Cinema as an art form hasa long and glorious history, punctuated by endless tales of visionary artists whose creativity has redefined it over and over. At the center of the exciting films that stray from cinematic custom into weird and wonderful realms isArthouse Cinema. It’s not easy to define exactly what Arthouse is. The best definition might be that Arthouse is defined by films that defy convention and drift from mainstream interests into unorthodox and revolutionary dimensions that favor artistic creativity over commercial safety.
Aside from their depth and nuance, it’s the stylized aesthetics, visually unusual directing techniques, and wonderful structural abnormalities that distinguish them. Arthouse Cinema has been around about as long since movies themselves, and can be traced back to the 1920s. Crucial to its existence and emergence as a celebrated part of movie-making are the influential directors who have defined Arthouse by their willingness to be different, their appeal to niche audiences, and a tendency to push the boundaries of artistic flair. In honor of those luminary filmmakers who have lit up cinema with theireloquently expressive techniques, here are 15 Arthouse directors whose work has defined the genre.
15Wong Kar-Wai
An internationally celebrated auteur of cinema,Wong Kar-waiis a Hong Kong filmmaker who has carved out a strong reputation for his unique style andintensely emotive films. Wong’s style encompasses the use of bold colors, vivid cinematography, haunting musical accompaniments, and narratives that don’t stick to conventionally linear narratives. While he’s worked on many other films, commercials, music videos, and short stories, his main filmography consists of 10 films that were all exquisitely made.
A Darling of the Cannes Film Festival
For the full breadth of his work, Wong has been nominated for and won a staggering number of awards across Asia, North America, and Europe. Five of his films have been nominated forthe coveted Palme d’Or at the Cannes between 1997 and 2007, and he won the Best Director Award forHappy Together.His other films, likeFallen Angels,In the Mood for Love, 2046,andMy Blueberry Nights,have all garnered widespread critical acclaim and become exemplars of Arthouse Cinema. Many consider him to bethe greatest director of the ’90s, with his contributions to the genre making him a living legend.
14Jane Campion
A native of New Zealand,Jane Campionhas been almost universallyacclaimed for her work in film. Despite having a relatively small collection of films and short films to her name, she has frequently collaborated with the likes of Harvey Keitel and Nicole Kidman. Her films likeThe PianoandThe Power of the Dogearned her two Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Film, with six nominations between them.
A Luminary of the Female Experience
Exploring deep themes of female complexity, her poetic style is often drenched in beautiful symbolism that land as creative and expressive vehicles for social commentary. Her masterful attention to detail elicits poignant emotional responses and didactic meditations on diverse female experiences. Often visually stunning, her films assault the senses while coaxing thought-provoking perspectives through the stories they tell.
Stream The Power of the Dog on Netflix
13Béla Tarr
A Hungarian filmmaker,Béla Tarrwas known forhis dark and pessimistic art filmsand documentaries that were replete with intricate subtleties. Despite having only made nine feature films, Tarr’s work effortlessly infused themes of politics, human nature, and existential dread withapocalyptic overtones. His artistic vision set them apart as slowly moving, but deeply emotive and stylishly dexterous tales.
He Was Bold and Unflinching
With his last film coming in 2011,A torinói ló (The Turin Horse),Tarr took a simplistic concept of the bond between a man and his horse and turned it into a fascinating rumination on daily life told through the lens of mortality. Tarr’s bold and unflinching style saw him also make films like Sátántangó (Satan’s Tango), which, despite being an astonishing seven hours long,has been described in glowing terms:
Immediately and fervently embraced by critics, the film has also been a hit with art-house viewers, garnering an almost unheard-of 100 % approval rating on the film site Rotten Tomatoes. Cultural critic and novelist Susan Sontag was quoted as sayingSátántangówas “devastating, enthralling for every minute of its seven hours,” adding she would be “glad to see it every year for the rest of [her] life.” High praise for any film.
Related:The Longest Movies: Some of the Best Over 5 Hours
12Richard Linklater
A more contemporary filmmaker, but no less celebrated as an Arthouse master,Richard Linklateris an American director known for his distinct narratives and dedication to his craft. His brilliant films,Before Sunrise, Before Sunset,andBefore Midnight,is often hailed asthe greatest trilogy of all time. Starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, the films tell the story of their love for each other, told over the course of 18 years, yet each depicting a single day in their lives over that period.
Known as a Master of Efficiency
Linklater’s other widely acclaimed films, likeDazed and ConfusedandTapealso take place in a single day, with the latter even shot in a single room. His films resonate powerfully through his eye for art, a talent that saw him make his breakout film,Slacker,on a budget of just $23,000. He’s been nominated for every major award, and is widely regarded asone of the most efficient and creative directors aroundtoday.
11David Cronenberg
David Cronenbergis credited with being the principal originator of the body horror sub-genre. His many films that explored body transformations were mixed in with psychological and technological tropes that were as engrossing as they were deeply uncomfortable. Films likeShivers, Scanners, andThe Flyare cult classics and were all uniquely brilliant. Cronenberg’s modern films includeCosmopolis, Maps to the Stars,andCrimes of the Future,and he’s stillactive as a filmmaker today.
He Made Movies Unique and Enthralling
Cronenberg’s achievements in becoming one of the leading names of Arthouse Cinema is a testament to how technically exceptional andmorbidly creativehis films are. He’s often considered the best sci-fi director in the world, ahead of better-known, more crowd-pleasing box office darlings like Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott, and James Cameron.
In contrast to the dazzling films those directors are known for, Cronenberg’s films are unique,enthralling and darkly creative, the work of someone as committed to his art form as an artist who bleeds onto his canvas whenever red is needed.
10Zhang Yimou
Widely regarded as one of the greatest directors in the world,Zhang Yimouis a Chinese filmmaker who started his career as a cinematographer. His first film,Red Sorghumis now considered a classic, and he went on to make many otherhighly acclaimed moviesfrom there. Many would go on to earn Oscar nods and amaze audiences at major international film festivals like Berlin, Venice, and Cannes. One of Yimou’s crowning moments came when heearned a Peabody for the beautiful spectacles he created for the ceremonies at the Beijing Summer Olympics.
His Films are Moving Works of Art
Western audiences know him best for films likeHouse of Flying DaggersandThe Great Wall,both of which exemplified the stunning beauty of his movies. Colorful and visually hypnotizing, Yimou’s directing style encompassed beautiful, moving works of art that place a high emphasis on Chinese culture.
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9Agnès Varda
Described as “one of the Gods of cinema” by Martin Scorsese,Agnès Vardawas a French-Greek director and screenwriter whose work was simply astounding. From the ’50s right up until her death in 2019, Varda was a prolific filmmaker with a host of films and short films to her name. Asa stylistic precursor to the French New Wave, her remarkable 60-year career often saw her praised by other visionary directors, like François Truffaut.
He was Considered a Filmmaking Genius
With a signature style, her films likeCléo from 5 to 7andVagabondwere stunning examples of originality and artistry. The latter begins with a woman found dead in a ditch and then proceeds to tell her story in reverse, like the rewinding of a life. A film typical of Varda’s almost unnatural talent for mind-bending concepts, she was able to repeat that kind of flair with dazzling consistency. Often dubbed the Queen of auteur cinema, a feminist, impressionist, artist, visionary, and a filmmaking genius,her work was beautifully radical.
Related:The 12 Best Arthouse Sci-Fi Movies of All Time
8Abbas Kiarostami
Another late, great icon of Arthouse Cinema, the Iranian director, producer, screenwriter, and poet,Abbas Kiarostamiwas a filmmaker who received worldwide acclaim from critics and peers like Jean-Luc Godard, Giovanni Moretti, and Martin Scorsese.A specialist in long takes. Abbas' style often engendered a sense of reflection from viewers by creating a sense of physical distance between them and the characters.
He was Known for Being Both Brilliant and Controversial
Among a stunning array of great films,some of his best filmsincludeTaste of Cherry,a minimalist film that poses a haunting question of whether life is worth living. On the other hand,The Wind Will Carry Uswas hailed as a masterpiece by critics. Brilliant and controversial, despite the scandals that rocked his career, his legacy to film remains one of the most enduring in cinematic history.
7Stephen Frears
A BAFTA and Emmy-winner, British directorStephen Frearsalso has two Academy Award nominations to his name forThe GriftersandThe Queen.With a film history that goes back to the late ’60s, his 21st century films include influential andacclaimed films likeHigh Fidelity,Dirty Pretty Things, Philomena, andVictoriaand Abdul.
Critics Couldn’t Decide if He was Brilliant or an Auteur?
Frears' brilliant style frequently sees him being considered an auteur. An actor’s director, he’s worked with some of the most respected stars in the industry across Britain and Hollywood. His characters are superbly well drawn, with themes like classism usually popping up in his films. Even in the ’80s, his filmsThe HitandMy Beautiful Laundrettewere beautifully constructed social and political commentary, and delivered asamazing works of cinematic art.
Related:The 24 Best British Directors of All Time
6Chantal Akerman
Chantal Akermanwas a feminist, an icon of avant-garde cinema, and a visionary. The Belgian filmmaker has shown relentless artistic pursuit since the mid-’70s, and accumulated a rich legacy of films, short films, and documentaries, until her tragic death, reputedly by suicide, in 2015, when she was just 65.
A True Icon of Feminism Through Film
Her films were a monumental legacy to her greatness and were universally loved by critics. In what was only her second film,Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles,Akerman gave the world a picture that ranks as the greatest film of all time bySight & Sound’scritic’s poll. The story of a widowed mother of a teenage son, who occasionally engages in sex work to survive, the film was a emotionally opulent, slow nosedive into radicalism, though infused with such superlative technique that it forever cemented her as an icon.
StreamJeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelleson Max
