Upekha Bandaranayake
Blu-ray & DVD Producer, BFI Video Publishing
UK
Voted for
| Film | Year | Director |
|---|---|---|
| MÄDCHEN IN UNIFORM | 1931 | Leontine Sagan |
| ZÉRO DE CONDUITE | 1933 | Jean Vigo |
| Trade Tattoo The Rhythm of work-a-day Britain | 1937 | Len Lye |
| Listen to Britain | 1942 | Humphrey Jennings, Stewart McAllister |
| Salt of the Earth | 1953 | Herbert J. Biberman |
| Killer of Sheep | 1977 | Charles Burnett |
| Hannah and Her Sisters | 1986 | Woody Allen |
| Happy Together | 1997 | Wong Kar Wai |
| Yi Yi | 1999 | Edward Yang |
| Rocks | 2019 | Sarah Gavron |
Comments
This was a real struggle to do and the list changed several times whilst typing it out. In the end I went with my heart - these are the films that have shaped me, thrilled me, moved me and fuelled my love of cinema. Despite repeated viewings they still fill me with wonder and joy.
I'm not sure how I managed to create a list without any musicals, the films of my early years. It also pains me to leave out so many of my current favourite filmmakers - no room for Koreeda, Sciamma, Reichardt, Jenkins or Mills. Any of these could have taken my final spot but narrowly lost to Rocks this time, a local film viewed in my local cinema (big up the Rio) in between lockdowns - a beautiful moment of hope and communion in an otherwise alienating time.