I honestly can’t remember why I even added this to my to watch list and indeed this isn’t that well known a film. For a long while as I was watching it, I kept thinking, yes, this is all very nice but what is this film actually about? Yet just as the town grows on the main characters without them really realizing it, this film grows on the audience. It’s a very subtle film and even the humor is low-key but by the end, I am convinced that this is a truly delightful gem.

The premise of this film by Henri-Georges Clouzot sounded promising to me as the story about a town being torn apart by malicious rumors and misinformation seemed especially apt for the Internet era. Unfortunately the film is only shallowly committed to this theme and is more interested in the hunt for the writer of the poison pen letters, making it feel more like a murder mystery film. Ironically the backstory of the film itself parallels the story in a way as this was made by a German production company while French was under German occupation during the Second World War. Both Clouzot and the lead actor Pierre Fresnay got into a great deal for trouble for making it as rumors were spread about this film attacking the French people as a whole.

I’ve watched so many films in so many languages from so many countries but rarely has one felt as alien as this one during its opening scenes with its sputtering outbursts of “War starts at midnight!” It’s the combination of the familiar with the utterly absurd of course and this is only one of many reasons why this is such a brilliant film. This has been called the greatest British film of all time and you can tell why because the central theme of the film is really Englishness itself. I understand that the character of Colonel Blimp originated in comic strips as an object of mockery but this version is actually very sympathetic and lovable.

Rags to riches stories are a dime a dozen but this one stands out for being so unapologetically dark. Adapted from the novel that won the Man Booker, the conception of this film makes for a fascinating story as well. The novel’s author chose Adarsh Gourav, a college friend, to direct it, famous actress Priyanka Chopra asked to be involved after reading about the production on Twitter and the lead role was given to a relatively unknown actor Adarsh Gourav. This is not a subtle film and it is plot-driven rather than character-driven but it is undeniably effective at rousing your emotions against the injustice you see in it.

The last and easily my favorite of the Isle to Isle documentary screenings is one about Tsai Ming-Liang, perhaps the most renowned director to emerge from Malaysia though he is probably considered Taiwanese by now. Pleasingly this one was made by a very young filmmaker who is himself Malaysian Saw Tiong Guan and focuses largely on Tsai’s childhood in Kuching, Sarawak. By pulling on the nostalgic power of old music and shots of Tsai walking the streets of Kuching, this documentary consciously strives for, and somewhat achieves, the atmosphere of Tsai’s own films. This makes it one of the most effective documentaries I have ever seen.

I’m viewing these documentaries as part of the Isle to Isle event on the CloudTheatre platform so I’m sure the organizers must have noticed the thematic similarity between this one and André and His Olive Tree. This one is about Chang Ga-tau, the founder of one of Taiwan’s largest independent record companies Taiwan Colors Music, agonizing over whether to retire after 20 years in the business and selling his company. Once again I think it overdramatizes this decision for the sake of a making a film, and they even lampshade this in the after credits, plus the story of a record label owners probably isn’t as interesting as that of the artistes but it is a decently interesting look into Taiwan’s music scene.

André Chiang is feted as Taiwan’s first and so far only Michelin-starred chef and is apparently considered one of best Chinese-born chefs in the world, making him a great subject for a documentary. Yet the climax that this entire film builds towards is the closure of his famous restaurant in Singapore, apparently quite a shock to everyone at the moment, making the film itself feel rather different from other celebrity biographies. There were times when I felt annoyed by this documentary as it felt too much like a posh advertisement for Chiang but it improves immeasurably after the man lets down his guard a bit in his native Taiwan and allows his more personal side to be shown.