Best Film Directors From Your Country

LatinoEuropa · Jul 14, 2023

The oldest filmmaker in the world, the Portuguese Manoel de Oliveira, dies at the age of 106

https://stream.publico.pt/Videos/201504/20154216432_service_ManoeldeOliveira2_854x480.mp4

From “Aniki Bobó” to “Gebo e a Sombra”, respectively Manoel de Oliveira's first and last feature film, seven decades of cinema intersect, making up a unique path. “The Past and the Present” (1972), “Francisca” (1981), “'Non', or the Vain Glory of Mandar” (1990), “Vale Abraão” (1993), “Word and Utopia” (2000) and “Singularidades de uma Rapariga Loura” (2009) are some of the moments that marked the imposing work of the Portuguese filmmaker.

Oldandeasilycofused · Jul 14, 2023

pugsville said:
The Adventures of Barry Mackenzie, Don;s Party, The Club, Breaker Morant were al lsemeinal australian classic in their own right. A weird collection. Without considering the films made in the US,

Trivia: Much of Breaker Morant was filmed here in Adelaide. I used to go to AA meetings at the old church they used for the courtroom scenes.

Picnic At hanging Rock was filmed here in South Australia and in Victoria. The school was Martindale Hall, a nineteenth century pile in Mintaro, about 145 km north of Adelaide. Hanging Rock is in Victoria

When the film was first released, a lot of people thought it was based on a true story. It wasn't. Imo, it remains a great film. The Wikipedia entry linked below is worth reading.

Picnic at Hanging Rock (film) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Eye of Woland · Jul 17, 2023

UK directors not mentioned yet:

Terence Davies (Distant Voices Still Lives, Long Day Closes, Of Time and the City, The House of Mirth)

Alexander Mackendrick (The Ladykillers, The Man in the White Suit, Whisky Galore, Sweet Smell of Success)

Anthony Asquith (Cottage on Dartmoor, Shooting Stars, Pygmalion, The Browning Version, The Importance of Being Earnest)

Carol Reed (The Third Man, Odd Man Out, The Fallen Idol, Oliver, Night Train to Munich)

bodhi · Jul 17, 2023

Since you said best, I think it's clearly Werner Herzog.

Babe Ruth · Sep 13, 2023

At Each Kilometer said:
Chris Columbus

I assume Chris Columbus' film credits were/are pretty well known..
But he also created a really cool cartoon back in the 8os, Galaxy High School. It didn't last very long, and was kinda different than typical Columbus stuff.. so i think it's been unfortunately forgotten.

Oldandeasilycofused · Sep 13, 2023

Eye of Woland said:
UK directors not mentioned yet:

Terence Davies (Distant Voices Still Lives, Long Day Closes, Of Time and the City, The House of Mirth)

Alexander Mackendrick (The Ladykillers, The Man in the White Suit, Whisky Galore, Sweet Smell of Success)

Anthony Asquith (Cottage on Dartmoor, Shooting Stars, Pygmalion, The Browning Version, The Importance of Being Earnest)

Carol Reed (The Third Man, Odd Man Out, The Fallen Idol, Oliver, Night Train to Munich)

Recently saw the film Pygmalion (1938) and was surprised to see how closely the story and script was followed by "My Fair ...." . (also watched that recently from a misguided sense of nostalgia ) The first film was better imo; most musicals seem very dated to me*** The middle aged prof Higgins and a young ingenue seems quite creepy today.

*** worst example imo is "Gigi"; a 16 year old Gigi (played by 26 year old Leslie Caron) is the daughter and grand daughter of courtesans. The film opens with Maurice Chevalier playing a 'boulevardier' (old lech) singing "Thank Heaven for Little .....". Today it just sounds creepy to me. Louis Jourdan is meant to be a worldly wise younger lech, perhaps mid thirties, who wants 16 year old Gigi for his mistress. Also creepy . Didn't think so when I saw it the first time, just after it was released.

At Each Kilometer · Sep 13, 2023

bodhi said:
Since you said best, I think it's clearly Werner Herzog.

You know, Wolfgang Petersen was a German

Dave Evans · Sep 14, 2023

Oldandeasilycofused said:
Plus:

Ted Kotcheff for "Wake In fright"(1971) A terrific film. I thought about it for weeks after I first saw it.

Nicolas Roeg "Walkabout" also 1971. It starred a very young Jenny Agutter and an even younger David Dalatngnu Gulpilil. Sadly, he passed away in 2121.

The Wikipedia entry linked below is worth reading imo.

David Gulpilil - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Sorry but Nic Roeg was English, can't think how I left him off my list, absolutely brilliant director with a lengthy and career as a sought after cinematographer before that.

pebame · Sep 23, 2023

I really like Werner Herzog, for me he is the best.

Tutuapp

Faramir · Mar 10, 2025

Being English I think David Lean deserves a mention.
Lawrence of Arabia, Bridge over the River Kwai, Dr, Zhivago and Passage to India to name a few.

From starting as the tea boy to becoming director, it is some career progression unlikely to be repeated.

robto · Mar 10, 2025

Portugal barely has a cinema industry, but if I have to point a famous director, then probably it will be Manoel de Oliveira (1908-2015).

johnincornwall · Mar 10, 2025

Oldandeasilycofused said:
Picnic At hanging Rock was filmed here in South Australia and in Victoria. The school was Martindale Hall, a nineteenth century pile in Mintaro, about 145 km north of Adelaide. Hanging Rock is in Victoria

When the film was first released, a lot of people thought it was based on a true story. It wasn't. Imo, it remains a great film. The Wikipedia entry linked below is worth reading.

Picnic at Hanging Rock (film) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I remember that being shown on tv, among much fanfare. I spent the whole film waiting for something to happen.

I'm still waiting

It was a long time ago and I am probably more appreciative now!

vans · Mar 10, 2025

johnincornwall said:
I remember that being shown on tv, among much fanfare. I spent the whole film waiting for something to happen.

I'm still waiting

It was a long time ago and I am probably more appreciative now!

I watched it a couple of months ago, but can’t really remember what happened, perhaps that is because nothing happened? But I do recall liking it, but couldn’t tell you why.

Dentatus · Mar 10, 2025

Apparently no Americans over 30 read this!
Ever heard of:
William Wyler
Billy Wilder
John Ford

McSplivens · Mar 10, 2025

Gosh, this is sooo subjective, as is anything having to do with the arts, I guess, but I can't resist weighing in on anything to do with movies. I won't pretend to possess the requisite knowledge on film directing to opine who's "best" (though I did minor in RTF in college) so I'll just offer my faves....

Quentin Tarantino

Coen Bros

PTA

David Mamet

Ron Howard

Taylor Sheridan

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Best Film Directors From Your Country

LatinoEuropa

Oldandeasilycofused

Picnic at Hanging Rock (film) - Wikipedia

Eye of Woland

bodhi

Babe Ruth

Oldandeasilycofused

At Each Kilometer

Dave Evans

David Gulpilil - Wikipedia

pebame

Faramir

robto

johnincornwall

Picnic at Hanging Rock (film) - Wikipedia

vans

Dentatus

McSplivens

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