Cate Blanchett Shares Her Top Picks for Must-Watch Arthouse Films

Cate Blanchett once shared a list of her favorite arthouse and world cinema films during a discussion with director Todd Field, known for Tár.

The pair spent time exploring Criterion Collection titles, picking movies that shaped their views on filmmaking and storytelling. Blanchett’s picks cover a wide range of styles, from classic European cinema to modern dramas, showing her deep appreciation for both artistry and narrative.

One of the first films Blanchett highlighted was Jacques Audiard’s Dheepan, a 2015 drama about a former soldier, a young woman, and a little girl posing as a family to escape the Sri Lankan civil war.

Dheepan was widely praised by critics for its gripping performances and realistic portrayal of trauma, winning the Palme d’Or at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. It was noted for its humanistic approach to storytelling and the subtle intensity of its cast.

Blanchett also gravitated toward classic auteurs, including Ingmar Bergman and Federico Fellini. She recommended the Criterion box set Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema, which includes The Seventh Seal, Wild Strawberries, and Brink of Life.

Bergman’s work is celebrated for its philosophical depth, exploring life, death, and human emotion.

Films like The Seventh Seal remain iconic, famous for its symbolic imagery and existential themes, often studied in film schools for their storytelling and cinematography. Fellini’s collection, featuring 8½, La Dolce Vita, and Amarcord, showcases a different type of mastery.

Fellini’s films are known for their surreal and poetic style, blending humor, melancholy, and social commentary. Critics have long hailed La Dolce Vita as a landmark in world cinema, praised for its direction, visual composition, and commentary on post-war society.

Blanchett and Field’s selections also include powerful world cinema pieces like The Cranes Are Flying by Mikhail Kalatozov and Larisa Shepitko’s The Ascent. Both films are celebrated for their visual beauty and emotional intensity.

The Cranes Are Flying won the Palme d’Or in 1958 and remains a benchmark for war dramas with its innovative camera work and deeply human story. The Ascent, similarly, is noted for its stark portrayal of wartime moral dilemmas and haunting imagery. Benjamin Christensen’s Häxan (1922) was another pick, known as a pioneering blend of documentary and horror that has fascinated scholars and critics for nearly a century.

Blanchett also acknowledged Hollywood comedy with Sydney Pollack’s Tootsie, a 1982 film starring Dustin Hoffman.

Tootsie received critical acclaim for its humor and sharp commentary on gender roles, winning an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Jessica Lange. Other notable mentions include Robert Bresson’s A Man Escaped, Louis Malle’s My Dinner With Andre, and Guy Maddin’s My Winnipeg, each praised for their unique narrative approaches and artistic innovation.

Blanchett’s selection reflects a mix of cinematic influence, critical recognition, and personal taste. These films, from intense war dramas to inventive comedies, represent landmark achievements in global filmmaking and continue to inspire audiences today.

ChatGPT je rekao:

• The Ascent (Larisa Shepitko, 1977)
• The Cranes Are Flying (Mikhail Kalatozov, 1957)
• Devil In A Blue Dress (Carl Franklin, 1995)
• Dheepan (Jacques Audiard, 2015)
• Essential Fellini (Federico Fellini, 1950-1987)
• Häxan (Benjamin Christensen, 1922)
• In Cold Blood (Richard Brooks, 1967)
• Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema (Ingmar Bergman, 1946-2003)
• Letter Never Sent (Mikhail Kalatozov, 1960)
• A Man Escaped (Robert Bresson, 1956)
• A Master Builder (Jonathan Demme, 2013)
• My Dinner With Andre (Louis Malle, 1981)
• My Winnipeg (Guy Maddin, 2007)
• Summer With Monika (Ingmar Bergman, 1953)
• Tootsie (Sydney Pollack, 1982)
• Wooden Crosses (Raymond Bernard, 1932)

Personally, I find Blanchett’s choices inspiring because they balance classic and modern films, and show how storytelling can transcend borders and genres. Which of these films have you seen, and which ones are on your must-watch list? Share your thoughts in the comments.