TEHRAN – Four movies from Iranian directors are among the 100 greatest foreign-language films, a BBC poll showed.

Asghar Farhadi’s Oscar-winning drama “A Separation” (2011) is the 21st in the ranking based on the poll published on Tuesday.

Abbas Kiarostami’s “Close-Up” (1990), “Where Is the Friend’s Home?” (1987) and “Taste of Cherry” (1997) took the 39th, 94th, and 97th places respectively. 

The legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai” (1954) stands first and “Bicycle Thieves” (1948) by Vittorio de Sica, a leader of the neorealist movement of Italy, and “Tokyo Story” (1953) by Japanese director Yasujiro Ozu are in the second and third places.

“We asked critics to vote for their favorite movies made primarily in a language other than English,” BBC said.

“The 209 critics who took part are from 43 different countries and speak a total of 41 languages – a range that sets our poll apart from any other,” it added.

The 100 films are from 67 different directors from 24 countries. The movies are in 19 languages.

“French can claim to be the international language of acclaimed cinema: 27 of the highest-rated films were in French, followed by 12 in Mandarin, and 11 each in Italian and Japanese,” the poll showed.

Over the past few years, BBC has run three polls to find the 100 greatest American films, the best films of the 21st Century and the greatest comedies ever made.

BBC said that the purpose of every film poll has always been to generate debate as well as encourage discovery. “We are aware that no list can be either definitive or please everyone.”

Photo: A combination photo shows posters of the Iranian movies that are among the 100 greatest foreign-language films.

MMS/YAW