Pom Poko (Japan, 1994)

As the human city development encroaches on the raccoon dog population's forest and meadow habitat, the raccoon dogs find themselves faced with the very real possibility of extinction. In response, they engage in a desperate struggle to stop the construction and preserve their home.

I've mentioned it before, but Pom Poko is my favorite film from animation giant Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away), as unconventional as that may be. The amount of heart and soul in this story is staggering and by the end you desperately want to see all the tanuki's live happily in peace. Director Isao Takahata shows the real life expansion of  Tama New Town in the 1960's, only it's through the eyes of those we rarely think about when a new development project takes place. Takahata's love for Japanese history and folklore shines through in every nook and cranny, and the huge number of references to iconic Japanese spirits makes it seem like a real-life fairytale. 

Genre: Animation/Comedy/Drama

To Live (China, 1994)

Fugui and Jiazhen endure tumultuous events in China as their personal fortunes move from wealthy landownership to peasantry. Addicted to gambling, Fugui loses everything. In the years that follow he is pressed into both the nationalist and communist armies, while Jiazhen is forced into menial work. They raise a family and survive, managing "to live" from the 40's to the 70's in this epic, but personal, story of life through an amazing period.

To Live is an epic drama that spans over many years, portraying a China in turmoil. Caught up in all this is a family that struggles to survive, and along the way, they encounter many people who will have a huge impact on their lives. Directed by Zhang Yimou, who is famous for movies like Hero (2002) and Raise the Red Lantern (1991), shows once again that he's one of the most competent directors ever. 

Genre: Drama 

Ashes of Time (Hong Kong, 1994)

Ou-yang Feng lives in the middle of a desert, where he acts as a middle man to various swordsmen in ancient China. One of those swordsmen is Huang Yao-shi, who has found some magic wine that causes one to forget the past. At another time, Huang met Mu-rong Yin and under the influence of drink, promised to marry Mu-rong's sister Mu-rong Yang. Huang jilts her, and Mu-rong Yin hires Ou-yang to kill Huang. But then Mu-rong Yang hires Ou-yang to protect Huang. 

Directed by one of my favorites, Wong kar-Wai, Ashes of Time is a complex story about swordsmen in a desolate world.  Very stylish, yet it's been deemed somewhat underappreciated due to its limited success. 

A fun fact is that during its long and exhausting editing process, the director took a break and shot Chungking Express and Fallen Angels to 'clear his head', which today are regarded as two of his best films.

Genre: Drama/Action

Eat Drink Man Woman (Taiwan, 1994)

Senior Master Chef Chu lives in a large house in Taipei with his three unmarried daughters, Jia-Jen, a chemistry teacher converted to Christianity, Jia-Chien, an airline executive, and Jia-Ning, a student who also works in a fast food restaurant. Life in the house revolves around the ritual of an elaborate dinner each Sunday, and the love lives of all the family members.

A mouth-watering mix of cooking and romance, Eat Drink Man Woman is an exquisite drama that will captivate every type of audience. We follow the three daughters and their very different and changing lives, but they all comes in contact with love in some way or another. I could watch Master Chef Chu cook all day long, it's somehow extremely stimulating and makes you drool and wish that you could eat just about all of it. The word food-porn comes to mind. Directed by Ang Lee who also made Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) but this time he works his magic within the boundaries of a plate full of delicious food, and captures life with all its beautiful and bitter ingredients.

Genre: Drama/Romance

Vive L'Amour (Taiwan, 1994)

The film focuses on three city folks who unknowingly share the same apartment: Mei, a real estate agent who uses it for her sexual affairs; Ah-jung, her current lover; and Hsiao-ang, who's stolen the key and uses the apartment as a retreat. 

Vive L'Amour is as its title implies, a film about love, but not in any convential way. It's about three people who's lives become entangled through an apartment. It's minimalistic in its execution with extremely little dialogue, and takes place mainly around the same rooms the whole movie. Quiet and subtle, yet very emotional. An unforgettable, powerful experience and features a scene which actually made me unconsciously hold my breath. Powerful.

Genre: Drama. 1h 58min.

Chungking Express (Hong Kong, 1994)

The first half deals with Cop 223, who has broken up with his girlfriend of five years. He purchases a tin of pineapples with an expiration date of May 1 each day for a month. By the end of that time, he feels that he will either be rejoined with his love or that it too will have expired forever. The second half shows Cop 663 dealing with his breakup with his flight attendant girlfriend. He talks to his apartment furnishings until he meets a new girl at a local lunch counter.

This film was shot, edited and released while Kar-Wai Wong was on hiatus from the shooting of his epic Ashes of Time (1994). Wong Kar-wai's movie about two love-struck cops is filmed in impressionistic splashes of motion and color. It circles around the theme of loneliness in a big city and even though theres so many people around you, you feel utterly alone. Chungking Express is a interesting portrayal of everyday relationships in urban life with superb cinematography, as expected from Wong Kar-wai. A fantastic drama by one of the best directors of all time.

Genre: Crime/Drama