Each film enthusiast can create his own list of the best and most interesting dramas. Perhaps one of these lists will include films unknown to a wide audience. In today's article, only the most famous and interesting dramas are named that have earned positive reviews from both viewers and critics.
"Schindler's list"
Can Spielberg's drama be called interesting? Perhaps this neutral word does not correspond to the film about the most brutal crimes of the 20th century. There used to be a man in the United States named Poldek Pfefferberg. He lived there only thanks to one enterprising German. Namely, Oscar Schindler. In 1982, Thomas Kenilli wrote a book based on Pfefferberg's memoirs, according to which, 10 years later, Steven Spielberg made a film that won the hearts of millions of viewers. The film "Schindler's List" was awarded many awards, including the Oscar.
"Pianist"
We will call another interesting drama that tells about the events of the Second World War. The film Schindler’s List was offered to be removed by Roman Polanski, but he refused. The topic of the victims of the Auschwitz concentration camp was too painful for him. At least in the early 90s, this is how the director justified his refusal. But later it turned out that Polanski had his own story, which he wanted to translate on the screen.
In the second half of the 20th century, the book of memoirs “The Pianist” was published. Its author - Vladislav Shpilman - was not a writer, but a musician. In the late thirties, he worked on the Warsaw Radio, and then he witnessed events that completely turned his life upside down. In that war, all his loved ones died. Shpilman suffered from severe depression, in order to overcome it, on the advice of friends, once wrote a book in which he reflected the most terrible pages in the history of Poland.
Roman Polanski did not just make an interesting film. There are many dramas and melodramas narrating about military events. However, few are based on the recollections of real-life people, and only a few of them viewers around the world review many times. The best military dramas are primarily the films “Schindler's List” and “The Pianist”.
"Titanic"
Filmmakers have long noticed that the most interesting dramas are paintings, the plot of which is taken from real life. Films about some high-profile event that caused a lot of victims are especially popular.
The tragic story that happened in reality, a little fiction and romance - this is the formula for the success of the drama. An interesting melodrama that made sobbing millions of viewers around the world - the film "Titanic". The love story of Jack Dawson and Rose Dewitt in the 90s was known to everyone. Cameron's film in 1997 was watched even by those who do not consider themselves fans of melodrama. It is noteworthy that the shooting of "Titanic" cost more than the construction of the ship itself, which sank in the Atlantic Ocean in 1912.
"Knockin 'on Heaven"
Of course, not only Hollywood filmmakers create interesting drama films. In 1997, the German picture was released. The main idea of the plot is "To be afraid is stupid." There are questions that interest everyone, but I do not always want to find answers to them. What happens to a person after death? The heroes of the film “Knocking on Heaven” did not know the answer to this question, but they were sure that it was unforgivable to go to the other world without having ever visited the sea coast.
The sad story of two young people living the last days of their lives found response both from the audience and from the critics. The film can be safely attributed to the best and most interesting dramatic films created at the end of the 20th century.
"Reader"
The actor who played the villain in the film “Schindler's List” played the main role in this film. The director of the film "Reader", which was released in 2008, Stephen Doldry, also turned to the theme of World War II. True, neither SS sadists nor prisoners of Auschwitz are shown in the film. Moreover, the author of the book, based on which the film was created, seems to have some sympathy for the main character, who during the war served as a warder in a concentration camp.
Reader is a love film between a 15 year old teenager and a thirty five year old woman. For him, it was the first unforgettable experience. For her, love has turned consciousness. He came to her every evening and read Goethe, Schiller, Shakespeare, Mann, Chekhov and other classics. And then they indulged in passion.
Their romance ended unexpectedly - a woman suddenly left the city. And after eight years, the main character was present at the show trial in Nuremberg, where his beloved was tried. About how the tragic story ended, it is worth learning from the film or the literary source - the novel by Bernhard Schlink, “The Reader”. In the film adaptation of the same name, the main character was played by Kate Winslet, who became famous in 1997 for the role of Rose in “Titanic”.
"12 years of slavery"
The historical drama was released in 2015. It is based on the story of Solomon Northup, a resident of the northern United States who fell into slavery in 1841. Already from the name it is clear that the hero spent 12 years in captivity. The Steve McQueen film has collected many awards, including three Oscars.
The story of Solomon ended well. He returned to his family, who had been waiting for him for twelve years. But the time spent in slavery completely changed his life. After his release, he became a well-known public figure in the country, lectured on his life in slavery and published several autobiographical books.
The above is, of course, far from a complete list of the best dramatic films of foreign filmmakers. The list is worth adding the paintings "Rain Man", "Green Mile" and many others. But it is impossible to tell about all these works within the framework of one article. In addition, it is worth paying attention to interesting dramas and thrillers shot by Russian directors.
"Leviathan"
The film by Andrei Zvyagintsev received many awards. Reviews about him, however, are rather controversial. Some Russian viewers saw in the picture slander against the authorities and the Orthodox Church. Nevertheless, the Metropolitan of Murmansk and Monchegorsk called the plot true and noted that the film should not be prohibited.
"Brest Fortress"
A lot of films are being created in Russia today about the war. Unfortunately, few of them have high artistic value and historical authenticity. Brest Fortress is a really good film that everyone should watch. It reflects the events of the first days of World War II and is based on the documentary book of Sergei Smirnov, a writer who spent about 15 years searching for information about the battles that took place in Brest in June-July 1941. The film was nominated for the Golden Eagle Award. Critics praised the film, and one of them even called it "the most powerful military film."
The drama of Pavel Chukhrai “The Thief” was highly appreciated not only by Russian but also by foreign critics. This is a heavy film about the post-war years. The film is based on the recollections of the protagonist, whose father died at the front. The main roles were played by Vladimir Mashkov and Ekaterina Rednikova.
The best Russian dramas of recent years include Andrei Konchalovsky’s film “Paradise”. This film also discusses the events of World War II, in the Auschwitz concentration camp. But there are no negative and positive characters. The stories of a Russian emigrant, SS officers and a French collaborator are told.