Non-English Language Films that pack a wallop
Jan 31 '04 (Updated Jun 06 '05)
The Bottom Line There are highly worthwhile non-English language films from well over three dozen countries.
By way of preamble, the following are my favorite non-English language films, not “the greatest.” My preferences are based more on impact than cinematic technique. I like a film to either carry an emotional wallop, stimulate thinking on some fundamental issue of human existence, or promote violent laughter. Visual appeal is an added bonus, but not enough by itself to lift a film to my highest rating. Few pre-1960 films make the highest grade for me, though the historic importance of many such films is undeniable.
1. Bleu (Blue) (1993). This French language film by a Polish director is the first segment of the Couleurs triology and includes a flawless performance by Juliette Binoche and a delightful musical score. Binoche’s character, Julie, is the embodiment of all that is best in human nature: resilience and unselfish concern for others. Bleu earns it’s hue more effectively than the other two segments of the triology, a blue aura permeating the film. See my review at Three Colors.
2. Cinema Paradiso (The New Version)(1989). This Italian film has it all: nostalgia, romance, eternal questions, and a shocking plot development. The principal character, Toto, is played at different ages by three different actors, all successfully. See my review at Cinema Paradiso.
3. The Tall Blond Man With One Black Shoe (1973). A French farce starring Pierre Richard that is the funniest film I’ve ever seen. I’ve gone back to it again and again. Do the horse! See my review at The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe.
4. The King of Hearts (1967). A cult favorite when I was growing up, this flick is both great comedy and touchingly sentimental. See my review at The King of Hearts.
5. The Horseman on the Roof (1995). Features Juliette Binoche and Olivier Martinez and undoubtedly the sexiest non-sex scene in movie history. See my review at The Horseman on the Roof.
6. Central Station (1998). It’s hard to believe that a film featuring a cynical, unattractive, elderly, female lead character could deliver as much emotional impact as does this extraordinary Brazilian film. See my review at Central Station. My second choice from Brazil would be the classic, Black Orpheus (1958). See my review at Black Orpheus.
7. Freeze Die (Come to Life)(1989). A black-and-white, Russian film that transports the viewer to a world that few will ever see in eastern Russia, into the lives of a young boy and a young girl trying to survive in a harsh climate among harsh people. Very moving. See my review at Freeze Die.
8. Amélie (2001) A beautiful, sentimental, and humorous French masterpiece. See my review at Amélie.
9. Rouge (Red) (1994). The third of the couleurs triology and almost as masterful as Bleu. Has to be seen after Bleu and Blanc for best effect, since it ties the three together, especially in the finale. See my review at Three Colors.
10. Jean de Florette/Manon of the Spring (1986). This pair of French-language films comprise a continuous story and I'll treat them as one item. Manon of the Spring was released just six months after Jean de Florette. Both are outstanding and are best watched in sequence. Jean de Florette provides the set-up and Manon a satisfying ending. Depardieu’s performance as the hunchback in the earlier film must be seen. See my review at Jean de Florette/Manon.
11. Burnt By the Sun (1995). Nikita Milhalkov is both director and star in this Russian language masterpiece. See my review at Burnt By the Sun.
12. Cyrano de Bergerac (1990). Depardieu proves that he can act as well with a nose as with a hump. The poetry of the language in this story is unsurpassed in any film. See my review at Cyrano de Bergerac.
13. Butterfly (1999). My favorite Spanish film. A paced, atmospheric film that builds to an extraordinary, moving conclusion. All About My Mother (See my review at All About My Mother) is another Spanish film that I highly recommend. See my review at Butterfly.
14. Ran (1985) (See my review at Ran) Although this great Kurosawa film is the only Asian film to crack my top twenty, several others just missed, including: The Seven Samurai (Japan), Red Sorghum (China), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (China), Charulata (India)(see my review at Charulata), Raise the Red Lantern (China) (see my review at Raise the Red Lantern), Farewell My Concubine (China) (see my review at Farewell My Concubine), Ju Dou (China), the Scent of Green Papaya (Vietnam)(see my review at The Scent of Green Papaya), and Eat Drink Man Woman (see my review at Eat Drink Man Woman).
15. La Passion de Jeanne D’Arc (The Passion of Joan d’Arc) (1928). By far the oldest film included in my top twenty, this French-theme silent film with musical score, by the great Danish director, Carl Dreyer, features a truly amazing performance by Renee Falconetti as Jeanne. Yet Falconetti never appeared again in film. See my review at Passion of Joan of Arc.
16. Les Visiteurs (The Visitors) (1993). Hilarious funny French comedy involving a Knight and his Squire accidentally transported to twentieth century France. (See my review at The Visitors.)
17. Veronico Cruz (1988). A film set mostly in rural Argentina with a poignant ending. See my review at Veronico Cruz. Although this is the only Hispanic film in my top twenty, other near qualifiers include El Norte (Guatemala), Strawberry and Chocolate (Cuba) Strawberry and Chocolate, Y Tu Mama Tambien (Mexico) (see my review at Y Tu Mama Tambien), and Amores Perros (Mexico).
18. La Vita e Bella (Life is Beautiful) (1997). I resisted seeing this film while it was in theaters because I doubted that I would be able to stomach an upbeat film about the holocaust, but quickly gave into the charms of this special movie when it appeared in video. Roberto Benigni, who stars, is the film. See my review at Life is Beautiful.
19. Les Enfants du Paradis (Children of Paradise) (1945). This classic French masterpiece, sometimes described as the greatest French film ever, is a complex web of unrequited love and intrigues. It strikes me as way ahead of its time in film making history. See my review at Children of Paradise.
20. The Star Maker (1995). Although some will no doubt feel that I’ve overrated this Italian treasure, it is, in the end, a very moving film about a con artist who is ultimately awakened to deeper values of life by one of his dim-witted but pure-hearted victims. See my review at Star Maker.
If you'd like to see the next thirty, numbers 21-50, please check out Metalluk’s 50th REVIEW BONBON BASH!!.
You also might enjoy the following additional lists:
Celebrating the Oscars: All Seventy-Seven Best Picture Oscar Winners (with links to full reviews)
Celebrating the Oscar Divas: All Seventy-Seven Best Actress Oscar Winners (with links to full reviews)
New York Film Critics' Circle Awards for Foreign Films (1935-2004)
Los Angeles Film Critics' Award Winners in the Best Foreign Film Category
All Seventy-Seven Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or Winners
The Best Films By Country (excluding U.S.A.) (A-Z write-off)
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