Foreign films you liked?
 

Just watched the Czech film "Zelary" which has reminded me of the many fine foreign films we have enjoyed. Not only on DVD but in both the library and local universities we have many seen many recently...like "The Wind Will Carry Us," "Butterfly,"
and "Motorcycle Diaries."

I started to list others but there are so many! And how about the classics such as "Babette's Fest," "Cinema Paradiso,"
"Bicycle Thief," and "Amelia." Many are filmed in Iran, China, Mongolia and such far away places.

At the top of any list are others which are not strictly foreign in category but well worth seeing..."Schindler's List," "Life Is Beautiful," "Tea with Mussolini," "Gandhi," etc. Any favorites you might mention?

ozarksbill

My absolute favorite was Alexandre, released in the States in the early 1970's. I have searched for it for years. Would love a dvd or video. I saw it at the old Exeter theatre in Boston. How I miss that theatre.

You've not mentioned this one:
Garden of the Finzi-Continis

It's a relatively late Vittorio De Sica movie.

Dominique Sanda is in this, and this recalls "The Conformist." It's not a favorite, but it's a beautifully shot movie. I recently saw it again when it was revived.

A very old French movie, very influential, is the Jean Renoir classic "La Regle du Jeu." I also saw it again recently.

This recalls a few movies (can't say I really liked this, but good to drop a few names):

L'Annee Derniere a Marienbad
Hiroshima, Mon Amour

Both by Alain Resnais.

Staying with the French theme, I've liked Un Coeur en Hiver, which is relatively recent.

Moving to Japan, another one I saw recently is Hara Kiri, a nice movie from the samurai genre.

As for shocking and different, try the Oshima classic "In the Realm of the Senses."

Then there's "Woman in the Dunes" directed by Teshigahara.

I can go on and on.

"Everything is illuminated" may be still running in San Francisco, for those who are interested in Ukraine (or Russia).

I really liked that "Gone with the Wind"; it may not be as classy as "Brief Encounter" but it's got something.

I think the southern states may be slightly different now, though.

Well Sheila, "I do declare!" LOL

Things have changed a bit. Try watching Steel Magnolias with Julia Roberts for a more up to date look at the South.

Thanks for this thread.
Some of my recent favorites but not listed in order of preference:
Goodbye Lenin
Triplets of Belleville
Run Lola Run
Hedwick (??) and the Angry Inch (Not for everyone!)

Just two that I've seen fairly recently: Downfall and 2046.

"Goodbye Lenin" is a great film about the fall of the Berlin wall!! Thanks for reminding, L84sky!

Did you like "2046," Leely?

Clever, moving use of "Casta Diva" in that movie.

My favorite Wong Kar-Wai movie is still "Chungking Express."

There are sooo many great foreign films. Zelary was excellent. Some recent good ones -
the Edukators,
Shultze gets the Blues,
Mondovino,
I'm Not Scared.
All time favorites -
Jean du Florette/Manon of the Spring
Cinema Paridiso
Bicycle Thief
Babette's Feast
Life is Beautiful
Il Postino
Latcho Drom

Kolya, a Czech film, I believe
Malena
Il Postino
Belle Epoque, Spanish, despite French title
Burnt (or Burned) by the Sun, Russian

Charming Chinese film, "The Mask" was part of the title

"City of God", but mi novia was appalled.
M

111op,

re: 2046. I laughed. I cried. I fell asleep for a little bit. I loved it! But I must admit I'm very late to the Wong Kar-Wai party.

My favorite film is Mr. Hulot's Holiday. Shot in the early 50's with the inimitable Jacques Tati. It is about a vacation on the Brittany shore in a moderst little hotel. Tati approaches Chaplin in this wonderful film for the whole family.

'Tinker Tailor', Le Carre story, with Alec Guinness, done for public tx is another gem. Both are available from Netflix.

Can't say that I really appreciate Tati, but I did sit through a showing of "Playtime" recently.

I also liked "Il Postino."

Which then reminds me of "Like Water for Chocolate." I get the feeling that I'll find this trashy when I see it though.

For some reason, I suddenly remember "Kiss of the Spider Woman," which I enjoyed -- but the leads are American.

"Rabbit-proof fence" is a great movie!

Bread and Tulips (Italian)
Facing Windows (Italian)
Heaven (Italian)
Amelie (French)
Too Beautiful for You (French)
Unbearable Lightness of Being (Prague)

If you are interested in American made films filmed in other countries there are many of those, and there have been a number of threads listing them.

I don't watch many films, either American or foreign, but I just rented "Downfall" and found it very interesting.

"The Weeping Camel" a German film.

Fireworks ("Hana Bi"). Japan

>Schultze gets the Blues
This was one of the best (if not the best) movies I watched this year. The guy looked so frustrated living in this old fashioned town, doing what he always did, working till he got sick. And suddenly everything changed and he was living his life.
Did he die from a stroke or was it work related cancer?

Absolutely loved "Bread & Tulips".

I just saw "A Very Long Engagement".

It's excellent, and the same girl that was in Amelie.

Also I don't think anyone mentioned "Christ Stopped at Eboli"(sp?)- so very, very Southern Italy.

And the old classic "Enchanted April" an old "chick" flick done well in Umbria supposedly- but I got to see the house they used and it was near Positano.

111op, Like Water For Chocolate is not trashy but I liked the book even better. To me the film is a treat for the eyes and the imagination.

I've never read the book, Sea Urchin. Actually I did see the movie -- what I meant is that I might find it "trashy" if I see it again. My tastes might have changed. But I agree with you that I found it to be a treat.

"Christ Stopped at Eboli"

I don't know this, but cmt used it as a clue in the crossword thread at least twice.

I agree you have to be in the mood for Water for C. I haven't seen it lately either, but I thought it was so original at the time.

I wish I weren't so busy here so I could think of some foreign movies, I hate when work gets in the way of Fodors!

logos,

Agree with you about Schultze Gets the Blues, but there was something missing in it that left me puzzled. Did he trade his accordian for the boat?

Another good German movie was "The Tin Drum".

I'll watch "The Third Man" and "M" any time I get a chance.

"M" is great, but I must say the ending is overdramatic for me.

Has anyone seen "Z"? I've never seen it, but I find it amusing that there's a movie by that title.

I think it's based on a true story of an assassination attempt (?).

<b>The Unbearable Lightness of Being</b> - a brilliant portayal of love during the Prague Spring of 1968 (Warsaw Pact &quot;invaded*&quot; and quashed the freedom uprising)
*&quot;invaded&quot; - the reason it's not a clear call is because some in the Czech government actually &quot;invited&quot; the Warsaw Pact to &quot;help out&quot;. Anyway, see the movie, and you will understand.

<b>The Marriage of Maria Braun</b> - another great story of love. A wife of a German army officer dealing with the end of WW2.

<b>It's a Beautiful Life</b> - if you haven't seen it, I feel sorry for you. That's all I have to say.

<b>Europa, Europa</b> - a true story of a German Jewish kid, surviving the war by pretending to be a Nazi (actually attending one of the top schools for young Nazis, and a communist - when the Russians overran the part of Poland he was stationed in, and more... It's funny, it's sad, it's a great movie!

I don't remember if
M. Butterfly was a foreign film or not but I was thinking about this list as I was baking and thought to add it.

Faina,
You're welcome! I remember the time period, I was very much on the planet at the time but when I saw that movie it occured to me how rapidly things changed there. Wow!

Since we're going way back, what about the film cycle &quot;Three Colors&quot; by Krystof Kieslowski? Hard to pick a favorite out of those three, but I think I might just like &quot;White&quot; best.

&gt;Did he trade his accordian for the boat?
Maybe thats the answer, I thought he did steal the boat? Why was he scared of the police if he had bought it? Maybe just because he didn't speak the language?

How about &quot;Mediterrano&quot; a Italian/Greek film. Also &quot;The Last Empero&quot; for a film about China. &quot;The Swimming Pool&quot;, which is an English film placed in France, and so on.

&quot;Das Boot&quot;, a classic of German cinema, &quot;Y Tu Mama Tambien&quot;, &quot;Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown&quot; (an unknown Antonio Banderas....you have got to see him in this movie :-D)

AAFrequentflyer-- I will like to recommend the book &quot;The Reader&quot; to you.

<i>Mon Oncle</i> - Jacques Tati

<u>Apr&eacute;s Vous</u> with Daniel Auteuil. He does a great comedic turn in this movie! Most of audience in the small avant-garde theatre I attended was French - probably 75% - and we all enjoyed this.

Loved <u>A Very Long Engagement</u>, too. The kids &amp; I agree it's like <u>Am&eacute;lie</u> only set in the '20s &amp; with settings outside of Paris.

<u>Run, Lola, Run</u> is a favorite, too!!

Tatie Danielle (Aunt Danielle) is a very interesting ultra-dark French comedie.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100747/

Another film I liked is Bella Martha, a German film. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0246772/

I truly enjoyed both.

Lucie Aubrac--deals with Resistance movement in Lyon during WWII

de France - &quot;L'Auberge Espagnole&quot;, &quot;The Beat My Heart Skipped&quot;, &quot;Amelie&quot;, &quot;Monsieur Ibrahim&quot; and &quot;Mon Frere.&quot;

de Espana - &quot;Km 0,&quot; &quot;Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown,&quot; &quot;All About My Mother,&quot; &quot;Jamon Jamon&quot; and &quot;Talk to Her.&quot;

from Germany - &quot;Run Lola Run,&quot; &quot;Goodbye, Lenin&quot; and &quot;Gegen die Wand (head-on).&quot;

de Italia - &quot;Bread and Tulips&quot; and &quot;Days&quot;

from Israel - &quot;Walk on Water&quot;