Amélie

France - Amélie is very possibly the film responsible for introducing more people to world cinema than any other in the last two decades. A sweet tale of love and romance, done in director Jeunet's inimitable style.

It may be considered a 'chick flick' but it's a chick flick that anyone can love.

A Bittersweet Life

South Korea - This is very possibly the crime thriller to end all crime thrillers. Beautifully filmed, excellent acting with a very strong plot ... and action that you simply won't believe.

Absolutely superb.

Black Book

Netherlands - 'From the Director of Total Recall and Basic Instinct' screams the DVD cover. Don't let that put you off. This is an honestly told story of a young Jewish woman's involvement in the Dutch Resistance during WWII.

The Closet

France - In the UK we have the long-held belief that the French don't know how to be funny. The Closet proves otherwise. It never resorts to grossness, ridiculous unbelievable situations or puerile obscenity to get a cheap laugh, yet this is one of those rare films that genuinely makes you laugh out loud.

It's quite a surprise Hollywood hasn't remade (and mutilated) this. A superb comedy.

Crouch Tiger, Hidden Dragon

China - No one does balletic fight scenes better than the Chinese. And no one in China does them better than Ang Lee. Jaw-dropping cinematography in this breath-taking film

The benchmark that all Oriental films are judged by.

La Haine

France - Directed by Mathieu Kassovitz, Audrey Tautou's love interest in Amélie, La Haine takes us into the underworld of suburban Paris that we foreigners rarely, if ever, get to see. Set during a series of riots we see how three young men deal with their situation.

Although Kassovitz has migrated to Hollywood, the unarguable fact is that he's never equalled his debut film. Another absolute modern classic.

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

France - Yes, it's another Audrey Tautou film. It's difficult to describe this film without giving away the story. Suffice it to say that it's a love story, but one unlike you've ever seen before.

The official tagline says it all: Every love story has two sides.

Inside

France - If you think the art of making quality horror films is dead, think again. Inside is brutal, never resorts to any horror cliché, never has the characters do anything that makes no sense just to move the plot along.

Starring the wonderfully eccentric Béatrice Dalle, Inside proves it is still possible to make a great horror film - all you need is a cliché-free script and excellent actors.

Ichi The Killer - uncut version contains strong violence.

Japan - Anime cartoons brought to life. Some scenes can be quite shocking in their violence, but if you like manga then they're the sort of shocks you'll love.

Jean De Florette

France - Death, intrigue and betrayal in the French countryside. For many people Jean De Florette is the best French film ever made. You certainly won't find a French film with a better cast: Yves Montand, Gérard Depardieu and Daniel Auteuil.

Three of France's greatest actors in the adaption of one of France's greatest novels. What more can you ask for?

Once Were Warriors

New Zealand - Domestic abuse, alcoholism, hopelessness, lawlessness. The heart-rendering trials and tribulations of a Maori family in modern New Zealand.

It may not sound like an enjoyable film, but Once Were Warriors is a genuine classic.

Pan's Labyrinth

Mexico/Spain - There are few people in the world who can mix reality and fantasy into a seamless story quite like Guillermo del Toro. The man is, quite simply, the reincarnation of the Brothers Grimm: a peerless story teller of dark fairy tales.

Set just after the Spanish Civil War (one of del Toro's favourite subjects), in 1944, Pan's Labyrinth is, without any doubt, del Toro's best film.

La Reine Margot

France - This is how period dramas should be made. The Massacre of St. Bartholomew (1572) is famous, or possibly more accurately, infamous in France.

Paris explodes as the Catholics slaughter the Protestants who are in the city to celebrate the marriage of the King's sister, the Catholic Margot, to the Protestant Henry III of Navarre.

Taxi

France - A film made by boys for boys. The story's quite simple, but you get the feeling the whole film was little more than an excuse for Luc Besson and the barking mad stunt coordinator, Michel Julienne, to get together and smash the living crap out of everything they could get their hands on.

It's silly, never takes itself remotely seriously, yet never treats the audience like they're stupid. If you want comedy, action and some of the best stunt driving you'll ever see, then Taxi is for you.

Warning - Do not confuse this with the visual diarrhoea that is the US remake (also made by Besson), starring Queen Latifah.

Tell No One

France - Take one talented US thriller writer, mix him with one talented French director, and you get Tell No One. Combining the best elements of both country's film making talents, the end result is a stylish thriller.

This is another film that has really helped introduce people to world cinema.

La Vie En Rose

France - For me, La Vie En Rose is technically the greatest film that's ever been made. The cinematography, the script, the editing, the music, the lighting, the acting ... it's quite simply impossible to improve any of them. Marion Cotillard is absolutely incredible as Edith Piaf. Don't worry, you don't have to be a fan of Edith Piaf's music to love this film (I certainly wasn't).

I simply can't recommend this film enough. Perfect.