4. Spirited Away (2001) (Dir. Hayao Miyazaki)
There is no denying that Hayao Miyazaki is a true master of his field, having produced some of the best and most visually-astounding animated features of the last two decades. And yet Spirited Away is the film that defines him best as a director – a beautifully-rendered, Alice in Wonderland-like story about the innocence of youth and the boundaries of imagination. Miyazaki’s theory: that there are no boundaries, and it’s all here for you to see. Spirited Away‘s true genius lies in its universal appeal, however, as this is one piece of work that simply exits in a place of timelessness. Truly magical.
3. City Of God (2002) (Dir. Fernando Meirelles & Kátia Lund)
This highly personal, achingly raw portrait of life in the Rio de Janeiro slums is an astounding slice of world cinema: City of God tells the story of Rocket, a wannabe photographer who must deal with a dangerous existence that consists of teenage psychopaths and daily drug busts. The film has a unique visual flair, scenes of genuine tension and heartache, and focuses on dozens of characters with an enviable ease. And still City of God only ever seems completely realistic, an honest portrait of a life most of us will never know.
