46 Films from Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Project

A well-educated man from Mauritania travels to Paris seeking employment, but faces obstacles due to his ethnicity.

In May 1964, three British filmmakers journeyed with Khampa guerrillas into occupied Tibet via a high-altitude pass from Nepal. They filmed a dramatic ambush of a Chinese military convoy. The footage was smuggled to London and edited, then released in…

This film tells the story of a young pickpocket in a close-knit community. As his friends seek more stable lives, he struggles to adjust and feels resentment. His world changes when an unexpected event forces him to confront his past…

Argentina, 1915. A doctor and his daughter, Köhner, accompany a ruthless foreman to the city of Posadas to hire workers for a yerba mate plantation, which he controls with an iron hand.

This drama follows a pianist who moves his family – his wife and children – into a new home. His wife, burdened by her demanding job, starts to experience health problems. The composer then hires a spirited housemaid who quickly…

Ngando and Ndomé have a deeply loving relationship. However, tradition requires a dowry for Ndomé that Ngando, an orphan, cannot pay. Desperate, Ngando turns to his uncle for help, placing himself at the uncle's mercy and exposing him to the…

In Taipei, a young woman navigates the difficulties of building her life. She relies on her boyfriend, Lung, for stability and guidance. But Lung's past – memories of playing baseball and a strong sense of loyalty – leads him into…

This film, adapted from a short story by G.B. Senanayake's collection "The Revenge," tells the story of a murder motivated by the desire to find a hidden treasure.

"Traces" follows the stories of three Cuban women, all named Lucía, living in different eras: the 1890s, the 1930s, and the 1960s.

In a rural farming town, a clever tobacco farmer schemes to control his rivals by seizing control of their water supply. The film shows how he secretly redirects water from other farms to his own, taking advantage of the land…

Two young women flee their lives in a small village. Gyöngyi, from an aristocratic family, is disowned by her father after becoming pregnant. She ends up on the streets of Budapest, supporting herself by playing the violin in a restaurant.…

This moving film tells the story of a good-natured cart-taxi driver who travels to the city seeking work to help his family back home. He quickly witnesses the hardship of the city's poor. Moved by their struggles and his own…

Adapted from a significant work of Middle Kingdom Egyptian literature, *The Eloquent Peasant* blends folk tale and poetry. The story unfolds between 2160 and 2025 BC when a peasant named Khun-anup and his donkey encounter the lands of the noble…

This film follows a young girl's daily life and aspirations in the贫困的Manila slums. It explores the difficulties she faces as she tries to cope with challenging circumstances, particularly the arrival of her mother's new boyfriend, which further strains their already…

A writer pitches a film idea to a producer, hoping to sell the concept. While describing the story, scenes from his dance movie begin to unfold around them.

In a dangerous slum of Mexico City, a group of young people fight to survive in a world of violence, crime, and poverty. Pedro, one of these youths, starts with a strong sense of right and wrong. But as he's…

Three people are adrift on a vast ocean, with no hope of rescue. To endure their dire situation, they begin sharing stories from their past, revealing the events that brought them to this isolated place. Each story shows how their…

This powerful drama tells the story of Pixote, a young boy trapped in the brutal reality of a Brazilian youth detention center. After two fellow inmates are murdered by corrupt police and falsely accused, Pixote teams up with Lilica, a…

With the death of the noble house's matriarch, a power struggle erupts among her heirs vying for control of the family legacy.

"Deliviran" is set in a village near Urfa, close to the Syrian border, where smuggling is common. Hidir wants to avoid this dangerous life, but circumstances force him into the criminal underworld. When his boss gets caught up in risky…

Julio, a young fisherman from a close-knit coastal village, travels to the busy city of Manila to find a lost loved one. He struggles to adjust to the unfamiliar urban environment, feeling increasingly isolated. The film follows Julio's journey through…

After fighting for a revolutionary cause, a man returns home to discover the post-revolution world has drastically changed, diverging significantly from the society he envisioned and struggled to create.

Inside a secluded, Gothic monastery, monk Javier experiences a disturbing vision of his fellow monk, Juan. Overwhelmed, Javier tries to kill Juan with a crucifix. Afterward, the two monks recount their conflicting accounts of a past romantic rivalry.

This fictional documentary presents a portrait of Dakar, Senegal, through a conversation between Senegalese director Djibril Diop Mambéty and Frenchwoman Inge Hirschnitz. Traveling through the city in a horse-drawn wagon, they navigate diverse neighborhoods, encountering striking contrasts: a small African…

Set in 1960s Taiwan, the film follows a young boy as he navigates the complexities of first love, the bonds of friendship, and the realities of injustice during his formative years.

This documentary examines the life of Patrice Lumumba, the African political leader who served as Prime Minister of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). It chronicles his time in power and culminates with the circumstances surrounding his assassination…

The film explores the life of 18th-century Armenian poet and musician Sayat-Nova, from his early life to his death. It particularly examines his complicated relationships with women, including one who inspired his work. Mikhail Vartanov’s innovative film uses Sayat-Nova's poems…

After a long time in France, a young Ivorian intellectual returns home. He struggles to reconcile his modern European ideas with his African upbringing. Also grappling with sexual repression, he is haunted by the image of a woman with a…

A Mexican fisherman, devastated by the death of his son due to lack of medical care he couldn't afford, begins to understand the extent of the exploitation suffered by himself and his fellow fishermen. They are controlled by a single,…

Moving to a new neighborhood for a teaching position, the awkward and bookish Mr. Hekmati struggles to fit in.

This film meticulously charts the development of the Algerian national movement from 1939 to the start of the revolution on November 1, 1954. It shows how the "Algerian War" was not a sudden event, but a gradual build-up of suffering…

Mory, a simple cowherd yearning for something more, and Anta, a driven student with limited funds, connect over a shared goal: to travel to Paris. They work various jobs – from tending cattle to navigating city life – to raise…

After his father's death, Abdelwahad, the young head of the family, struggles to support his seven brothers amidst limited opportunities. Faced with hardship, he is drawn to a relative's offer of work in France.

Following the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, this moving story centers on Sergio, who stays behind in Cuba while his family emigrates to Miami. Amidst a climate of uncertainty and fear, Sergio faces personal difficulties, including pursuing relationships in Havana.…

Domingos, involved in an African liberation movement, is arrested by the Portuguese secret police following violent clashes in Angola. His wife desperately searches for him, moving from one prison to another, unable to determine his whereabouts.

During the tumultuous Mexican Revolution, General Reyes and his guerrilla soldiers invade Cholula, a prosperous conservative town near Mexico City. This action dramatically changes the town and deeply affects General Reyes. While his troops plunder Cholula's wealth, Reyes becomes unexpectedly…

In a secluded island fishing village, young Ah-Ching and his friends finish school but struggle to find direction, spending their time drinking and fighting as they face the challenges of growing up. Seeking opportunity, three of them travel to Kaohsiung,…

This is the story of a compassionate young woman who grew up in a refugee family after leaving East Pakistan. Raised in a comfortable home, she always puts her family first. But her constant selflessness is often unrewarded, leading her…

While hiking in a forest, Alfonso, Eduardo, and Cristina become lost. They are found by an unusual monk who leads them to an old convent. Inside, the three friends experience unsettling changes in their personalities, particularly Cristina, who develops an…

A determined Senegalese woman journeys to the vineyards of southern France hoping for a better life. Instead, she faces cultural clashes, isolation, and subtle prejudice that challenge her aspirations. Working as a governess for a French family, her experiences reveal…

Consumed by fury, a teacher commits a fatal act against a student. Years later, a young man is meticulously trained for a single objective: to exact revenge for his sister's murder.

This film explores the lives and hardships of a fishing community in Bangladesh, living along the River Titas, in the years following the 1947 Partition of India.

This film chronicles the remarkable Moroccan band Nass El Ghiwane as they perform a series of captivating live shows across Tunisia, Morocco, and France, from the bustling streets of Casablanca to intimate settings. Known for their powerful storytelling through music…

A film crew journeys through Thailand, inviting local villagers to contribute to a continuously expanding narrative.

In 1881, on the eve of British colonization of Egypt, a true story emerges about the Abd el-Rasuls, a leading family from Upper Egypt. They become embroiled in a web of intrigue after stealing artifacts from the newly discovered tomb…

In the Malabar region of India, a peaceful village maintains its traditional way of life. Their tranquility is disrupted by the arrival of a mysterious stranger who appears unexpectedly. This enigmatic figure captivates the villagers with extraordinary magic tricks. As…