In war-ravaged Afghanistan, where material goods (except guns) are notably absent, a simple vat of milk takes on immense symbolism. So it is in this searing depiction of life under Taliban rule. Sylphlike Marina Golbarhari is a revelation as the terrified twelve-year-old forced to disguise herself as a boy to find work. Someone should pin Dick Cheney's eyelids open and make him watch this film — which subtly indicts U.S. policy — a thousand times.

“Is It True”

As the British Invasion reached its peak in 1964, Brenda Lee went from Nashville to London to record one of her hardest-rocking hits, her perky vocal backed by a stuttering, squalling guitar. That guitar was played by session musician Jimmy Page, yet to skyrocket to fame with first the Yardbirds and then Led Zeppelin. "She said to me, 'I've come here to make a record with the British sound,'" remembered producer Mickie Most. "She felt she wouldn't get the same sound in Nashville because they're only just catching up on the British beat group sound of about six months ago."