2010: Foreign Language Films
I stole this idea from balloonhat who made a list of all the movies she's seen in 2010. However, I decided to divide my list into two sections because one, it got way too long, and two, I want to go to sleep. Have you seen any of these? Want to see any of these? Have a recommendation I should check out? Let me know! I tend to watch a lot of films in Spanish and French because I can knit and not have to pay as much attention to the subtitles, so I'm really lacking in Foreign Language Films from other countries.
Here's the first installment: 15 Foreign Language Films
Turtles Can Fly (Iran)
A powerful coming of age story that deals with tragic young love during a time of war and oppression.
Obaba (Spain)
Film adaptation of Obabakoak by Bernardo Atxaga. Stories within a story, a little meta-fictional, contains that mist of magic and legend that I love in Spanish/Latino film.
La Belle et la Bête [Beauty and the Beast] (France)
Black & white. Over-dramatic, classic, enjoyable, but definitely not Disney’s version.
My Sassy Girl (South Korea & USA Remake)
The Korean version (available on youtube with subtitles was definitely better my roommate explaining some of the Korean culture referenced in the movie made it even more enjoyable). Fun, tragic, yet romantic.
Volver (Spain)
Third viewing; Penelope Cruz is amazing. Again, I love the “magic” of this.
Love Me If You Dare (France)
I liked this until the ending. Then I was just angry.
Kirikou et la Sorcière (France/Belgium)
African folk tales. Catchy music. Really lovable hero. Oh, did I mention animated? “Kirikou n’est pas grand, mais il est vaillant, mais il est vaillant!”
La Nana [The Maid] (Chile)
Made me really nostalgic for Chile. But is also a great movie. One of my favorites.
Coco Before Chanel (France)
The story of Coco Chanel and the challenges she faced in order to become the fashion legend we know her as today. Really enjoyable. And of course, Audrey Tautou does a wonderful job.
Mujeres al Borde de un Ataque de Nervios (Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) [Spain]
Almodovar, need I say more? Like Volver, it has strong female characters and was fun to watch.
Priceless [France]
Chick flick starring Audrey Tautou.
Happenstance [France]
Another chick flick starring Audrey Tautou; however, this movie contains a number of different characters and deals with the ways they affect each others’ lives. It’s better than your average French romance. In fact, romance hardly plays a part in the movie at all.
Let The Right One In [Sweden]
I didn’t want to watch this because it is about a vampire. But my boyfriend made me and I did enjoy it. I haven’t seen the American remake, so I don’t know how it compares. If you haven’t heard about this, it’s a love story between two children - but one of them is a vampire.
The Lives of Others [Germany]
If you haven’t already seen this movie, add it to your Netflix queue or check it out from your local video store. It won Best International Film in 2007, I believe. And it was well-deserved. Really well done. I am part of a book discussion group and a few months ago, we actually watched this movie instead of reading a book. It was the only film an exception was made for.
Sin Nombre (Mexico/USA)
Trails the journeys of two young adults (one a gang member, the other a teenage girl) illegally immigrating to the US. There were a lot of points where this movie really upset me, but I couldn't get it out of my head even days after watching it. It was interesting, though. Sad, but interesting.
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Some other foreign films that I’ve watched over the years and would recommend are: Machuca (Chile) which similarly to Turtles Can Fly presents a child’s perspective on war and love; Te Doy Mis Ojos (Spain), which deals with domestic abuse - gets kind of graphic; and Persepolis (French) based on the graphic novel that deals with a girl coming of age during the Iranian Revolution. Some other favorites are The Longest Engagement (French), Amelie (French), L’Auberge Espanole [The Spanish Apartment] (French).
The second installment: English Language Films will most likely be posted tomorrow.
Here's the first installment: 15 Foreign Language Films
Turtles Can Fly (Iran)
A powerful coming of age story that deals with tragic young love during a time of war and oppression.
Obaba (Spain)
Film adaptation of Obabakoak by Bernardo Atxaga. Stories within a story, a little meta-fictional, contains that mist of magic and legend that I love in Spanish/Latino film.
La Belle et la Bête [Beauty and the Beast] (France)
Black & white. Over-dramatic, classic, enjoyable, but definitely not Disney’s version.
My Sassy Girl (South Korea & USA Remake)
The Korean version (available on youtube with subtitles was definitely better my roommate explaining some of the Korean culture referenced in the movie made it even more enjoyable). Fun, tragic, yet romantic.
Volver (Spain)
Third viewing; Penelope Cruz is amazing. Again, I love the “magic” of this.
Love Me If You Dare (France)
I liked this until the ending. Then I was just angry.
Kirikou et la Sorcière (France/Belgium)
African folk tales. Catchy music. Really lovable hero. Oh, did I mention animated? “Kirikou n’est pas grand, mais il est vaillant, mais il est vaillant!”
La Nana [The Maid] (Chile)
Made me really nostalgic for Chile. But is also a great movie. One of my favorites.
Coco Before Chanel (France)
The story of Coco Chanel and the challenges she faced in order to become the fashion legend we know her as today. Really enjoyable. And of course, Audrey Tautou does a wonderful job.
Mujeres al Borde de un Ataque de Nervios (Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) [Spain]
Almodovar, need I say more? Like Volver, it has strong female characters and was fun to watch.
Priceless [France]
Chick flick starring Audrey Tautou.
Happenstance [France]
Another chick flick starring Audrey Tautou; however, this movie contains a number of different characters and deals with the ways they affect each others’ lives. It’s better than your average French romance. In fact, romance hardly plays a part in the movie at all.
Let The Right One In [Sweden]
I didn’t want to watch this because it is about a vampire. But my boyfriend made me and I did enjoy it. I haven’t seen the American remake, so I don’t know how it compares. If you haven’t heard about this, it’s a love story between two children - but one of them is a vampire.
The Lives of Others [Germany]
If you haven’t already seen this movie, add it to your Netflix queue or check it out from your local video store. It won Best International Film in 2007, I believe. And it was well-deserved. Really well done. I am part of a book discussion group and a few months ago, we actually watched this movie instead of reading a book. It was the only film an exception was made for.
Sin Nombre (Mexico/USA)
Trails the journeys of two young adults (one a gang member, the other a teenage girl) illegally immigrating to the US. There were a lot of points where this movie really upset me, but I couldn't get it out of my head even days after watching it. It was interesting, though. Sad, but interesting.
--
Some other foreign films that I’ve watched over the years and would recommend are: Machuca (Chile) which similarly to Turtles Can Fly presents a child’s perspective on war and love; Te Doy Mis Ojos (Spain), which deals with domestic abuse - gets kind of graphic; and Persepolis (French) based on the graphic novel that deals with a girl coming of age during the Iranian Revolution. Some other favorites are The Longest Engagement (French), Amelie (French), L’Auberge Espanole [The Spanish Apartment] (French).
The second installment: English Language Films will most likely be posted tomorrow.