Volker Schlöndorff

Comments

Pather Panchali

I dunno any more what a good film is, even less what the best is, but I know which ones I like best, depending on the days, in no particular order. This one for the boy, for his grandma who waters the weeds by the house, for Ravi Shankar's music, for the spotting of his complaint after his big loss, for the photography, for the sensuality of the countryside, for the sadness of childhood and all the hope of it.

La Règle du jeu

For the half of my life spent in France, my coming of age and apprenticeship there, for all my wonderful friends – all dead by now.

On the Waterfront

Because Brando put me in a trance, because injustice and martyrdom are intolerable, because I too wanted to be somebody, a contender. All of this despite the academic pompous side of it.

Army of Shadows

Because he was my first master, and this is his masterpiece.

Amarcord

For its humour and humanity. And for its cri de coeur: “Voglio una donna!”

Ivan the Terrible

The moment Nikolai Cherkasov turns around on his staff as he discovers the long procession of people coming to find him in his retreat in the monastery is for me the strongest emotion I've ever felt in a movie, and all the operatic, over-the-top acting, designing and scripting is unique.

Il grido

I might also have chosen L'Eclisse (1962).