les enfants du paradis.
or, children of paradise ~ children of the gods (there is merit in either translation). possibly the most gripping film ever made, unless you're addicted to spaceships and explosions. the writing and direction are top-notch, the acting sublime (and i do not use that word lightly) and the background of the film as rich as could be.

it was made in occupied france, and many of the principals were members of the resistance. sets, actors, supplies and shot film all had to be hidden from the occupying nazis and transported to safe houses at a moment's notice, and the entire production was feared lost a few times.

i knew of it before i ever saw it and was prepared for it to be less than it was hyped to be. it is, in reality, such a gorgeous, emotional document that it deserves its place in the grouping of 'best films ever made'. the criterion remaster from a few years back is worth seeing, by the way - clean print and some previously lost footage restored.

oh, and if that isn't enough of a recommend, it plays a big part in a great book with a classic/arthouse film plot and subplots called flicker (by theodore roszak), which is currently being made into a film. that movie will likely suck 99 kinds of ass, but the book is top fun (and the source of more than a few cryptic jokes and comments i've made here). oh, and terry gilliam loved it - it was one of his favourite films too.

mediocre mentioned another favourite: auch zwerge haben klein angefangen (even dwarfs started small), which is in my top 5 or top ten films.
( postbear has metal knees, Sat 19 Jul 2008, 7:21, Reply)