Also, it seems as though “The Matrix” now counts as a film directed by a female director since its filmmakers, Lily and Lana Wachowski, both transitioned a couple of years ago. Jane Campion’s masterpiece “The Piano” topped the list, and you won’t hear any complaints about that choice on my part. Campion’s “The Piano” is the most personal movie of her astonishing filmography. This almost plotless story about a group of people who aren’t, on the whole, particularly easy to sympathize with, is a stunning mood piece and a haunting adult fairy tale about a woman’s quest to control her identity and destiny. A practically silent Holly Hunter gave an Oscar-Winning performance that was both mesmerizing and haunting. Anna Paquin, then 11 years old, won an Oscar playing Hunter’s smart and witty young daughter. Campion, never one to shy away from Gender politics, gave us a portrait of love, fear and passion amidst a world where a woman is not supposed to have the necessary freedom to fulfill her every desires. Rarely do we witness beauty as real as what is captured in this film. Campion’s cinematic landmark is such a visually stunning film, it’s almost intoxicating how its atmosphere sweeps across the screen and ravishes the eyes. BBC’s Top 20:

  1. The Piano (Jane Campion, 1993) 2. Cléo from 5 to 7 (Agnès Varda, 1962) 3. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (Chantal Akerman, 1975) 4. Beau Travail (Claire Denis, 1999) 5. Lost in Translation (Sofia Coppola, 2003) 6. Daisies (Věra Chytilová, 1966) 7. The Hurt Locker (Kathryn Bigelow, 2008)8. Toni Erdmann (Maren Ade, 2016)9. Fish Tank (Andrea Arnold, 2009)10. Daughters of the Dust (Julie Dash, 1991)11. The Ascent (Larisa Shepitko, 1977)12. Zero Dark Thirty (Kathryn Bigelow, 2012)13. Vagabond (Agnès Varda, 1985)14. Point Break (Kathryn Bigelow, 1991)15. The Swamp (Lucrecia Martel, 2001)16. Wanda (Barbara Loden, 1970)17. Seven Beauties (Lina Wertmüller, 1975) 18. American Psycho (Mary Harron, 2000)19. Orlando (Sally Potter, 1992)20. Clueless (Amy Heckerling, 1995) This aligns quite well with my own list, which was printed on Awards Daily in 2015 and for which I have just adjusted, more than four years later, for this article:
  2. Seven Beauties2. The Piano3. Lost in Translation4. The Hurt Locker6. Cléo de 5 à 77. Triumph of the Will8. Jeanne Dielman9. Fish Tank10. Big Contribute Hire me

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