The works I have chosen to include in this Anthology have two main characteristics: They provide opportunities for philosophical discussion and offer a model for understanding the world, a way to see the world differently than we are used to.

They are not the only ones that could be analyzed in terms of their philosophical implications, nor are they the best in cinematic production, although, in my opinion, they are all masterpieces. However, they are certainly among those that primarily make you think philosophically.

And, at least for me, the art that makes you think philosophically is a source of dual enjoyment. Beyond any aesthetic value, it directs your reflection towards new directions. It broadens the horizons of your thought and fortifies you against dogmatism and a one-dimensional perception of things.

The impetus for this small collection was a series of lectures I delivered to students of the Philosophy Department at the University of Crete in the winter of 1996. The enthusiastic participation of the students convinced me that those notes would be worth publishing in a more complete and developed form.