Director Ishmael Bernal’s “Himala” (1982) was named on a list of the 18 best Asian films of all time by CNN.com.

In Himala, Nora Aunor portrayed Elsa, a simple barrio lass who thinks she has seen the Virgin Mary and goes on a healing crusade — just the miracle the nowhere town she lives in is looking for.

CNN noted Himala’s “austere camera work, haunting score and accomplished performances sensitively portray the harsh social and cultural conditions that people in the third world endure.”

Other Asian films that made it to the list include:

Hong Kong/China: ‘In the Mood for Love’ by Wong Kar-Wai (2000)

Infernal Affairs by Andrew Lau Wai-Keung, Alan Mak Siu-Fai (2002)

China: Still Life by Zhang Ke Jia (2006)

Shower by Yang Zhang (1999)

To Live by Zhang Yimou (1994)

India: Mother India by Mehboob Khan (1957)

South Korea: The Host by Bong Joon-ho (2006)

Mandala by Kwon-Taek Im (1981)

Thailand: Syndromes and a Century by Apichatpong Weerasethakul (2006)

New Zealand: Whale Rider by Niki Caro (2002)

Utu by Geoff Murphy (1983)

Japan: Shall we dance? by Masayuki Suo (1998)

Ikiru by Akira Kurosawa (1952)

The Ballad of Narayama by Keisuke Kinoshita (1958)

Vietnam: When the Tenth Month Comes by Dang Nhat Minh (1984)

Hong Kong/ Taiwan: A Touch of Zen by King Hu (1969)