The Criterion Collection
An instantly recognizable icon of the twentieth century, this pioneering actor and director blended slapstick humor with poignant social commentary in some of the most beloved comedies of the silent era.
The acclaimed actor shares his affection for the dark humor of The Cremator, credits Benicio del Toro with introducing him to the films of Kaneto Shindo, and praises Mexican-cinema classics like Canoa: A Shameful Memory and Amores perros.
In her raw, evocative dramas, this acclaimed French director has examined the effects of colonialism in Africa and the human struggle for intimacy in a violent and alienating world.
The acclaimed actor shares his deep connection to Onibaba, praises Isabelle Huppert and her performance in The Piano Teacher, recalls Gate of Flesh’s influence on the Wooster Group, and selects a few of his collaborations with Wes Anderson and Martin...
The filmmaking duo talk about their love of black-and-white cinema, the influence of Carl Theodor Dreyer, and the epic scope of The Human Condition.
The director of She Came to Me and Personal Velocity talks about the most disturbing films she has ever seen, the sad humor of Miloš Forman, and the poetic-realist masterpiece that might be her favorite movie of all time.
The legendary English director talks about discovering world cinema in his teenage years, the ways that Vivre sa vie gets to the “raw core of life,” the humor and politics in The Firemen’s Ball, and his experiences as a film...
Essays
Apr 29, 2025 — Drawing from a rich tradition of films that depict the lives of sex workers, Sean Baker’s Oscar-winning triumph takes a complex approach to exploring the fundamentally transactional nature of human relationships.
Mar 26, 2024 — In Gus Van Sant’s wickedly funny tale of suburban depravity, Nicole Kidman plays a vacuous weather reporter whose hunger for fame anticipates our own era of digital celebrity.
Sep 20, 2022 — The Canadian auteur Atom Egoyan’s strip-club-set drama is an intricate tapestry of grief and trauma, held together by a longing for human connection.