Can You Really Call Yourself A Movie Buff If You Haven't Seen These 11 Foreign-Language Films?
Flicks are a way of looking at life cultures and society through the lens of beautiful stories. Many times we miss out of good cinema because of the language barrier. With new technology coming in and most movies now available with subtitles we finally have access to various foreign-language films.
Films are a way of looking at life, cultures and society through the lens of beautiful stories.
Many times, we miss out of good cinema because of the language barrier but with new technology coming in and most movies now available with subtitles, we finally have access to various foreign-language films.
And you'd be surprised to know how many good movies in foreign-languages are out there! That's enough reason for us to prepare a list of 11 stellar foreign-language films you need to watch if you call yourself a movie buff.
1. Children of Heaven (Iran)
This Iranian film revolves around the lives of two young siblings, Ali and Zahra. All troubles start when Ali loses his sister's only pair of shoes. They want to keep this news from their parents who are poverty-stricken and in the same attempt, end up going on various adventures to procure a new pair of shoes. The story is heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal parts and we say you keep a box of tissues ready.
2. After The Wedding (Denmark)
Jacob Peterson has dedicated his whole life to helping street children in India and runs an orphanage till he gets the news that it might shut down. However, a businessman comes forward to offer him $4 million on a condition - Jacob has to return to Denmark to attend the businessman's daughter's wedding. The movie is a poignant portrayal of the confluence of past and the present.
3. A Separation (Iran)
Nader and Simin are a married couple who have a simple life. Simin wants to move out of Iran with Nader and their young daughter. Nader, however, is not very supportive of the idea because he wants to stay back to take care of his old father suffering from Alzheimer's. A film which captures the complexity of human relations, A Separation won the Oscar for the Best Foreign Film in 2012.
4. Revenge Girl (Japan)
This drama movie from Japan is quite light-hearted but one can't deny the fresh approach it takes when it comes to the genre of romantic comedy. Miki Takaraishi, a young model, goes on a political mission to become the President when she gets dumped by her boyfriend, a political heir who also has his eyes set on the powerful position.
5. The Sea Inside (Spain)
Ramon Sampedro's whole life turns upside down when he becomes a paralytic patient after a tragic injury. The story is about his fight to put a dignified end to his life through euthanasia. The beautifully heartbreaking story is worth a watch.
6. The Diving Bell & The Butterfly (France)
This one is a biographical film based on the true story of Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby. After suffering from a stroke, he can communicate only with his left eye. A film about life, you're going to have a different perspective on things after watching this.
7. Cinema Paradiso (Italy)
Set against the backdrop of the years after World War 2, the story is about a young boy named Salvatore who loses his father to the war and finds solace in Cinema Paradiso, a movie house in his small town. He develops a special bond with the projectionist of the movies and how this man guides him to a different life.
8. Roma (Mexico)
This is a semi-autobiographical where director Alfonso Cuar¨®n shows the realities of the life of a in-house maid of a middle class family in Mexico in the 1970s. A story of human relationships and class divide, this one is a must watch.
9. In The Mood For Love (Hong Kong)
Set in the 1960s, the story begins with a journalist and a secretary at a shipping company shifting into the same neighbourhood with their respective spouses. They soon discover that their spouses are having an affair, leaving them to be lonely. Over time, they also develop an affection towards each other. It is a great portrayal of how complex relationships can be.
10. Life is Beautiful (Italy)
A comedy drama, this movie is about a Jewish bookshop owner who is going to all extents to hide the realities of the Nazi concentration camps. Mixing humour with political unrest, it strikes a perfect balance between the two to give a fresh view on the topic.
11. The Beauty Inside (South Korea)
This film is a romantic one based on a rather quirky twist in which a woman ends up falling in love with a man whose body has the ability to change every single day. This includes gender, personality, age and even nationality. This is a tale of true love.