Five films that helped define international cinema from 1956-1966, with works from France, Italy, Russia, and Czechoslovakia.

A Man Escaped (1956) dir. Robert Bresson
Ever the minimalist — spartan and efficient in his approach — Bresson’s cinema absolutely enthralling and sacred.
Nights of Cabiria (1956) dir. Federico Fellini
The last moments of the film may be the most wonderful and life-affirming in all of film. Dance and sing, even in the face of oblivion.
Ivan’s Childhood (1956) dir. Andrei Tarkovsky
The first film from possibly The GOAT of cinema (debate me, I dare you). Innocence lost and the struggle to find it again amid the ash and rubble of World War II.
Masculin Féminin (1966) dir. Jean-Luc Godard
Youth culture in revolt. Confused, angry, lustful, inundated with pop culture, and desperately trying and failing to understand one another.
Daisies (1966) dir. Věra Chytilová
Chaos. Sheer anarchic, beautiful chaos. Czech New Wave doesn’t always get the love it deserves next to similar movements from Italy or France, but is absolutely essential and worth a visit.