Favorite New to Me Films of 2020

I started off slow, slogged through California’s first lockdown and Covid in my brother’s family, only to regain my enthusiasm for movies late in 2020 as we are again on indefinite lockdown. My viewing for this year began with 1968 and ended in mid-1973.  I am really happy truncating my watching for a year into whatever will fit in six weeks.  I logged 229 films on Letterboxd, about 50 more than I did in 2019.

I saw many great films.  Since I’ve been seeking out classic movies for a long time, many of the best were re-watches.  Still there were many gems that were new to me. This year I have divided my lists into films that are not listed in the 1001 Movie book and those that are.  The lists are in chronological order.  I have pondered why there are not more Hollywood films on these lists as American cinema is once again coming into its own.  My explanation is that I was going out to the movie theater a lot at that time so I had already seen the best Hollywood films from these years.

Not Listed in 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die

Kuroneko (Black Cat) (1968) – directed by Kaneto Shindo

The Cremator (1969) – directed by Juraj Herz

All My Good Countrymen (1969) – directed by Vojtec Jazny

Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion (1970) – directed by Elio Petri

Dodeskaden (1970) – Directed by Akira Kurosawa

The Emigrants (1971) – Directed by Jan Troell

Duel (1971) – Directed by Stephen Spielberg

The Mattei Affair (1972) – Directed by Francesco Rosi

Love and Anarchy (1973) – Directed  by Lina Wertmuller

The Last Detail (1973) – Directed by Hal Ashby

New-to-Me Films from 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die

if … (1968) – Directed by Lindsay Anderson

Memories of Underdevelopment (1968) – Directed by Tomas Gutierrez Alea

Tristana (1970) – Directed by Luis Buñuel

Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (1970) – Directed by Jaromil Jires

Solaris (1972) – Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky

The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant (1972) – Directed by Ranier Werner Fassbinder

Fat City (1972) – Directed by John Huston

Fantastic Planet (1973) – Directed by Rene Laloux

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Movies weren’t the only good thing about 2020.  Meet my new grandniece Rooney Brooke, born about a month premature in September and now thriving without a care in the world.  She rolled over for the first time yesterday.  Someday in 2021, when no one is looking, I will squeeze her sweet little cheeks.

Wishing all my readers peace, love, understanding, health, hugs, and prosperity in 2021