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Jan's International Review Of Movies!Jan 18 '06 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line Everyone needs to watch movies from around the world. They're so cool! This category, Best Foreign Films, seriously needs to be deleted or renamed because what is foreign to me may not be to you and a new reader that doesn’t know you won’t know what your list will consist of. My name suggestions are Best Movies From Around The World, Best Culturally-Diverse Movies or Best International Movies. Only last year did I begin to watch movies where I needed subtitles, although I’ve enjoyed lots of British movies for years. I could easily just list British movies to satisfy the requirements of this category, but instead I’ll give you great movies from a smattering of countries that are definitely cultural experiences, either with some links to full reviews or other movie lists. I’ve noticed how many more countries need to be represented in this review and will keep adding on to it and posting more lists. BRITAIN - Let’s start with Malcolm McDowell in Lindsay Anderson’s very enigmatic trilogy of If…(http://www.epinions.com/content_149934542468), O Lucky Man (http://www.epinions.com/content_150338571908) and Brittania Hospital that are exemplary products of the 60s, 70s and 80s. I reviewed the first two here (the third has to be seen to be believed!). A British actress I love is Julie Andrews in such movies as The Americanization of Emily (http://www.epinions.com/content_183974727300), Thoroughly Modern Millie and Victor/Victoria. Her roles are never the same and always delightful. I reviewed them all. Audrey Hepburn is another, who I paid tribute to in a separate list (http://www.epinions.com/content_3095699588). Then, of course, Alfred Hitchcock made some British movies and Alec Guiness(http://www.epinions.com/content_3998130308) acted in many great ones. Most recently I reviewed Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit ( http://www.epinions.com/content_186992660100) and Whistle Down The Wind, all with likeable kids in them showing the adults their stuff! FRANCE - My movies from here have been more steamy in general with orgasmic photography and dark in mood. Catherine Breillat’s Anatomy of Hell and Brief Crossing get top nods (reviewed first); then there’s Frederic Mitterand’s powerful Madame Butterfly (reviewed), Godard's startling Contempt (http://www.epinions.com/content_128245010052), the stunning Passion of Jean d’arc, the quirky Kings and Queen (reviewed), the musically-vampish Young Girls of Rochefort by Jacques Demy (http://www.epinions.com/content_140458036868), Jean Renoir's Grand Illusion (http://www.epinions.com/content_120819256964) and spooky Brotherhood of the Wolf. JAPAN - I’ve watched seven volumes of Seiji Mizushima’s Fullmetal Alchemist and look forward to about six more. It’s my first experience with anime and I didn’t imagine it would hook me, but its appeal to teens as well as adults is because of an intelligent story and disarming humor. 4 reviewed. GERMANY - I was so intrigued with the Wim Wender's angelic Faraway, So Close! ( http://www.epinions.com/content_196355919492) that I watched its bizarre sequel, Wings of Desire, with angels and a mysterious creature played by Willem Dafoe. Then there’s the Fritz Lang's silent M with Peter Lorre and the darkly spectacular Metropolis. Good-bye, Lenin! and Bend It Like Beckham are lots of fun. SPAIN - I’ve only seen Pedro Almodovar’s Talk To Her and Bad Education, which is an excellent way to begin to enjoy this country’s cinema. They’re both mesmerizing, but I’m still feeling the aftereffects of the clever and steamy Bad Education. AFRICA - These may be in English, but the characters and setting are African. When We Were Kings (http://www.epinions.com/content_174021185156) with Muhammed Ali and George Foreman going to Zaire to rumble; Hotel Rwanda (http://www.epinions.com/content_185251761796) with Don Cheadle as a hotel manager who saves over a thousand lives; and The Gods Must Be Crazy where a bushman tries to find the end of the world to throw away a coke bottle discarded from a plane. POLAND - I’ve seen one memorable comedy from there called Sexmission, a cheesy 80s’ science fiction movie with very witty lines and lots of laughs! http://www.epinions.com/content_190896574084 BRAZIL - It may be the only candidate for this country, but God Is A Brazilian is another fantastic comedy with digs at religion I really dug. The old man playing God in this road movie was a real gentleman. SOUTH KOREA - My vote goes to Christmas In August, but know that it will be difficult for many Westerners to appreciate its tragic love story told with understated poignancy. I railed at the ending, but now I can’t forget it. Reviewed. AUSTRALIA - Bush Christmas with mature, lovable kids who track down horse thieves in the wide open bush of the 40s and then made their lives amusingly miserable. Reviewed. SWEDISH - I’ve been enamored of Ingmar Bergman films, such as Fanny and Alexander, The Seventh Seal, the spiritual trilogy of Through A Glass Darkly, Winter Light and The Silence. These are awe-inspiring works of art for those who don’t mind intensely disturbing, philosophical-type movies. Sometimes you’ll find humor, especially in medieval-set The Seventh Seal. SCOTTISH - I’ve only watched I Know Where I’m Going, a black and white, but it’s such a glorious view of stormy Scotland and the characters so stubborn and one-minded that it’s like being there. The slow love story is enthralling. IRELAND - The Magdalene Sisters tells the disturbing story of young women slaving away in the Catholic Church’s laundries because they shamed their parents by having a child or being too good-looking that boys would desire them. Based on true events and very well-done. CANADA - I’m not sure how many films from Canada I’ve watched, but I got a kick out of A Touch of Pink that has a young gay man talking to the spirit of Cary Grant while he tries to deal with his boyfriend and his unsuspecting Muslim mother coming to visit. INDIA - I enjoyed Monsoon Wedding and Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love; though not brilliant by any means they do help you to experience some of the quirkiness and spirituality of this intense country. So you see I haven’t seen movies from Russia, China, Italy, Africa, Israel, Mexico and many others. I also didn't provide links to many reviewed movies so please check my profile for them and others not included here. I hope you enjoyed my lengthy list as it is and will join me for my next one!  |
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