12. Li’l Quinquin
Bruno Dumont’s absurdist, French seaside-set metaphysical murder mystery “Li’l Quinquin” was originally a four-part TV series. Featuring no stars, it focuses on an idyllic coastal French town, where a bumbling detective tries to solve a series of grisly murders while a young rascal makes trouble for all. Dumont balances formal austerity and his trademark Bresson-ian dispassion, with super dry humor. In fact, bizarre juxtaposition is key to the strange beauty of ‘Quinquin’ as Dumont’s trademark religious themes, he somberly explores the mysterious nature of evil in contrast with the coming-of-age tale of a young foul-mouthed shit-stirrer. Wonderfully baffling and totally inspired.