[waterlesscloud]

I'd counter that if you watch the films on this list and don't understand why Lee included them, you're not likely to be a good film director.

[elthran]

But this is a list for aspiring directors - If I'm currently aspiring to be a better director, then some level of explanation would be beneficial to me

[bazzargh]

It's a list for aspiring directors who are part of the NYU Graduate Film program http://tisch.nyu.edu/grad-film/courses ... and they get three years of context.

You could ask for context from any university reading list... http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/offerholders/... ...they're of passing interest to people looking to be 'well read', but are provided mainly for the students, and the context is the course.

[waterlesscloud]

Not really. If these movies don't stimulate your directorial imagination, a few words aren't going to help.

[dommer]

You could say that. But the message—arguably—would be much better received with information.

[waterlesscloud]

Better received by who? For film students, the films themselves are the information needed.