Foreign Film, yo?

[Teh]

So i've never really been into foreign films, but the past few days i've caught a couple on tv and i've thought they were pretty effin' good. Including 36 - french sort of detective film thing which is probably actually one of the best films i've seen in a long time.

Anyway, long story short, recommend me some foreign film that i can get my hands on easily! Most of the films these days are shit and i've been mad impressed with the quality on european cinema. No soppy romance stuff, preferably, in fact nah, just recommend anything, please? And include a synopsis, too. Danke :D

[Stupid]

La Haine

Injured by a police inspector during an interrogation, Abdel is at a hospital, almost dead. In the suburbs where he lives, some riots happened during the night, and one policeman lost his gun. One of Abdel's friends, Vinz, finds it. Vinz and his two pals, Said and Hubert, have nothing to do so they try to kill time. Vinz swears that if Abdel dies, he will shoot a policeman...

[na§tee]

caché/hidden (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387898/).
france. 2005.
michael haneke fucks with your mind a-go-go.

lola + bilidikid (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0137079/).
germany. 1999.
the gay turkish diaspora in germany, just what you always wanted, teh! also, someone gets his dick chopped off.

run lola run (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0130827/).
germany. 1998.
if you haven't seen this movie you are a little bit silly.

the three colours trilogy: blue, white and red (http://www.imdb.com/find?s=all&q=three+colours).
france. 1993 & 1994.
will make you cry.

intacto (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0220580/).
spain. 2001.
ker-azy blindfolded tests of luck! i think you would like this the best.

um. that should keep you going for now.

p.s. ooooh, yes, la haine is fucking awesome. so awesome that i, er, still have not returned the dvd :o
and that darling mathieu kassovitz directed it. gorgeous film.

[TAL]

About 99.9% of all films I see are foreign.

[Teh]

Yas! I have see Run Lola Run, i'm cool. I even have the soundtrack CD. Double disc.

Intacto actually looks fucking sweet. i'll need to make a note of that one. I was actually also gonna pick up la haine too because my dad had seen it and said it was excellent, but at that point i wasn't interested enough (twatfaceee)


Cheers for the suggestions! magners in brel for y'both, ayeeee :D

[Big Gus]

City of God for me - great film.

[Helvete]

I can't be bothered to tell you all the good foreign films I know, I just came in here to boast about how knowledgeable I am about foreign cinema, and that I probably know and watch more non-english language films than all of you.

[Genocide Tulips]

Winter Light

-About a priest who has little or no faith in God and isn't much help to a guy afraid of a nuclear war. Very powerful, beautifully shot and no hollywood ending.

Aguirre, the Wrath of God

-Herzog's crazy film about the spanish conquest for El Dorado. Powerful perfomance by Klaus Kinski and one of the best films ever.

M (1933)

-Fritz Lang's first sound film, but you would never have known that with the way he uses sound. Peter Lorre plays a child murderer/molester who can't seem to control his vice. With the police unable to catch him, the other criminals in town get angry due to the inability to commit their crimes decide to team up and search for the murderer themselves. Raises important moral questions and overall fantastic film.

Ugetsu

-Japanese ghost story that is both beautiful and depressing. Considered one of the greatest films ever made.

Bicycle Thieves (a.k.a Bicycle Thief)

-A story about a poor man who gets a bike for his job and then has it stolen. He desperately searches for the bike throughout the city. A chilling look at the lower class and the struggles they have.

Au Revoir Les Enfants

-Louis Malles' film about two boys in WWII that attend a catholic school in France. One is jewish and doesn't get along well with others. Based on real events the director experienced (he's not the jew). A story about friendship, trust, betrayal and growing up.

The 400 Blows

-Francois Truffaut's masterpiece about a troublemaking adolescent named Antoine Doinel. Helped form modern cinema and the French New Wave scene. Highly recommended.

Ikiru

-Akira Kurosawa's chilling film about an old man who never really lived life and discovers he has cancer and will die soon. He tries to live life and helps change a community. Beautiful and not too sappy.

I also recommend Floating Weeds, Tokyo Story, Stroszek, Stalker, 8 1/2, The Seventh Seal and the Wages of Fear.

[jabumbo]

run lola run is one of my favorite movies

i tend to enjoy a fair amount of older japanese films as well. ones from the 30's and such

[Drederick Tatum]

Shoah (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090015/) if you can handle it.

Bonbon, El Perro (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0420548/). about a guy in Argentina who gets a huge dog (http://www.facets.org/Images/cinematheque/bonbon3.jpg).

Paris, Texas (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087884/) and Das Himmel uber Berlin (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093191/) are both excellent Wim Wenders.

Black Cat, White Cat (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118843/). "pit bull! terrier!"

No Man's Land (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0283509/). good ending.

11'09''01 - September 11 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0328802/). 11 different directors.

[Drederick Tatum]

I can't be bothered to tell you all the good foreign films I know, I just came in here to boast about how knowledgeable I am about foreign cinema, and that I probably know and watch more non-english language films than all of you.

doubtful.

[Helvete]

Okay, the last 6 months having changed my job I have little time to indulge in my passion for foreign cinema, so I can probably concede a little there. But dammit, I call all foreign films by their original language names and would kill someone who prefers dubbing!

[Drederick Tatum]

well, you're obviously rather militant about it.

[ET]

Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance
Fulltime Killer
Versus

[Pres Zount]

Aguirre, the Wrath of God

-Herzog's crazy film about the spanish conquest for El Dorado. Powerful perfomance by Klaus Kinski and one of the best films ever.


That is one of the best movies I have ever seen. I loved it so much. Klaus Kinski is fucking nuts in it.





Au Revoir Les Enfants

-Louis Malles' film about two boys in WWII that attend a catholic school in France. One is jewish and doesn't get along well with others. Based on real events the director experienced (he's not the jew). A story about friendship, trust, betrayal and growing up.

This one was really, really good, too.

I used to watch nothing but non-english films. Not so much anymore.

[na§tee]

Black Cat, White Cat (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118843/). "pit bull! terrier!"
(y) ahhhh. that is a fantastic film.

i can't believe i forgot underground (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114787/). it's totally on my top 10 films.

everyone needs some emir kusturica in their lives. and his shit hot music.

[roosta]

About 99.9% of all films I see are foreign.

same here

[Helvete]

Quite obviously Foreign in this case is meaning non-English language.

I do recommend the film 'Walk on Water (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0352994)'.
Israeli/German film, about, well, an Israeli dude and some Germans.

Soldaat Van Oranje (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076734/)
Possibly my favourite war film ever, and maybe top 10 of any film, foreign or not, and it's not even really a gung-ho action. Telling the story about some young Dutch men in occupied Holland. Real good, highly recommend.

Brat (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118767/)
Cool Ruski movie about gangsters and shit. (if you like it, check out the sequel and another Russian movie called Voyna.)

That'll do you for now, now go!

[roosta]

ah yes!

well, from memory i have enjoyed:

La Haine
Downfall
Hero
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
House of Flying Daggers
Fearless (cant remember if that was in foreign language or not)
Ring
Battle Royale
Run Lola Run

Does Passion of the Christ or Apocalypto count? I liked them too.

Nothing obscure thenso.

[Parkey]

The Red Squirrel (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106305/) (y)

[abcdefz]

You've got a bunch of good recommendations up there, but I particularly want to emphasize the amazing goodness that is Aguiree: The Wrath of God. One of the greatest films, ever ever ever. It's methodical -- you'll know that from the very first shot -- but you'll get in rhythm with it and it's utterly hypnotizing. Nobody but nobody films nature like Herzog. He can make a one or two minute close-up shot of churning, muddy river water gorgeous and foreboding and perfect.

I've only met one person in my life who saw this movie and didn't like it.

[miss soul fire]

I love Spanish movies.
Actually, I love foreign movies.
I love learning about different cultures and read the subtitles. Yes, I do.
I need to watch "Manuale D'Amore 2". The first one was funny.:D

[faz]

Taxi 1 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0152930/)

The film takes place in Marseille, France, and involves an aspiring racecar driver named Daniel, who initially works as a pizza delivery boy, but changes jobs to become a taxi driver. With a supercharged engine he eludes the police while quickly transporting his fares to their destinations. Finally caught by the police for a huge speed infraction, he is forced to help Emilien, a down on his luck police inspector on the trail of German bank robbers. Trying to juggle a budding relationship with his beautiful girlfriend Lilly (Marion Cotillard) and a need for high-speed chases, Daniel helps Emilien so that he does not lose his license and quite possibly his job.

(You may of seen the american remake of this a few years back. I didnt)

Taxi 2 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0183869/)

Taxi 2 tells the story of a Japanese ambassador visiting Marseille to view the city police's anti-gang tactics. During the visit, however, he is kidnapped by a group working for the Japanese yakuza. Young officer Emilien (played by Frédéric Diefenthal) is determined to rescue the ambassador and officer Petra (Emma Sjöberg) (his girlfriend), who was also kidnapped, and restore the honour of his department. Once again, speed demon taxi-driver Daniel (Samy Naceri) is called upon to save the day with his high-speed driving skills.

District 13/Disctrict B13/Banlieue 13 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0414852/)

An acrobatic urban avenger and a kick-boxing supercop team up to save an infamous ghetto from a gang lord armed with a nuclear weapon.

Yamakasi (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0267129/)

Gravity or Police, these guys don't believe in any law. Idolised by the youth of Paris as much as they're hated by the police, they are the Yamakasis, modern samurais. With acrobatic skillfulness and adrenaline pumping belief in their own immortality, they throw themselves out from incredible heights, and jump from roof to roof. Locked doors and "No Trespassing"-signs become irresistible challenges. But one day, whilst mimicking one of the Yamakasi's more dangerous stunts, a young fan gets injured. Only one operation can save the boy, an operation that his family can't afford.

Coincidently Luc Besson is involved in all these

[Genocide Tulips]

I've only met one person in my life who saw this movie and didn't like it.

That person is obviously gay. In a non-homophobic way.

[ET]

Grave of the Fireflies

It's animated but so what.

[Lyman Zerga]

police academy 1-19

[Genocide Tulips]

There's nothing wrong with an animated movie. Spirited Away was awesome.

Go home. Just. Go. Home.

[Lyman Zerga]

And what's your problem?


shes just the board scum
stay away and dont directly look into her eyes

[befsquire]

There's nothing wrong with an animated movie. Spirited Away was awesome.
this movie was fucking fantastic. my daughter was watching it, and i caught the very end. so the next day, she's watching it, and i walked in during the middle and sat through to the end and then immediately made her start it over so that i could watch it from the beginning.

and come on, why no mushy movies? amelie is an amazing movie. though i guess i can't really say it's mushy.

[befsquire]

she may have seen it from the bottom of a bottle.

[roosta]

Akira is very good. Very nice to look at, but don't try and follow the plot; your head will implode

[Helvete]

The Experiment is a great German film based on a true event.
Das Experiment, I liked this one also, and own it on DVD. Has Manni from Lola Rennt in it.

Also, go see Days of Glory!

[Yorkshire~Rose]

Two of my all time favourite films:

Les Diaboliques (http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0046911/)

Les Yeux Sans Visage (http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0053459/)

[Lo_Lyfe]

I'm not much of a foreign film buff, but Baise Moi and Man Bites Dog are two that I enjoy a great deal.

[Teh]

Okies, so i got City of God today for 8 quid and i'm bidding on La Haine on ebay as well atm. 99p, bargain :D

I'm also keeping an eye out for Aguirre: Wrath of God and Intacto too, just i basically just picked a few but i'm gonna consistently work my way through cos im bored as fuck these days.

Anyway, City of God yo, will let yous know what i think. Thanks for the suggestions!

[a.k.a me]

Train da Vie
Madadayo
Zatoichi (2003)
Black Sabbath
Suspiria

[Junker]

About 99.9% of all films I see are foreign.

Same here :D

[Junker]

Anyway, City of God yo, will let yous know what i think. Thanks for the suggestions!

It's a very good film. Hope you like its style.

[Lex Diamonds]

City of God is an amazing film, one of my favourites.

Infernal Affairs is awesome too.

[Caribou]

(y) ahhhh. that is a fantastic film.

i can't believe i forgot underground (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114787/). it's totally on my top 10 films.

everyone needs some emir kusturica in their lives. and his shit hot music.

Everyone always says I should see underground, but I can't find it anywhere here. :(
I have seen Black Cat, White Cat though. That was fucking awesome. I love the music and I grew up around bosnian people so I recognize a lot of cultural thingies.

I like:
Festen
Lola Rennt
101 Reykjavík (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0237993/)
Jalla! Jalla!
Kops
Theo & Thea en het tenenkaas imperium

[abcdefz]

and come on, why no mushy movies? amelie is an amazing movie. though i guess i can't really say it's mushy.




I don't know if it's "mushy" or not, but The Story of Adele H. is one of the most heartbreaking stories of unrequited love ever. It's a Truffaut film about Victor Hugo's daughter who traveled halfway around the world for this soldier. Isabelle Adjani's in it -- she's great. It's got cheesy "nightmare" effects, but other than that, it's fantastic.

[miss soul fire]

Anatomie (1) - The second one isn't good, at all. Although I own both.

[miss soul fire]

"Kebab Connection".

Very funny!:D

[MC Moot]

I'll throw in the films of Akira Kurosawa "the guy who came up with the idea for Star Wars and all that stuff..."

Rashomon
Seven Samurai
Yojimbo
Hidden Fortress
Dreams
Throne of Blood
Ran

[Teh]

So i watched City of God the other night and thought it was absolutley amazing, for lack of a better word. It blows the shit out of mainstream cinema.

I liked the way it was in 'segments' - almost in the style of run lola run which i also watched again. I really liked the scene in the disco with the stobe lights where benny gets shot.

Overall a fantastic film. One of the best i've ever seen.

I've got La Haine, and American Friend, and Aguiree: The Wrath of God as well as Intacto will some be in my posession.

Thanks for the recommendations. i'll probly keep posting in here once i've gotten round to watching a few more.

[digweed]

Tsotsi is a great SA grime movie, worth checking out

[sercomdj01]

For less arty foreighn fims

City of god
El marachi

[Helvete]

Ignore me at your peril.

[sercomdj01]

Ignore me at your peril.

Is that a threat?:rolleyes:

[RaZoRbLaDe KiSs]

One of my favorite movies - The Devil's Backbone. Not only is it a great flick but it's by one of the greatest directors in my opinion, Guillermo del Toro. He's amazing. (y)

The Devil's Backbone (http://www.filmmonthly.com/video/Articles/DevilsBackbone/DevilsBackbone.html)

[Rock]

I'll throw in the films of Akira Kurosawa "the guy who came up with the idea for Star Wars and all that stuff..."

Hidden Fortress

I don't see it. I guess the closest thing was the two dudes and their adventures they get mixed up in along the way...like R2 D2 and C3PO but other than that...don't see the influence.

[tjpop]

Man Bites Dog was good. has some playful French Godard type stuff goin' on..

In the film, a crew of filmmakers follow a serial killer, recording his crimes and grotesquely candid commentary for a documentary they are producing. At first dispassionate observers, they find themselves caught up in the increasingly chaotic violence. The film is shot in black and white an was produced on a shoe-string budget by four student filmmakers, led by director Rémy Belvaux.

[icy manipulator]

anyone seen Get Ready to be Boyzvoiced? it's a Norwegian mockumentary about what it's like to be in a scandanavian boy band. funniest film i've seen in a long time. recommend it to everyone on the board

http://imdb.com/title/tt0248036/

[paul jones]

Strange Brew

[b-grrrlie]

Lola Rennt

That's Run Lola run


I like:
Festen
Lola Rennt
101 Reykjavík (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0237993/)
Jalla! Jalla!
Kops
Theo & Thea en het tenenkaas imperium
So you're very much into Swedish /Scandinavian movies then ;)

I'd like to recommend Fucking Åmål (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0150662/) (Show me love) and Together (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0203166/) by Lukas Moodysson. Oh yeah and OF COURSE Lilja 4-ever (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0300140/)!

also

Innocence (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0375233/)
Delicatessen (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101700/)
La Cité des enfants perdus (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112682/)
Diva (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082269/)
Pixote (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082912/)

[Gareth]

pans labyrinth

[trailerprincess]

I watched Black Book at the weekend, which is a Dutch film. Quite good but VERY odd in places.

[Drederick Tatum]

^Paul Verhoeven. he also did Robocop, Total Recall, Starship Troopers, Basic Instinct and Showgirls amongst others.

has anyone seen No Mercy for the Rude? or A Few Days in September?

recently I watched Resnais' Night and Fog and Ophuls' the Sorrow and the Pity. both very good. but only for those who don't mind French historical documentaries from the 1950s + 60s.

[trailerprincess]

^Paul Verhoeven. he also did Robocop, Total Recall, Starship Troopers, Basic Instinct and Showgirls amongst others.

has anyone seen No Mercy for the Rude? or A Few Days in September?

recently I watched Resnais' Night and Fog and Ophuls' the Sorrow and the Pity. both very good. but only for those who don't mind French historical documentaries from the 1950s + 60s.


Yes, I realised that when I saw the name come up. And then I waited for the gratuitous boob shots. And I was not disappointed.:D

[paul jones]

pans labyrinth

yeah that was fucking good even though I saw it on the plane on a tiny screen(y)

[abcdefz]

I had to laugh at my local Blockbuster guy this weekend.

I'm looking around in the foreign film section and he comes over and asks what I'm looking for. I said Yi Yi. Never heard of it. What's it about?

I don't know a lot about it. Just that this kid has a camera and --

-- OH! YOU'D PROBABLY LIKE CITY OF GOD!




I almost laughed. Yeah -- you're looking for The Gold Rush but we don't have it, but, you know, Un Chien Andalou is in black and white, too; you might like that. :D

[abcdefz]

Sorry -- we're all out of Lord of the Rings. But I bet you'd like Summer Catch!

[abcdefz]

Oh, if you like Hobbits, you'll love Nick Hornby adaptations!

[abcdefz]

Aw, hell. I meant Fever Pitch.

[roosta]

I just saw The Host.

Its very good, but a bit sad :(

But good!

[abcdefz]

...is that the Vietnamese horror movie about the monster crafted from nuclear waste kinda thing? It played here for about one week and was gone before I could get to it.

[roosta]

...is that the Vietnamese horror movie about the monster crafted from nuclear waste kinda thing? It played here for about one week and was gone before I could get to it.

South Korean, and chemical waste, but yes!

[abcdefz]

No, no, that's not it.



(Refers to Kids in the Hall Citizen Kane/diner sketch.)