View Full Version : Foreign Language Films (Official Thread)
Colorblind!
02/25/10, 12:05 PM
There was already a thread but it died off a few years ago, figured another one wouldn't hurt.
I'm sure most of us already know that fantastic movies are being made everywhere, and sometimes the only real limitation is hearing of them in the first place.
This can be a place to discuss and recommend great films to people who might otherwise never hear of them.
I'll start by recommending a movie I feel everyone should see:
Amores Perros (2000, Alejandro González Iñárritu)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245712/
IAmNietzche
02/25/10, 12:10 PM
http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=297002
There are a good amount of foreign films discussed there as well.
Colorblind!
02/25/10, 12:12 PM
Good call. There's just so much that get put out in that collection that I don't even know where to start, but I'm assuming you can't really go too wrong.
IAmNietzche
02/25/10, 12:14 PM
Good call. There's just so much that get put out in that collection that I don't even know where to start, but I'm assuming you can't really go too wrong.
You're right.
Also, the conversation in that thread really goes beyond Criterion etc. releases to classic film in general.
Colorblind!
02/25/10, 12:24 PM
You're right.
Also, the conversation in that thread really goes beyond Criterion etc. releases to classic film in general.
I'll have to read through the thread then. If that makes this thread unnecessary, then I'll just delete this but if people are interested/respond then why not I guess.
IAmNietzche
02/25/10, 12:26 PM
I'll have to read through the thread then. If that makes this thread unnecessary, then I'll just delete this but if people are interested/respond then why not I guess.
I don't think it makes this thread unnecessary. The films discussed there are somewhat, outside the interest of most of the moviegoing public.
IAmNietzche
02/25/10, 12:36 PM
Anyway, my recommendation for this thread is Chungking Express.
cshadows2887
02/25/10, 01:34 PM
Ameilie. So much Amelie.
Thomas Balkcom
02/25/10, 01:45 PM
we ok with this thread or would you rather the Criterion thread be renamed?
Ravenna
02/25/10, 01:48 PM
we ok with this thread or would you rather the Criterion thread be renamed?
never!
Thomas Balkcom
02/25/10, 01:48 PM
never!
haha, assumed as much.
Ravenna
02/25/10, 01:49 PM
haha, assumed as much.
I would have to get Tate to ban you if you did that.
cshadows2887
02/25/10, 01:50 PM
Hold on. If the OP is Canadian, does that mean American film are foreign?
Thomas Balkcom
02/25/10, 01:51 PM
I would have to get Tate to ban you if you did that.
it was my way of stopping the bitching about the two separate threads!
cshadows2887
02/25/10, 01:54 PM
You, sir, are an ace at bitch prevention.
IAmNietzche
02/25/10, 02:01 PM
we ok with this thread or would you rather the Criterion thread be renamed?
Blasphemer!
Thomas Balkcom
02/25/10, 02:08 PM
You, sir, are an ace at bitch prevention.
why thank you.
Blasphemer!
hahaha
deadkidsean
02/25/10, 02:14 PM
Of all people, lol.
cshadows2887
02/25/10, 02:19 PM
^It's not easy being green. Learn your muppets, son.
Thomas Balkcom
02/25/10, 02:28 PM
Of all people, lol.
haha, what is that supposed to mean? I do stray off-topic too often.
deadkidsean
02/25/10, 02:29 PM
haha, what is that supposed to mean? I do stray off-topic too often.
Nah, not directed at you at all, haha - I do the same thing. In regards to the op.
Thomas Balkcom
02/25/10, 02:30 PM
ohhhh, haha I understand.
Colorblind!
02/25/10, 04:15 PM
Ameilie. So much Amelie.
Love it. I need to watch something else from that director.
it was my way of stopping the bitching about the two separate threads!
I don't think there was bitching, we were just trying to figure out if this was useful or not!
Of all people, lol.
I have no idea why this is warranted.
About to watch Sin Nombre and then Reprise, any good word on those two?
Say Ocean.
02/25/10, 11:49 PM
Miyazaki's Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke are must-see films.
-Aaron-
02/25/10, 11:57 PM
Sin Nombre does a good job but is nothing new or special by any means. I really liked Reprise, I can't exactly say what (It may be all the literary terms/story driven elements) but I just love that movie.
since no one else has posted a older foreign film I continue the trend. I'll recommend Yi-Yi.
Bichunmoo99
02/26/10, 06:44 AM
A Bittersweet Life (my all time favorite movie EVAH)
The Good The Bad The Weird
OldBoy
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
cshadows2887
02/26/10, 06:45 AM
Miyazaki's Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke are must-see films.
Yes. Yes. And Yes.
(The third yes was for your avatar)
abandonship
03/02/10, 05:28 PM
Foreign Films: Is There A Stigma?
My brother won't watch foreign films because they have subtitles and he doesn't want to read them. I have another family member who calls me "weird" for watching them. Most people I know probably have never seen one and it seems the general consensus is that they are "weird" or "dumb". I don't think you have to be a cinephile to appreciate a good movie, so I don't understand the adverseness to foreign films. I don't see watching Andrey Rubylov in English as any different from reading Anna Karenina in English; however, the same people who love the book wouldn't even give the movie a chance. Are subtitles and hearing a different language really that debilitating to the viewing experience or are people just stubborn, uncultured Hollywood lemmings? Personally after I started watching them on a consistent basis I didn't even notice a language barrier or become conscientious that I am reading subtitles. Maybe it is just like anything else you just have a put a little effort into it to "get it"? I'm just let down because I don't really know anyone to watch/discuss movies with because no one I know wo would watch them; however, if i say, "Let's go see Transformers 2!" I would get a response like "Oh man Megan Fox. Dude, let's do it I want to see it so bad". Why can't it be "Wanna watch Une Femme est Une Femme!", and get in return "Oh man Anna Karina, let's watch it--I love Godard." ??
a speedo model
03/02/10, 05:33 PM
Love it. I need to watch something else from that director.
I don't think there was bitching, we were just trying to figure out if this was useful or not!
I have no idea why this is warranted.
About to watch Sin Nombre and then Reprise, any good word on those two?
I really enjoyed Reprise when I watched it a few years back. I was actually trying to find it last week to rewatch.
Wake Up
03/02/10, 06:49 PM
For recs: are you looking for more modern foreign films or earlier?
Colorblind!
03/02/10, 08:36 PM
I am a fake film fan and only like things post-2005. Just kidding, I'll watch anything.
chokemeout
03/03/10, 02:36 AM
El Topo - ended up having some pretty trippy dreams afterwards.
Miyazaki's Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke are must-see films.
One of my favorite movies and I didn't even see it until this year, haha.
cshadows2887
03/03/10, 01:45 PM
El Topo - ended up having some pretty trippy dreams afterwards.
Out of curiosity, what did you like about it?
I couldn't stand it, so I've always wanted to hear from someone who appreciated as to why they liked it. See if maybe I can't find another way to look at it.
IAmNietzche
03/03/10, 01:49 PM
Lilja 4-ever (Lukas Moodysson, 2002)
An absolutely devastating film. Maybe, just maybe, the saddest film of all time.
Wake Up
03/03/10, 02:39 PM
Lilja 4-ever (Lukas Moodysson, 2002)
An absolutely devastating film. Maybe, just maybe, the saddest film of all time.
Just watched this recently. Hahaha. So sad. As are all of his films.
Chia-Like
03/03/10, 02:44 PM
It's animated which may turn some people off, but Spirited Away is one of my favorite foreign films i've seen.
-Aaron-
03/03/10, 03:16 PM
Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War (2004)
chokemeout
03/04/10, 05:30 AM
Out of curiosity, what did you like about it?
I couldn't stand it, so I've always wanted to hear from someone who appreciated as to why they liked it. See if maybe I can't find another way to look at it.
For me it was the symbolism. Perhaps a cliche comment to make but being young and presented with a film that was rich with religious symbolism and the main character fighting his way to enlightenment just struck a chord.
Why didn't you like it?
cshadows2887
03/04/10, 05:32 AM
For me it was the symbolism. Perhaps a cliche comment to make but being young and presented with a film that was rich with religious symbolism and the main character fighting his way to enlightenment just struck a chord.
Why didn't you like it?
The fact that the entire second half was disjointed nonsense? More seriously, I thought the first half was a very effective comedy-western and then to stop midstream and become such a vague mess seemed like a colossal waste of opportunity.
stayillogical
03/04/10, 05:39 AM
One of my favorite movies and I didn't even see it until this year, haha.
Have you watched Nausicaa yet?
chokemeout
03/04/10, 06:25 AM
The fact that the entire second half was disjointed nonsense? More seriously, I thought the first half was a very effective comedy-western and then to stop midstream and become such a vague mess seemed like a colossal waste of opportunity.
I don't think it became vague at all... It's quite obvious what happened, why there was a "switch" and what the plot was.
cshadows2887
03/04/10, 06:27 AM
I don't think it became vague at all... It's quite obvious what happened, why there was a "switch" and what the plot was.
Eh maybe it's just the switch I hated. From comedy-western to religious allegory that I found bizzarre. I guess less vague in terms of plot and more that I can't fathom why he did it.
chokemeout
03/04/10, 06:32 AM
Eh maybe it's just the switch I hated. From comedy-western to religious allegory that I found bizzarre. I guess less vague in terms of plot and more that I can't fathom why he did it.
I can understand that - they're two very different parts but I think there had to be that switch because it was two very different lifestyles. Although the religious aspect was there from the start.
He was reborn and couldn't carry on with his old ways - there had to be a notable change.
Macbeth.
03/04/10, 07:25 AM
Sin Nombre
Have you watched Nausicaa yet?
Nope. I will one day though!
Wake Up
03/04/10, 08:12 AM
Ratcatcher
One of my favorite modern foreign films.
alice+interiors
03/04/10, 08:20 AM
we ok with this thread or would you rather the Criterion thread be renamed?
Maybe this one could be renamed to foreign language films? I don't mind, but it would clear up confusion about what is 'foreign', especially considering the OP.
Thomas Balkcom
03/04/10, 08:28 AM
Maybe this one could be renamed to foreign language films? I don't mind, but it would clear up confusion about what is 'foreign', especially considering the OP.
done.
alice+interiors
03/04/10, 08:32 AM
done.
Efficiency to a t. ;-)
pinklipgloss
03/04/10, 11:39 AM
Lino Brocka's Insiang (which is his best work, imo)
Colorblind!
03/04/10, 12:29 PM
Lilja 4-ever (Lukas Moodysson, 2002)
An absolutely devastating film. Maybe, just maybe, the saddest film of all time.
Well that certainly sparked my interest! Will have to look for it.
Maybe this one could be renamed to foreign language films? I don't mind, but it would clear up confusion about what is 'foreign', especially considering the OP.
Ugh, so no more American movies? I'm disappointed!
Just saw 4 months, 3 weeks, and 2 days and it was awesomeeeeeeee.
Bought Carandiru, Chop Shop, and The Last Life in the Universe for $12 total at a Hollywood Video that's closing. Haven't seen any but heard really good things about all three. Which should I watch foremost?
The City of Lost Children (france)
My Life As a Dog (sweden)
Hodet Over Vannet/head above water (norway)
Y Tu Mama Tambien (mexico)
Motorcycle Diaries (south america)
City of God (kinda 'duh' but still foreign language)
McSavah
03/04/10, 03:23 PM
Bought Carandiru, Chop Shop, and The Last Life in the Universe for $12 total at a Hollywood Video that's closing. Haven't seen any but heard really good things about all three. Which should I watch foremost?
Last Life in the Universe is in my top 10/20 probably, it's all about the atmosphere. Haven't seen the other two.
alice+interiors
04/10/10, 09:51 AM
I know there is the Criterion collection thread, but as their releases don't extend to Region 2 (to my knowledge) I'd like to keep this thread alive.
Colorblind!
04/14/10, 05:42 PM
I too would enjoy this thread not being dead.
Just watched The Class and The Child, trying to knock back some Palme d'Or winners, both ruled hard.
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