Top 10 Best Films at the 2018 Hanoi International Film Festival

Ida is a Polish film featured in the Top 10 Best Films at the 2018 Hanoi International Film Festival. Filmed in black and white, it won the 2014 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The story follows a young woman who is about to take vows as a nun, dedicating her life to the convent. Before she does, she embarks on a journey across Poland to experience her last moments of freedom. Along the way, she uncovers painful truths about Poland's history and the traumatic past of her own family.

Details:

• Title (English): Ida
  
• Country: Poland
  
• Year: 2013
  
• Director: Pawel Pawlikowski
• Awards: 1 Oscar (Best Foreign Language Film), 1 BAFTA, 3 European Film Awards
  

Taste of Cherry is a 1997 Iranian film about a man driving through a desolate, barren landscape in search of someone to bury him after he ends his own life. This is not just a journey toward death, but a quest to understand the human condition in a land that was once a cultural hub, now reduced to a desolate, lonely place. Taste of Cherry won the prestigious Palme d'Or at Cannes and was named one of the '100 Must-See Films' by The New York Times.

Details:

• Title (English): Taste of Cherry
  
• Country: Iran
  
• Year: 1997
  
• Director: Abbas Kiarostami
• Awards: 1 Cannes Palme d'Or, 1 National Society of Film Critics Award, 1 Boston Society of Film Critics Award
  

Selected as the opening film for the 2018 Hanoi International Film Festival and winner of the Palme d'Or at Cannes the previous year, Shoplifters (English title: Shoplifters) is undoubtedly a must-watch film in the Top 10 Best Films at the 2018 Hanoi International Film Festival. This Japanese drama revolves around a poor family who survives by shoplifting. Despite their criminal activities, the family is deeply loving and supportive, helping each other through life's challenges. This heartfelt portrayal of family bonds earned the film critical acclaim, with many considering it the best Japanese film of the year.

Details:

• Title (English): Shoplifters
  
• Country: Japan
  
• Year: 2018
  
• Director: Hirokazu Koreeda
• Awards: Cannes Film Festival (Palme d'Or), 1 Munich Film Festival, 1 International Cinephile Awards
  

A Ciambra is an Italian film depicting the life of a 14-year-old Romani boy living in Italy. At a young age, the boy is deprived of an education and instead grows up too quickly, becoming 'streetwise' and 'wild' due to the challenges of life in an immigrant community. Facing discrimination from locals and enduring poverty, he turns to alcohol and cigarettes, following his older brother into any work available to make ends meet.

Details:

• Title (English): A Ciambra
  
• Country: Italy
  
• Year: 2017
  
• Director: Jonas Carpignano
• Awards: 1 Cannes Film Festival (Best European Film), 1 Bergen International Film Festival, 1 International Cinephile Awards
  

The White Balloon is a poignant story that highlights social indifference. It follows a young Iranian girl who desperately wants to buy a fish for the Persian New Year's celebration. However, due to her family's extreme poverty, she is forced to beg for help from strangers on the street. Yet, with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, no one stops to assist her in her quest to fulfill this simple wish.

Details:

• Title (English): The White Balloon
  
• Country: Iran
  
• Year: 1995
  
• Director: Jafar Panahi
• Awards: 1 Cannes Film Festival (Golden Camera), 1 New York Film Critics Awards, 1 Tokyo International Film Festival

Song Lang is the final film in the Top 10 Best Films at the 2018 Hanoi International Film Festival, and it brings the unique charm of Vietnamese cinema to the forefront. Directed by Leon Lê, the film revolves around the art of cải lương, a traditional form of Vietnamese opera. It not only introduces viewers to the richness of this art but also delves into life lessons about dreams shattered by life’s harsh realities. It captures the vibrant atmosphere of 1980s Saigon with great affection.

Though still a newcomer to the cinema scene, Song Lang has yet to win any awards. However, it has been selected for major international festivals such as the Tokyo International Film Festival and the Hawaii International Film Festival, and is expected to be a strong contender for the prestigious Golden Kite Award this year.

Details:

• Title (Vietnamese): Song Lang
• Country: Vietnam
• Year: 2018
• Director: Leon Lê
• Awards: Participated in the Tokyo International Film Festival, Participated in the Hawaii International Film Festival

A Fantastic Woman (translated: The Wonderful Woman) was awarded Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars last year, making its inclusion in this list especially noteworthy. The film tells the story of a transgender woman who faces numerous challenges and prejudices in modern society but ultimately proves that a transgender woman can be just as remarkable as any other. A Fantastic Woman serves as a powerful statement from the LGBT community, which often faces injustice and discrimination in society.

Details:

• Vietnamese Title: Người đàn bà tuyệt vời
• Country: Chile
• Year: 2017
• Director: Sebastián Lelio
• Awards: 1 Oscar (Best Foreign Language Film), 3 Berlin International Film Festival awards, 1 Film Independent Award