I saw posts in imdb that I thought it is worthwhile mentioning here ... 
click 
http://www.imdb.com/board/bd0000034/reply/120980340 

e.g., An interesting post by ANGEL_GLEZ 3 days ago (Thu Nov 20 2008 11:17:07) 

PLEASE PARDON me for cutting and pasting here (for easy reference) 

This was what ANGEL_GLEZ posted 
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Sure, there is no an Universal Canon. But it is always curious to know the greatest films according to local critics of each country: 

Greece: O Drakos instead of Angelopoulos 
Canada: Mon Oncle Antoine instead of Cronenberg 
China: Spring in a Small Town instead of Zhang Yimou 
Czechoslovakia: Marketa Lazarova instead of Forman 
Hong Kong: A Better Tomorrow instead of Wong Kar Wai 
India: Sholay instead of Ray 
Russia: My Friend Ivan Lapshin instead of Eisenstein 
Spain: El Verdugo instead of Buñuel 
Sweden: Raven's End instead of Bergman 
Yugoslavia: Who's That Singing Over There instead of Kusturica 

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This kind of sparks the questions 
(i) Does local differ vastly in taste from international critics/audience? 
(ii) Are critics sometimes too "aloof" from the masses? 
(iii) Should directors make films for the people (i.e., box office hits) or should they make it to win awards (esp. international awards)? 

-- I recall a Swedish friend telling me they are not crazy over Bergman 
-- I know of many Chinese from Taiwan/HongKong/China/Singapore/etc saying they do not necessarily understand or appreciate Tsai Ming Liang (too slow or even at times too cryptic for comfort), etc 
-- and also, the recent break in box office for France (Welcome to the Sticks, i.e., Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis) 
-- and also, the recent break in box office for Taiwan (Cape No.7) 
etc