31. YOU, THE LIVING
 
Sweden
dir. Roy Andersson
world premiere 2007
U.S. release 2009
 

 
Because the movie's obsession with purgatory, even its anxiety about annihilation, never lures it into cheap-shot nihilism or empty detonations of violence. Andersson comes across as a conscientious objector to modern humanity but also a tough-love benefactor. No one who'd renounced all hope could be this funny, or so obviously dote on all these exquisite, unusual vignettes.