It’s a new year so time to kick off our staff lists of top ten movies watched (not made) in 2010. First up is site co-founder Andrew Saroch who certainly managed to find much to appreciate in the Korean corner. However, his prize position is actually reserved for a classic piece of Japanese cinema…

10. I Am Happy

Director: Yoon Jong-Chan
Cast: Hyun-Bin, Lee Bo-Young, Park No-Shik, Park Young-Seo, Jung Jae-Jin

Another Korean entry focusing on illness, this time the tragic mental turmoil of an institutionalised man bravely played by heart-throb Hyun Bin. A powerful film about friendship and the way even the slighest gesture can have a profound effect.

9. My Mother, The Mermaid

Director: Park Heung-Sik
Cast: Jeon Do-Yeon, Park Hae-Il, Ko Du-Shim, Kim Bu-Seon, Kim Bong-Gun

Jeon Do-Yeon excels in a dual role in this touching drama about family bonds. It starts slowly, but becomes quite an enchanting piece of Korean cinema.
Read the Far East Films review

8. Hot Summer Days

Director: Tony Chan, Wing Shya
Cast: Nicholas Tse, Jacky Cheung, Rene Liu, Vivian Hsu, AngelaBaby

A fine ensemble rom-com with a great deal of charm, that rare example of a portmanteau film where all of the elements work.
Read the Far East Films review

7. A Moment To Remember

Director: John H. Lee
Cast: Jung Woo-Sung, Son Ye-Jin, Baek Jong-Hak, Lee Seon-Jin, Park Sang-Gyu

Another first rate drama about a rather grueling subject, Alzheimer’s Disease. Seeing attractive Korean stars battling tragedy might not be to everyone’s taste, but it’s delivered with devastating power. Once again Asian cinema shows the West how to execute a classy tear-jerker.

6. Closer To Heaven

Director: Park Jin-Pyo
Cast: Kim Myung-Min, Ha Ji-Won, Lim Ha-Ryong, Lim Sung-Min, Son Ga-In

It sounds a little glib to say that nobody makes dramas about terminal illness like the Koreans, but it may still be true. ‘Closer To Heaven’ features one of the great acting performances of recent years – from Kim Myung Min – and despite packing a very powerful emotional punch, it’s a sophisticated drama that deserves a wider audience.
Read the Far East Films review

5. Secret Reunion

Director: Jang Hun
Cast: Song Kang-Ho, Gang Dong-Won, Jeon Kuk-Hwan, Park Hyuk-Kwon, Yoon Hee-Seok

Two hours of superb cinema. Song Kang Ho is as captivating as ever, but the acting chops go to Kang Dong Won as the betrayed North Korean spy stuck in the South. The perfect example of edge-of-the-seat drama.

4. Overheard

Director: Alan Mak, Felix Chong
Cast: Lau Ching-Wan, Louis Koo, Daniel Wu, Zhang Jingchu, Alex Fong Chung-Sun

My beloved Hong Kong cinema has been responsible for some cracking thrillers in recent years and ‘Overheard’ is among the very pinnacle. Great performances from Lau Ching-Wan and Louis Koo, expertly written and it never lets the viewer out of its vice-like grip.
Read the Far East Films review

3. Nobody To Watch Over Me

Director: Ryoichi Kimizuka
Cast: Koichi Sato, Mirai Shida, Ryuhei Matsuda, Yuriko Ishida, Kuranosuke Sasaki

Vying neck-and-neck with ‘Departures’ for the second position in my top ten, but ultimately has to make do with third place. A brilliant thriller mixed with a drama and a tender story of reliance that starts off well and just gets better and better.
Read the Far East Films review

2. Departures

Director: Yojiro Takita
Cast: Masahiro Motoki, Ryoko Hirosue, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kimiko Yo, Kazuko Yoshiyuki

Japan won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2009, but even without this feint praise from the West, this should be essential viewing for everyone. A quite beautiful drama.
Read the Far East Films review

1. Sansho The Bailiff

Director: Kenji Mizoguchi
Cast: Kinuyo Tanaka, Yoshiaki Hanayagi, Kyoko Kagawa, Eitaro Shindo, Akitake Kono

Regarded as one of the great works of cinema by critics with far better vocabularies than mine and who am I to disagree? A stunning work of film-making from Kenji Mizoguchi, fully deserving of its reputation.