to a reunion of his old student group. Facing an oncoming train, he exclaims "I want to go back". What follows is reversed chronology, where the key events of the past 20 years of Yong-ho's life is unfolded, and bit by bit it's revealed why he decided to take his own life.

A movie that swallows you up in a vortex of sadness, jealousy, hate and every godawful feeling there is. Doesn't sound so great? Well, it is. Peppermint Candy is one of the the best and most memorable moments in Asian film history. The narrative structure of the film isn't anything new, Lawrence of Arabia (1962) is perhaps one of the most well-known examples where a man dies and his life story then unfolds. It's a rewinding of a life where every turn taken was for the worse, and a story about how one can go from youthful innocence to regretful and cruel. It was directed by the great Lee Chang-dong who've made films with deep emotional impact such as Secret Sunshine (2007) and Poetry (2010). Lee is perfect at making silence speak for itself and build atmosphere without too much dialogue. 

An unforgettable journey into the past, and one of my favorite films from South Korea.

Genre: Drama

Kikujiro (Japan, 1999)

Brash, loudmouthed and opportunistic, Kikujiro hardly seems the ideal companion for little Masao who is determined to travel long distances to see the mother he has never met. Their excursion to the cycle races is the first of a series of adventures for the unlikely pair which soon turns out to be a whimsical journey of laughter and tears with a wide array of surprises and odd ball characters to meet along the way.

A heart-warming drama directed by Takeshi Kitano (Hana-bi, Battle Royale), that explores themes of alienation and isolation in the Japanese society. Along the way we meet a bunch of wacky characters and see an unexpected friendship unfold. It's a summer vacation filled with memorable moments and new experiences, joy and sadness balanced perfectly. A film that puts you in a good mood for the rest of the day, simple as that. Too bad that Kitano doesn't make movies that often anymore, because he's really one those directors you can trust to make a truly good film. Plus, it features a beautiful soundtrack composed by mastermind Joe Hisaishi (Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro). The intro music is enough to make me all warm inside and brings back a lot of fond memories from when watching the film for the first time. Do your music collection a favor and get it immediately. Kikujiro is a trip you should take every summer. 

Genre: Drama/Comedy

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring (South Korea, 2003)

In the midst of the Korean wilderness, a Buddhist master patiently raises a young boy to grow up in wisdom and compassion, through experience and endless exercises. Once the pupil discovers his sexual lust, he seems lost to contemplative life and follows his first love, but soon fails to adapt to the modern world, gets in jail for a crime of passion and returns to the master in search of spiritual redemption and reconciliation with karma.

One of the finest films to have ever graced the cinema. It's a tale of love, hate and redemption, all with their own seasons. Director Kim Ki-duk (3-Iron, The Isle) uses beautiful settings and lets the nature speak for itself with changing seasons. This is one of those very few moments were a movie ceases to be a movie and instead becomes an experience, and, at least for me, it means something. I guess it's hard for me to explain just how amazing this film is, so you should just go and watch it.

A unique, visually stunning portrayal of the circle of life.

Genre: Drama

Running Turtle (South Korea, 2009)

Jo Pil-seong, a rural detective, is an unhappy husband, often blamed by his wife for gambling. Despite her being hard on him, he steals money from her to bet on bull butting. Fortunately, he chalks up an unexpected win, but his luck, by no means, lasts long because his money gets snatched by an escaped prisoner.

Running Turtle is a highly entertaining thriller with some comic relief thrown in for good measure. The well-directed fight scenes and likable cast makes this another solid chase-film from South Korea. Recommended for viewers who like the 'cat and mouse'-style in thrillers.

Genre: Comedy/Crime/Drama

Bedevilled (South Korea, 2010)

Hae-won is a single woman in her thirties who works at a bank in the Seoul city. She leads a busy life until she becomes a witness to an attempted murder case, and at the same time, things get complicated at work. When things get out of hand she is forced to take a vacation so she heads for 'Moodo', a small undeveloped island, where she had once visited to see her grandparents. And where she had befriended a girl named Bok-nam who stills writes to Hae-won asking her to visit despite the fact that Hae-won never bothered to reply. 

A relentless, brutal thriller that builds up more and more, and with the brilliant actress Seo Young-hee (The Chaser) in the lead. A very dark journey that turns into a much deserved hunt for revenge, in a highly satisfying manner. 

Genre: Crime/Drama/Thriller

Tokyo Story (Japan, 1953)

An elderly couple journey to Tokyo to visit their children and are confronted by indifference, ingratitude and selfishness. When the parents are packed off to a resort by their impatient children, the film deepens into an unbearably moving meditation on mortality.

Tokyo Story has countless times been listed as one of the greatest films ever made. Critics and movie magazines all over the world has placed it at the top for over 50 years. There's no denying that this is one of those classics you need to see at least once in your life. Director Yasujiro Ozu uses his own distinctive camera style where the camera height is low and never moves, his so called "tatami-mat"-shot. Whole scenes are being shot this way in one take and it always gives me a rush when it doesn't cut to another shot in a long time, and to me it creates a sort of intense bond between the viewer and the film. You're not watching these folks at their dinner table, you're sitting down with them. A family centered story dealing with a probably all too plausible scenario in many households. 

Genre: Drama

Silenced (South Korea, 2011)

Kang In-Ho is a newly appointed teacher at a school for the hearing-impaired in Mujin city. While teaching the deaf students, In-Ho feels something strange about the kids distant appearances. Soon, he uncover unfathomable actions committed by the school's faculty against the students.

Based on a horrific true story, Silenced deals with hard themes such as child rape and abuse. Few times have there been such a disturbing portrayal about the molestation of young kids, and it's just as horribly sad as it sounds. Not exactly a sunshine story, and the happy moments can be counted on the fingers of one hand, but it's an honest and tragic story that sheds light on an unspeakable crime.

Genre: Drama

Tokyo Gore Police (Japan, 2008)

The film is set in a near future chaotic Japan. A mad scientist known as "Key Man" has created a virus that mutates humans into monstrous creatures called "Engineers" that sprout bizarre weapons from any injury. The Tokyo Police Force has been privatized to deal with this new threat of engineers. However, unlike the average police force, the Engineer Hunters are a private quasi-military force that utilize violence, sadism, and public executions to maintain law and order.

One of the bloodiest movies ever made. The insane amount of gore never stops, which means there are countless scenes that is impossibly over the top. If you want to see an amputee with knives as limbs, or a woman with a huge alligator jaws as a vagina, it's your lucky day. No matter how you look at it, Tokyo Gore Police is a shining gem in the world of Japanese craziness that has to be seen to be believed. 

Genre: Action/Horror

Time (South Korea, 2006)

Seh-hee and Ji-woo have dated for two years; jealousy consumes her and she can't stand when other women even talks to him. She worries he will tire of her looks. Then, she disappears. Telling no one, she goes to a plastic surgeon for a new face.

An interesting drama from acclaimed director Kim Ki-duk (3-Iron, The Isle, Bad Guy), who tries to portray the issues in a modern relationship and take jealousy to a whole new level. In these days of twisted beauty ideals and where everyone wants to look perfect, Time is right on time (no pun intended). Great composition, cinematography and acting, as expected from the aforementioned director.  

Genre: Drama/Romance 

Blue Spring (Japan, 2001)

It tells the story of seven students in an underperforming high school filled with delinquents as they join different gangs and tries to become the leaders of the pack.

From start to finish, Blue Spring takes place in an all-boys school full of troublemakers. It portrays friendship that turns into rivalry and the mental breakdown of students. Based on a manga by Taiyo Matsumoto, who also created Tekkonkinkreet, and the rough style is present all over the film. For being a relatively short film (83 min), Blue Spring packs quite a punch and is a solid portrayal of Japanese school culture taken to the extreme. Keep an eye out for the brilliant fast motion scene on the rooftop, it's cool as hell.

Genre: Drama

2LDK (Japan, 2002)

Nozomi and Lana share an apartment in Tokyo. They have both auditioned for the same role in a movie, and know that the shortlist has been cut down to just the two of them. As they wait the night before finding out who will get the role, their personality clashes erupt into an all-out battle.

It all started when two Japanese film directors met at a film festival, started drinking later at night, and a few hours later the Dual Project was born. 2LDK and Aragami were the results of the competition, were the directors goal was to make the best "Dual to the Death" film. The rules for the competition were as following: 1.) The script shall have no more than 2-3 characters. 2.) The film must be shot in seven days and on a small budget. 3.) The film can only take place in one setting, and most importantly, 4.) At least one character must die. 

Genre: Drama/Thriller

Tampopo (Japan, 1985)

A pair of truck drivers, the experienced Goro and a young sidekick named Gun, stop at a small roadside noodle shop. Outside, Goro rescues a boy being beaten up by three schoolmates. The boy, Tabo, turns out to be the son of the widowed owner of the struggling business, Tampopo. When Tampopo asks their opinion of her noodles, Goro and Gun says they'll need some work. After Goro gives her some advice, she asks him to help her make the perfect bowl of ramen.

Tampopo is a fantastic humorous drama with many great side stories woven into its plot that all range from hilarious to bizarre. We get to see a young Ken Watanabe, which of course is a delight. Director Jūzō Itami, who is widely known for his numerous comic satires on Japanese culture, used the Spaghetti Western structure as influence when making Tampopo and it works remarkably well. 

For being a film which is about a ramen shop, Itami manages to squeeze in so much content that it encourages endless rewatching; it's sexy, it's inspiring, it's so much fun and wonderfully optimistic. An adventure into the Japanese cuisine. So go make yourself a bowl of noodles and enjoy this deliciously sensual experience. One of the ultimate food films.

Genre: Drama/Comedy. 1h 54min.

Aragami (Japan, 2003)

Two seriously wounded samurai find refuge from a storm at an isolated temple, the home of a swordsman and a mysterious young woman. One samurai awakes to find that not only has his comrade died, but that his wounds have miraculously healed. He discovers that he has been given the power of immortality by the swordsman, a man once known as the legendary Miyamoto Musashi, who now lives an endless existence as Aragami, a "god of battle".

The second contribution to the Dual Project, where two Japanese directors tried to make the best "Dual to the Death" film, the other one being 2LDK. Aragami begins with a somewhat slow pace, but builds up and truly delivers a satisfying payoff. All in all, it's a great achievement in the world of samurai film. 

Genre: Action/Fantasy

Alone (Thailand, 2007)

Alone tells the story of Pim who moved from Thailand to Korea to escape the guilt of being the surviving half of a conjoined twin. Flashbacks to Pim's childhood show how the bittersweet relationship with her sister, and their commitment to stay together forever, transforms into a repressive bond that ultimately leads to a separation. After she returns to visit her dying mother, the spirit of her dead sister angrily thrusts herself into Pim's life.

A ghost story that isn't half bad, though it relies heavy on jump scares. Just tell yourself that you're not going to see anything groundbreaking or particular new that hasn't been done before in the asian horror genre, and you might enjoy it more for what it is. 

Genre: Horror/Thriller

The Isle (South Korea, 2000)

Mute Hee-Jin is working as a clerk in a fishing resort in the Korean wilderness; selling baits, food and occasionally her body to the fishing tourists. One day she falls in love with Hyun-Shik, who is on the run for the police and saves him when he tries to commit suicide.

Definitely one of the strangest movies I've ever seen, but it's also really good in a psychotic kind of way. The Isle became notorious when at its premiere viewers vomited or passed out due to its gruesome scenes. Personally I wouldn't say it's that bad, but yes, there's a couple of scenes that has some serious shock value. I would say that the concepts and twisted ideas are the most disturbing things, rather than the visuals and actual scenes. 

The Isle manages to always top itself in strangeness and the unique setting is a winner. Director Kim Ki-duk (3-Iron) succeeds in combining dark humor with sex and bloodshed in a mature and fascinating way. It's like no other film, that's for sure. A love story with fish hooks.

Genre: Drama/Thriller

Mad Detective (Hong Kong, 2007)

The film centers on Chan Kwai-Bun, a schizophrenic, former police inspector who decides to come out of retirement to help a rookie cop solve a complex murder case, involving a missing colleague and a suspected policeman suffering from a multiple personality disorder.

A thriller with an interesting theme: schizophrenia. Even the main character have a couple of screws loose, and that adds to the originality and some cool elements to the plot. It also never drags on due to the reasonable running time (89 min), which makes this an even more recommended movie to those who think they've seen it all.

Genre: Action/Crime/Thriller