This week's recommended flavors include Chinese, Polish, French, Japanese, and Woody Allen.
1. Farewell My Concubine
Chen Kaige directs Gong Li in this beautiful epic story centered around two stars of the Peking Opera.
2. Three Colors Trilogy
I always found Krzysztof Kieslowski's movies too self-consciously constructed for comfort, but there is no denying their art. This set combines "Red," "White," and "Blue," starring Irene Jacob, Julie Delpy, and Juliette Binoche.
3. Ringu
It's not much of a surprise that the Japanese original of the horror hit "The Ring" is much scarier than the U.S. remake.4. Europa Europa
The powerful story of Solomon Perel, a jewish boy who survives the Holocaust by joining the Hitler Youth.5. Pauline at the Beach
Eric Rohmer's third installment in his "Comedies and Proverbs" series is a delicious riff on love, sex, and the pains of growing up.6. The Weight of Water
Kathryn Bigelow directed this thriller, set both in the present and during the 19th century, with a star cast including Sean Penn, Elizabeth Hurley, and Sarah Polley, who gets to play the drab, sad girl once again.7. Quitting
Yang Zhang's film is like no other-- not a documentary, not a fiction either. Chinese film idol turned heroine-addicted drop-out Jia Hongsheng plays himself in this compelling portrait of one man's breakdown.8. Mighty Aphrodite
Not one of Woody Allen's best, but a far cry from the shoddy work he's been cranking out recently. Mira Sorvino won an Oscar for her role as Woody's prostitute muse in this mock Greek tragedy.