The more movies you watch the more you become convinced how they are wondrously difficult things to make. Billy Wilder didn't say that exactly, but he did say something about the job getting harder as he got older, so I figured it out. I'm always awed by the fact that so many incredibly watchable films come out at all, not to mention the insight and dedication of Japanese distributors to bring over lesser known film jewels from the Middle East and Central Asia, some of which are included in my list, which is in no particular order.
"Le silence de Lorna":
Belgian filmmaking brothers Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne specialize in portrayals of "Bleak With Hope" — and their latest charts the movements and emotions of Lorna (Arta Dobroshi), a fresh-faced Albanian immigrant knee-deep in a fake marriage scam. She's wed to heroin junkie Claudy (Jeremie Renier) solely to secure a Belgian passport. But she's not as tough as she thought and is devastated when Claudy ODs, leaving her in a no-man's swamp of guilt and regret.