Your Favourite Foreign Film?

[GlowWorm]

Goemon (2006) - the real movie not the anime / cartoon
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
House of Flying Daggers
Red Cliff - the whole movie / I & II
Painted Skin
Der rote Baron (The Red Baron, 2008)
Jägarna
Le pacte des loups (Brotherhood of the Wolf)

[Tobi]

I really love this film:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8jN0oOvYi0

The Snow Queen (the 1957 Russian version) It was made during the Soviet era but still has such charm. Subtitles are available by clicking on the * icon at the bottom of the video

[H:O:R:A:C:E]

The Wages of Fear (1953) [trailer-ish]:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPuO14OgTEc
==
most of Akira Kurosawa
Seven Samurai (1954) [trailer]:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1q_UjzM3cI

Sanjuro (1962) [behind the scenes]:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHIRcbAMFHo
==
the Host (2006) [monster attack scene]:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaxwv1rndPI
==
L'année des méduses (1984) [trailer (brief nudity, youtube approved)]:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyhtb-Z5NHI

[A human Being]

Originally Posted by Unseelie Queen

Forgot to add Ponyo (one of the more recent Miyazaki movies. It is possibly the most adorable movie in existence. Almost unbearably so.)



Love Persona. I haven't seen most of them in ages, myself. Seventh Seal seems to be quite popular with the snooty pretentious types, I notice! (And granted it is quite a visually striking film)
Hmm, I want to rewatch Hour of the Wolf. I've always liked the opening bit: "The hour of the wolf is the hour between night and dawn. It is the hour when most people die, when sleep is the deepest, when nightmares feel most real. It is the hour when the demons are most powerful. The hour of the wolf is also the hour when most children are born.'

Though I don't really make a distinction between "foreign" films and English language ones.. Seems odd to divide all movies under the sun into two categories like that. However, non-American movies are typically always better than American ones. Especially when concerning horror movies. American horror movies just.. Completely lack subtlety and atmosphere. They're always rushed.

Good point, does seem odd to divide up all movies into two such broad categories. I think maybe foreign-language films are considered as 'other,' on some level; in all honesty, most of my favourite films are American (eg 'American Beauty,' 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,' 'Lost in Translation'), I find foreign-language films - the ones I've seen, anyway - often require a closer watch, and my attention span isn't always the best, in truth I agree about American horror films, though, they're usually pretty brainless.

Not sure if I've seen 'The Hour of the Wolf,' although I do recognise that quote (think I might've had trouble streaming it, and consequently didn't get very far in). I've just read the synopsis though, and I quite fancy watching it now

[Unseelie Queen]

Originally Posted by A human Being

Good point, does seem odd to divide up all movies into two such broad categories. I think maybe foreign-language films are considered as 'other,' on some level; in all honesty, most of my favourite films are American (eg 'American Beauty,' 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,' 'Lost in Translation'), I find foreign-language films - the ones I've seen, anyway - often require a closer watch, and my attention span isn't always the best, in truth I agree about American horror films, though, they're usually pretty brainless.

Not sure if I've seen 'The Hour of the Wolf,' although I do recognise that quote (think I might've had trouble streaming it, and consequently didn't get very far in). I've just read the synopsis though, and I quite fancy watching it now

Oh, I can relate on the attention span. I looooooove American Beauty. (As well as all movies that explore that subject-- the sometimes perverse and depressing underbelly of quiet suburbs.) Actually, the three American movies you mentioned share a similar quality, and are somewhat similar to certain "foreign" films though I can't place how. I suppose they're all a bit dreamlike and wistful. Of course there's plenty of great and downright strange American movies; it's usually just the banal regurgitated Hollywood blockbusters (everything's a sequel or a remake now) that are terrible.

Do you have Netflix? Netflix has a rather good selection of foreign movies.. Mexican and South American action movies are excellent, I've found so far. I believe there's one called "City of God" that repeatedly is named in those "Best movies of all time" lists.

[Unseelie Queen]

I forgot to add: I'm a Cyborg But That's OK. A Korean movie. It's extremely endearing.

[Journeyman Paul]

My favorite foreign film . . . the Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources duo is pretty extraordinary . . . but so are Wings of Desire and Joyeux Noël. And Andrei Tarkovsky's The Sacrifice is so powerful. And Fellini's 8 1/2 is pretty exceptional. I love Hero and Crouching Tiger, as well.

I'm going with Joyeux Noël. It has made the most profound and lasting effect on me--and I relish watching it every chance I get.

I

[A human Being]

Originally Posted by Unseelie Queen

Oh, I can relate on the attention span. I looooooove American Beauty. (As well as all movies that explore that subject-- the sometimes perverse and depressing underbelly of quiet suburbs.) Actually, the three American movies you mentioned share a similar quality, and are somewhat similar to certain "foreign" films though I can't place how. I suppose they're all a bit dreamlike and wistful. Of course there's plenty of great and downright strange American movies; it's usually just the banal regurgitated Hollywood blockbusters (everything's a sequel or a remake now) that are terrible.

Do you have Netflix? Netflix has a rather good selection of foreign movies.. Mexican and South American action movies are excellent, I've found so far. I believe there's one called "City of God" that repeatedly is named in those "Best movies of all time" lists.

Yeah, me too. It struck me a few years ago that most all of my favourite films are about alienation and redemption, in one form or another (very often suburban alienation beneath the pleasant façade, as you say), which says a lot about me, I suppose. You're right, though, Hollywood is awash with dreadful, soul-sapping garbage that really does make me shake my head ruefully.

I don't have Netflix atm, no, though I wasn't aware that they have a good selection of foreign movies, so I'll look into it - thanks for the recommendation *googles City of God*

[A human Being]

Originally Posted by Unseelie Queen

I forgot to add: I'm a Cyborg But That's OK. A Korean movie. It's extremely endearing.

I'm sold purely on the strength of the title, cyborgs get a bad rap

Originally Posted by Journeyman Paul

My favorite foreign film . . . the Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources duo is pretty extraordinary . . . but so are Wings of Desire and Joyeux Noël. And Andrei Tarkovsky's The Sacrifice is so powerful. And Fellini's 8 1/2 is pretty exceptional. I love Hero and Crouching Tiger, as well.

I'm going with Joyeux Noël. It has made the most profound and lasting effect on me--and I relish watching it every chance I get.

I

Loved 'Wings of Desire' and 'The Sacrifice' (one of my top two Tarkovsky films), been meaning to watch '8 1/2' for a while, too. I don't think I've ever watched Eastern cinema (well, with the exception of 'Spirited Away,' which I loved), I tend to assume it's not going to appeal to me, I'm not sure why. 'Crouching Tiger' is widely considered to be one of the best films of all time, though, so I really must get around to watching that sometime ('Hero' is highly regarded, too, I believe).

[Unseelie Queen]

Wings of Desire is SO gorgeous. As well as Cocteau's La Belle et la Bête: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mfXKY9Gfis