These debut films have refreshing qualities without spoon-feeding their ultimate sentiment. The nature of the times is craftily reflected in both.

Europa (pictured above) (1991) was retitled Zentropa for the American market, and is Lars Von Trier’s debut feature film. We find an American son assigned to humbly contribute to Germany’s postwar effort by working on their passenger trains. He is swept into the grave politics of the day, as if it is his hypnotic destiny. Europa is narrated by the infamous Max von Sydow from Ingmar Bergman’s acclaimed legacy.

Closely Watched Trains (1966) is the first feature film offered by Czechoslovakian filmmaker Jirí Menzel. Like so many Czech films, there are surreal and comedic elements at play. A young man follows in his father’s footsteps by working for the railroad, but his tenure is taking place during WWII. Apart from the burdens of his country being occupied, he is personally occupied with his emerging feelings as a man.