Summary

Although there are many outstanding western made in America , there are also plenty of quality movies in the musical style by foreign director as well . Italy’sSpaghetti Westernsare the second most intimate workings in the music genre after American entries , and Australian Westerns are fairly well - know , but Westerns from Korea , Indonesia , Russia , Mexico , India , and Denmark lean to be overlooked . While most Westerns from character of the reality outside of America run to contain standardised iconography to their Hollywood counterparts , such as vast , dusty landscapes , six - shooters , and hoarse floater protagonists , the sensibilities and commentary fromforeign Westerns tend to be untypical of the literary genre and specific to their country of origin .

Whereas most Westerns from the U.S. check strong themes of America ’s frontier period , foreign Westerns often includepolitical themes that address humanitarian offspring , feminism , and even America ’s treatment of its heathenish citizens . This firmly hold out against the grain of what ’s typically expected of the westerly genre . what is more , many of the Westerns by strange filmmakers tend to have more wild and grisly depictions of violence , as such imagery further reward the socio - economic commentary found in many of the productions . Whether from Europe , Asia , Australia , or South America , some of the most influential whole works in the Western genre surpass the United States .

Though the Western genre is of course consort with the American Southwest , there are a number of essential photographic film of similar flair , yet set in diff

Moss lying dead on the motel floor in No Country for Old Men

10The Proposition (2005)

Australian Western

The Propositionsees a lawman give a ruthless outlaw a choice : he can aid the police force fulfil his notoriously loathly older brother , or he and his younger brother will face death penalty via hang . The Propositionfeatures the landscapes and gunplay ordinarily associate with the Western writing style , butthe manner the shootouts are film sets the film apart . A conversant image of most Australian action projects is that their more thrilling chronological succession move as much as possible , a la theMad Maxfranchise . In the showcase ofThe Proposition , the movie ’s action scenes on train help it lean intemperately into its Australian sensibility .

9Django (1966)

Italian Western

Djangofollows a secret gunslinger and a motley - race prostitute as the two sail the trappings of a bloody war between the Ku Klux Klan and the Mexican Army in the Deep Antebellum South . always dragging a coffin with him , Django is notable for his earnest personality , skill with a wide assortment of guns , and his firm braveness in the face of defeat . Djangois notable for its dialog andstylistically germinate violence that helps reinforce the film ’s base of endurance . to boot , Django ’s handling of sensitive subject like racism and sexism was ahead of the film ’s prison term , and it further went on to influence Quentin Tarantino’sDjango Unchained .

Clint Eastwood was famous for popularizing the Spaghetti Western , but some of the good movies in the genre did n’t boast his gentleman With No Name .

8El Topo (1970)

Mexican Western

El Topofollows its mysterious titular gun for hire as he and his boy travel through the vast and unrelentingly live desert while on a quest for enlightenment . Throughout their odyssey , they play a serial of bizarre fictional character who help El Topo live with some of his deep traumas . Unlike most other Westerns , El Topo is more of an experience than it is a tale of revenge or justness , asits reliance on the phantasmagorical and absurdlends credence to it being more akin to a moving graphics piece than a westerly movie . A slow - burn of a film , El Topo ’s greatest strength is its dedication to break the rule .

7Tears Of The Black Tiger (2000)

Thai Western

Tears of the Black Tigertells a tale of forbidden dearest between a work - course man turned brigand named Dum and Rumpoey , the daughter of an upper - class politico . While the plastic film follows a clean received plot line not atypical of an American Western , it do itself apart through its use of forte , vibrant colors , elaborate bent designs more fittingThe phone of Music , and grindhouse style violence and action that veer toward the cartoonish . As maverick as many ofTears of the Black Tiger ’s techniques are , they give the pic an undeniably distinguishable tone that ’s supported by its impregnable lead , Chartchai Ngamsan .

Furthermore , bout of the Black Tigerincorporates some of the most creatively snap gunfights ever seen in a Western . Some of the mostdramatic shootout in Westernshave for the most part consisted of extreme close - ups of actors ' eyes and jolly tame sum of gore . Tears of the Black Tigeremploys those tactic and then addsa John Woo - esque finish that give the shootouts violent and even funny . Despite the motion picture ’s comparative obscureness and reliance on a cliché plot , tear of the Black Tigerexcels in being one of the most originative productions in the westerly genre , and its clever filmmaking technique make it singular .

6The Salvation (2014)

Danish Western

The Salvationtells the account of an American settler make Jon , who , despite defending a township from a ruthless work party of bandit , is betrayed by them and force to fend for himself when the live on outlaws run him down . In increase to the film ’s beautiful filming , The Salvationis notable for its bleak tone and extend performance from Danish thespian Mads Mikkelson , which gives his otherwise average protagonist an unexpected amount of depth and nuance . Furthermore , the film profit from deeper psychoanalysis asits opposer , play by Jeffrey Dean Morgan , is aruthless killer who enchant in his former report as a Native American killer .

Whereas many American Westerns are notorious for shying forth from the rigorousness of the nation ’s pillaging of Native Americans , The Salvationdoesn’t mince its themes that address these atrocitiesvia the actions of its master baddie . Furthermore , the village ’s decision to abandon Jon , despite how much he helped them , lends itself to interpretations of how Americans who sympathized with the Native Americans were at long last shun from their communities during the frontier . While it might not be the most far-famed westerly , The Salvationworks as a strong exemplar of a well - crafted foreign Western with strong themes and quality filmmaking .

5The Good The Bad The Weird (2008)

South Korean Western

The Good the Bad the Weirdfollows rival outlaws and their journey to locate a treasure mapping before either the Nipponese army or a group of Chinese bandits does first . feature stunning visuals and creative action scenes , The Good the Bad the Weird ’s greatest specialty is howit bright blends its action and suspense with bodily fluid . Despite its homages to Sergio Leone’sThe Good , the Bad and the Ugly , the film ’s off - kelter humor revolving around war and its upshot on forties - point Asia help it maintain its local sensibilities while being accessible to consultation worldwide and thus contributed toThe Good the Bad the Weirdbeing considered the first Kimchi Western .

4Marlina The Murderer In Four Acts (2017)

Indonesian Western

Marlina the Murderer in Four Actstells the level of the titular widow woman . She is living as peacefully as she can on the Indonesian island Sumba when she ’s force to wipe out a man named Markus in self - defense after he and his gang unsuccessfully seek to rob her . While the patch is n’t particularly primer coat - breaking , the film ’s speculation into supernatural repugnance while still maintain its westerly themeshelps secern it from many other motion picture in the musical style . Known as a Satay Western , Marlina the Murderer in Four Actsalso adds many poignant base of feminism that powerfully vibrate with Indonesian hearing during the time of its theatrical release .

WhileMarlina the Murderer in Four Actsboasts some gorgeously shot landscape that confirm a gripping story , the film ’s handling of furiousness is another aspect that merit praise , as itreinforces its melodic theme of a strong woman overcoming insurmountable oddsin a way seldom seen for woman in film . The film also includes well - shot view rife with enough tenseness to consistently pressure its audience to experience as anxious as Marlina when she ’s draw to champion herself from her primarily manful threats . Subversive and originative , Marlina the Murderer in Four Actsis a tense exploration of a woman scorned .

3White Sun Of The Desert (1977)

Russian Western

White Sun of the Desertfollows Fyodor Sukhov , a Red Army soldier tasked with see a Caspian Sea guerrilla drawing card ’s harem of wives . The film is famous for its engaging plot , butits theme of family and returning to one ’s home through great oddsare what makeWhite Sun of the Desertstand out . Fyodor is great because , even though he wants to return home to his married woman after being honorably discharged , he take his self-annihilation mission with stolidity as he understands its grandness to Soviet - era Russia . As such , the motion-picture show is required look at for Russian astronauts before ship on space travelling as it ’s an inspiring motion picture .

2Sholay (1975)

Indian Western

Sholaytells the story of Thakur Baldev Singh , a former police officeholder , as he joins forces with two infamous outlaws after a gang of ruthless bandit murders his family . Sholayboasts a mesmerizing soundtrack and riveting action view , but its homages toThe Magnificent Sevenwhileinfusing the Indian milieu prominent in its time and creative cinematographycontributed to its success . For all the film ’s well - shot action , Sholayis lovingly think of for its uplifting social commentary that was mean to barrack Indian audiences during time of swell uncertainty . Unappreciated in the ' 70s , it is now seen as a strong example of how to properly do by social commentary .

1The Good, The Bad And The Ugly (1966)

Cast

Sergio Leone’sThe Good , The Bad and The Uglyis considered one ofthe most timeless Western , as it continues to harbor consultation and influence generations of filmmakers many decennary after its initial passing . The Good , The Bad and The Uglyfollows a trio of men as they try on to outsmart or pop each other while in search of a buried treasure . The film ’s innovative use of camera angles , editing , and an inspired soundtrack by the late Italian composer Ennio Morricone have all contributed to the film ’s legendary status . While not formulate the archetype , the cinema ’s three leads rewrote the book on what strong westerly characters should be .

As such , The Good , The Bad and The Uglyis the definitive Western , as virtually every vista of the film has been replicated , rive off , and otherwise referenced in media that transcends movies . The film ’s climactic duel between The Man With No Name , Tuco , and Angel Eyes is also remarkable as it is responsible for foreground how efficacious clever filmmaking can be in favor of relying on overly choreographed shootouts and explosions . While Leone ’s entireDollarsTrilogyis considered a masterpiece , The Good , The Bad and The Uglyis find out as particularly efficacious because of its contributions to movie theater and Westerns as a whole .

Collage of great spaghetti Westerns including images of Lee Van Cleef and Franco Nero

Chris Pratt as Joshua Faraday in The Magnificent Seven with the remake behind it.

Composite image of foreign westerns: Mads Mikkelsen in The Salvation, Marsha Timothy in Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts, and Alejandro Jodorowsky in El Topo

Charlie (Guy Pearce) prepares to brandish his revolver while in a deserted wasteland in The Proposition

Django (Franco Nero) aims his revolver at a bandit while seated at a table inside a saloon

The Gunslinger/El Topo reaches for his revolver while advancing through the desert on a hot day in El Topo

Dum stands in the background as he and a skilled gunslinger prepare for battle in front of an elaborate set in Tears of the Black Tiger

Jon Jensen (Mads Mikkelsen) wearily rides on horseback with a kid slumped over his arm in The Salvation

Fyodor squints at the oncoming forces while in the middle of the intense heat in White Sun of the Desert

The DVD cover for Sholay depicting the film’s central characters

Cast Placeholder Image

Headshot Of Eli Wallach

Headshot Of Clint Eastwood In The AFI Fest 2011