Sunflower
Italian director Vittorio de Sica’s Sunflower is the story of a young bride who lost her husband in the war. After several years, she finds him affected with amnesia and living in Moscow with a wife. The scenes where they meet after several years and their final parting in a moving train are forever etched in your mind. There are memorable performances from Marcello Mastroiani and Sophia Loren in this 1970 film.
Casablanca
The timeless love story directed by Michael Curtiz narrates an American expatriate's (Humphrey Bogart) meeting with his former lover (Ingrid Bergman) in Morocco and how he helps her and her husband escape from the Germans.
Red Wine
This Salam Bappu movie follows a reformed goon who is forced to commit a murder for the sake of money. The last scene where Mohanlal walks away from the mortuary, sorrowfully looking at the young widow and her child waiting in an auto, totally helpless, is one of the best closing scenes I have seen.
Schindler's List
Steven Spielberg's gripping drama is based on the true story of a German Industrialist, Oskar Schindler. A member of the Nazi party, Oskar on seeing the persecution of the Jews in Poland, tries to save his Jewish employees. Masterful direction by Spielberg and a riveting performance by Liam Neeson make this film unforgettable.
The Pianist
This Roman Polanski movie portrays the tale of renowned pianist Wladyslaw Szpilmans. A touching movie with a poignant performance by Adrien Brody. I liked the scene in the ruined building where the Nazi officer asks Wladyslaw to play the piano for him.
Jacob Dilip Titus
Thiruvananthapuram
(Readers can send in their top five list to frhighfive@gmail.com. The write-up should not exceed 250 words.)
