The Best Movie from Each Country: 50 International Films You Must Watch (Part 1)

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Ignacio Weil

Entertainment - September 6th 2025, 11:00 GMT+2

Cropped imagen 2025 09 01 214015591 — Argentina – The Secret in Their Eyes (2009)

Some movies hook you with suspense, others with romance, and a rare few manage to do both so gracefully that you forget where one ends and the other begins. *The Secret in Their Eyes* is a masterclass in weaving a crime thriller with an aching love story, set against Argentina’s turbulent history. Its narrative structure flips back and forth in time, pulling you deeper into questions of justice and memory. And then there’s that unforgettable football stadium sequence, which film buffs still analyze as one of the greatest single takes in cinema history. Every beat carries weight, every glance holds layers of meaning, making it an experience that lingers long after the credits roll. | © Tornasol Films

Cropped imagen 2025 09 01 214121821 — Australia – Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Imagine a two-hour chase scene that somehow manages to tell a story about survival, feminism, and redemption without ever letting you catch your breath. That’s the genius of *Mad Max: Fury Road*, George Miller’s adrenaline-soaked return to the wastelands. Every frame is kinetic poetry – sandstorms that roar like dragons, guitar flamethrowers that double as battle cries, and vehicles designed like fever dreams of chaos. But at the center of the spectacle is Furiosa, a warrior who gives the film its heart and moral compass. The mix of practical stunts and visionary direction transforms action cinema into pure art. This isn’t just a ride – it’s a revolution on wheels. | © Village Roadshow Pictures

Cropped imagen 2025 09 01 214233784 — Austria – The White Ribbon (2009)

At first glance, *The White Ribbon* seems like a quiet little period drama in black and white, all buttoned-up costumes and neat village life. But Michael Haneke isn’t here to comfort you – he’s here to whisper unsettling questions about cruelty, repression, and the roots of authoritarianism. The story unspools slowly, every shot meticulous, every silence loaded with dread. It’s the kind of film where you start to notice how children mirror the darkness of their parents, and how innocence becomes a mask. By the end, you realize the calm façade was just a cover for violence brewing beneath the surface. Disturbing, yes, but in a way that feels impossible to shake. | © Wega Film

Cropped imagen 2025 09 01 214332959 — Belgium – Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)

Few films test your patience and then reward it with such devastating force as *Jeanne Dielman*. Chantal Akerman turns three hours of cooking, cleaning, and routine housework into a cinematic experiment that reveals the suffocating cage of domestic life. Every potato peeled, every bed made, builds an almost hypnotic rhythm, until you start to feel the weight of repetition yourself. And then, without warning, the monotony breaks – and the cracks in Jeanne’s life shatter open in shocking ways. What seemed like “nothing happening” suddenly feels like everything happening all at once. It’s feminist, daring, and proof that cinema doesn’t need explosions to blow your mind. | © Paradise Films

Cropped imagen 2025 09 01 214457228 — Bolivia – The Blood of the Condor (1969)

Cinema rarely shakes the real world as directly as *The* *Blood of the Condor* did. Jorge Sanjinés crafted a story about an Indigenous community exploited by a so-called aid agency that secretly sterilizes women without consent. What makes it powerful isn’t just the narrative – it’s the authenticity of the performances, with Indigenous actors reclaiming their voice on screen. The film didn’t just resonate with audiences; it ignited outrage that led to the expulsion of the U.S. Peace Corps from Bolivia. Its blend of political urgency and neorealist style makes it more than art – it’s an act of resistance captured on celluloid. Watching it today, you still feel its revolutionary pulse. | © Ukamau Group

Cropped imagen 2025 09 01 214725494 — Brazil – City of God (2002)

If you think a crime movie can’t make you gasp, laugh, and cry all within the same scene, *City of God* will prove you wrong. Watching the streets of Rio come alive is like being strapped to a rollercoaster with no brakes, where every turn introduces a new character you’ll never forget. The energy is chaotic, messy, and utterly mesmerizing – like life itself, but with a killer soundtrack. The way the story jumps through time feels like flipping through a scrapbook of survival, ambition, and the consequences of choices too big to control. It’s thrilling, heartbreaking, and impossible to look away from. By the end, you’re left thinking about the city long after the credits roll. | © O2 Filmes

Cropped imagen 2025 09 01 214900987 — Canada – Incendies (2010)

Some films sneak up on you and sucker-punch your emotions, and *Incendies* is a masterclass in emotional ambush. From the first scene, you know this isn’t just a mystery about a mother’s past – it’s a journey into history, family, and secrets you wish you hadn’t uncovered. It grips you with quiet dread and lingers with moral questions that refuse to leave your mind. The story unfolds like a puzzle, each piece darker and more gripping than the last. By the time the final revelation hits, you’re both devastated and awed at how tightly everything fits. It’s haunting, unforgettable, and somehow beautifully poetic. | © TS Productions

Cropped imagen 2025 09 01 214957996 — Chile – No (2012)

Watching No is like discovering that political campaigns can actually be thrilling. The story revolves around an ad man trying to sell hope to a nation under a dictatorship, and somehow, it’s hilarious, tense, and inspiring all at once. There’s something magical about seeing propaganda turn into a creative art form, and how the film captures the tiny, human moments in a high-stakes political game. It’s sharp, witty, and carries an energy that makes you forget it’s about history – until you remember the stakes were real. By the end, you’re rooting for change, and secretly wishing you had that kind of ad pitch skill. | © Fabula

Cropped imagen 2025 09 01 215536480 — China – In the Mood for Love (2000)

Some movies don’t just tell a story – they *linger in your chest*, and *In the Mood for Love* does exactly that. Every glance, every silenced word between the neighbors is loaded with longing so thick, you can practically taste it. It’s a film about what *isn’t* said, which somehow makes it roar louder than most blockbusters. The streets of 1960s Hong Kong feel alive, intimate, and just a little melancholy, like the city itself is conspiring with the characters. Watching it feels like slow dancing with emotions you didn’t know were in the room. By the time it ends, the ache of restraint stays with you. | © Jet Tone Production

Cropped imagen 2025 09 01 215613264 — Colombia – Embrace of the Serpent (2015)

*Embrace of the Serpent* is the kind of movie that drags you deep into the jungle and refuses to let you leave, in the best possible way. The Amazon here is both breathtakingly beautiful and terrifyingly unforgiving, and the film captures it as a character of its own. The story of a shaman and two scientists isn’t just a voyage – it’s a meditation on memory, colonialism, and the fragility of human connection. You feel every whisper of wind, every unseen danger, and every moment of awe alongside the characters. It’s hypnotic, poetic, and occasionally heartbreaking, leaving you changed in ways you didn’t anticipate. | © Buffalo Films

Cropped imagen 2025 09 01 220042921 — Czech Republic / Czechoslovakia – Closely Watched Trains (1966)

There’s something quietly thrilling about a coming-of-age story set on a railway station, and *Closely Watched Trains* delivers that in spades. The film sneaks humor and tension into the daily grind of World War II–occupied Czechoslovakia, making every whistle of the train feel loaded with possibility. You end up caring about a shy young man more than you ever expected, especially as he navigates love, duty, and an inevitable brush with danger. It’s funny, tender, and just a little tragic, all while showing how ordinary people can do extraordinary things. Jiří Menzel’s direction makes the mundane magical, proving that life’s small moments can be heroic. By the last scene, you’re smiling, heartache and hope tangled together. | © Filmové Studio Barrandov

Cropped imagen 2025 09 01 220218383 — Denmark – The Hunt (2012)

You know that feeling when a single false accusation can turn your world upside down? *The Hunt* traps you inside that terrifying reality, and it’s impossible to look away. Mads Mikkelsen carries the film on his shoulders, giving a performance so raw you almost flinch at the injustice unfolding. The tension is almost unbearable, each scene simmering with suspicion, fear, and the fragility of trust. It’s intimate, harrowing, and relentless, yet somehow poetic in its quiet observation of community and morality. Watching it makes you question what you would do, and how easily fear can spread. This is cinema that gnaws at you long after the credits roll. | © Zentropa Entertainments

Cropped imagen 2025 09 01 220350086 — Ecuador – Ratas, Ratones, Rateros (1999)

If you’ve ever wondered what life is like at the edge of society, *Ratas, Ratones, Rateros* will drop you straight into it – with a grin and a grimace at the same time. The story of petty thieves navigating survival in Ecuador’s streets is tense, funny, and heartbreakingly real all at once. The film’s charm comes from how unpretentious and alive it feels; you’re watching people who exist beyond Hollywood polish. Every small scam, every fleeting friendship, every risky gamble becomes a window into human resilience. By the end, you’re cheering, groaning, and maybe laughing nervously, all at the same time. It’s raw, playful, and impossibly human. | © Ecuador Films

Cropped imagen 2025 09 01 220428805 — Egypt – The Night of Counting the Years (1969)

There’s a quiet majesty in *The Night of Counting the Years* that sneaks up on you like sand through your fingers. Set in Egypt, it tells the story of men guarding ancient treasures while grappling with morality, tradition, and the weight of history. Every frame feels like a painting; the desert landscapes are vast, beautiful, and haunting. The tension isn’t in loud action but in small gestures, glances, and choices that could tip honor or ruin. It’s slow, meditative, and deeply affecting, forcing you to consider what’s worth preserving and at what cost. By the final scene, the desert seems to echo long after the credits. | © Misr International Films

Cropped imagen 2025 09 01 220521588 — Finland – The Man Without a Past (2002)

Watching *The Man Without a Past* is like wandering into a Finnish winter with a warm scarf and a healthy dose of absurdity. The story of a man who loses his memory and must rebuild his life is both bleak and heartwarmingly funny. Aki Kaurismäki’s trademark deadpan humor transforms everyday struggles into gentle comedy, while the stoic characters radiate resilience and charm. The small moments – a gesture, a glance, a hand-me-down coat – carry more emotional weight than most big-budget dramas. It’s quiet, clever, and endlessly human, with a rhythm that makes you feel the pulse of life in a new way. By the end, you’re smiling at a world that seems impossibly fragile yet wonderfully persistent. | © Sputnik

Cropped imagen 2025 09 01 221112875 — France – Amélie (2001)

Life feels brighter after stepping into the whimsical world of *Amélie*. It’s like wandering through Paris with a friend who notices the tiniest joys and quirks everyone else misses. The film sprinkles magic into the mundane – coffee cups, hidden notes, and stolen garden gnomes suddenly feel extraordinary. Amélie’s quiet mischief and tender heart turn small acts into heroic gestures of kindness. You laugh, sigh, and maybe even plot a tiny scheme of your own while watching. By the end, you’re convinced that life could be this enchanting if you only looked closely enough. | © UGC Films

Cropped imagen 2025 09 01 221334783 — Germany – Metropolis (1927)

Even nearly a century later, *Metropolis* still looks like a city of the future dreamed up by a feverish imagination – and somehow, it works. The towering skyscrapers, the grinding machines, and the desperate masses give the film an epic, almost hypnotic rhythm. Fritz Lang’s masterpiece isn’t just visually stunning; it pulses with social commentary about class, labor, and ambition. Watching it is like riding a rollercoaster through dystopia, complete with silent-film exaggerations that somehow feel timeless. Every frame is meticulously composed, making it a visual feast for cinephiles. By the end, you’re awed at how visionary cinema could be almost a hundred years ago. | © UFA

Cropped imagen 2025 09 01 221444759 — Greece – Dogtooth (2009)

Imagine being trapped in a house where reality is rewritten every day – welcome to *Dogtooth*, a film that is as unsettling as it is fascinating. The story walks a thin line between absurd comedy and psychological horror, keeping you constantly off balance. The children’s world, constructed entirely by parental control, is both bizarre and terrifyingly believable. Every peculiar rule and ritual feels like a puzzle, challenging viewers to question freedom, obedience, and morality. It’s shocking, strange, and mesmerizing all at once. By the end, you’ll be talking about it with friends for days, wondering if you understood everything – or nothing. | © Haos Film

Cropped imagen 2025 09 01 221537001 — Hungary – Satantango (1994)

Watching *Satantango* is less a movie experience and more a time-traveling meditation on despair and hope. Clocking in at over seven hours, it immerses you in the slow decay of a rural Hungarian commune, where betrayal and survival intertwine. Every shot lingers like a sigh, giving you space to feel the weight of each character’s choices. The deliberate pace might test your patience, but the hypnotic rhythm makes it strangely addictive. By the end, you’re both exhausted and moved, having shared a deeply human journey few films dare to attempt. It’s bleak, beautiful, and unforgettable. | © Pannónia Film Studio

Cropped imagen 2025 09 01 221604115 — Iceland – Rams (2015)

Yes, it’s about sheep. But *Rams* is much more than pastoral fluff – it’s a heartfelt story about pride, rivalry, and family in a stark, stunning Icelandic valley. The understated humor and gentle pacing make every glance and gesture count, and the sheep are surprisingly charismatic side characters. You end up rooting for both the farmers and the rams, which is a weird but satisfying experience. The film sneaks up on you, mixing absurdity with real emotion, showing that reconciliation can be as quiet as a pasture at dawn. By the last scene, you’re laughing, tearing up, and thinking about sheep in a way you never expected. | © Pegasus Pictures

Cropped imagen 2025 09 01 222046147 — India – Pather Panchali (1955)

*Pather Panchali* doesn’t just tell a story – it invites you to wander through the dusty lanes of rural Bengal, where every sound and shadow feels alive. Satyajit Ray’s debut quietly observes the struggles and joys of a poor family, letting life itself become the narrative. Moments of innocence, like a child chasing a train or discovering a starry sky, feel monumental in their simplicity. The film’s rhythm is gentle but relentless, pulling you into a world where every gesture matters. It’s a tender, heartbreaking, and luminous experience that makes you appreciate life’s small miracles. By the end, you’re emotionally spent, but in the most rewarding way imaginable. | © R. K. Films

The act of killing msn — Indonesia – The Act of Killing (2012)

Few documentaries dare to be as audacious and disturbing as *The Act of Killing*, where perpetrators of genocide reenact their own crimes on film. Watching it feels like stepping into a surreal nightmare, where fantasy and horror collide. The surreal reenactments are both grotesque and mesmerizing, revealing the warped psychology of those who commit atrocities. You’re laughing, cringing, and horrified all at once, unsure if you should look away – or keep watching. It’s a meditation on guilt, memory, and humanity at its darkest, delivered in a way that feels completely alive and unpredictable. By the end, your mind refuses to stop turning, haunted by both the horror and the audacity of storytelling itself. | © Final Cut for Real

Cropped imagen 2025 09 01 222214643 — Iran – A Separation (2011)

Divorce has never felt so intense – or so deeply human – as in *A Separation*. This film plunges you into a world where ethical dilemmas twist like a maze, and every character’s choice feels both justified and heartbreaking. You’ll find yourself rooting for everyone while secretly realizing no one is entirely “right.” As layers of family, class, and societal tension unfold, the story grabs your attention and refuses to let go. It’s gripping, intelligent, and emotionally complex, making you rethink assumptions about justice, loyalty, and love. By the last scene, your heart is in knots, and you can’t stop thinking about the characters long after the credits. | © Memento Films

Cropped imagen 2025 09 01 222256810 — Ireland – The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006)

War rarely feels as intimate and devastating as it does in *The Wind That Shakes the Barley*. Set during Ireland’s fight for independence, it captures both the political struggle and the personal toll on families and friends. Every landscape shot – the rolling hills, misty valleys – echoes the story’s tension and sorrow. The film balances brutal realism with tender human moments, showing that even in conflict, hope and love persist. It’s painful, beautiful, and utterly immersive, leaving you both awed and heartbroken. By the end, you feel like you’ve lived through history itself. | © Focus Features

Cropped imagen 2025 09 01 222351852 — Israel – Footnote (2011)

*Footnote* is a witty, bittersweet dive into the world of academic rivalry, and it’s far more thrilling than you’d expect from a lecture hall. The tension between a father and son, both brilliant scholars, builds slowly, with humor and subtle poignancy lurking in every gesture. It’s a meditation on pride, recognition, and the strange ways love and envy intertwine. You’ll chuckle, cringe, and maybe feel a pang of empathy for both characters as their lives unravel in parallel. The film’s clever storytelling keeps you invested without ever feeling heavy-handed. By the end, you’re smiling, shaking your head, and quietly in awe of how small details can carry enormous emotional weight.

Looking for Part 2? Here you go! | © Alma Films

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Cinema is one of the most powerful ways to explore different cultures, histories, and perspectives. Every country has produced at least one masterpiece that captures its identity, struggles, or spirit, and together these films create a map of world cinema. From the poetic realism of Pather Panchali in India to the groundbreaking vision of Metropolis in Germany, the raw emotion of City of God in Brazil, and the modern brilliance of Parasite in South Korea, each title offers something unique.

In this list, we highlight 50 of the best movies from around the world – one from each country – that every film lover should watch. These aren’t just critically acclaimed works, but also stories that resonate far beyond their borders. Whether you’re looking to dive into classic masterpieces, modern award-winners, or hidden gems of international cinema, this guide will take you on a cinematic journey across continents.

This is part one of our two-part list. Don’t miss part two here to see the rest!