Oldies but goodies.
The Lavender Hill Mob,
Black Narcisis,
The Man in the White suit,
The green man,
Georgie Girl,
The Letter,
Ponette,
Le grand Chemin,
The girl with the golden eyes,
The Samarai (sp?)
Purple Noon,
Fanny,
le Boulanger,
and so many more

I don't know if it is true, but a Spanish friend of mine (Madrid) says Almodovar "discovered" Antonio Banderas. "Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down is fun and different. It's worth a look!

"In the Mood for Love" is a beautiful Chinese movie about a love story. It's filmed almost enterely in an apartment in Hong Kong. I was completely taken by the subtlety of this film.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118694/

travelintoes, Banderas was in theater when he joined with Almadovar and also other directors to make over 30 films in Spain. Womon on the verge was the film that brought him success to the USA where he made The Mambo kings.

Lots of movies I agree with here (Neil OZ, I always knew you had good taste! I guess we were callow youths at the same time!). Amongst my top favourites of all time are "La Dolce Vita", "The Conformist" and "Z". 111op..."Z" might sound amusing but it sure aint! Watch it some time, it is superb ( Costa Gravas Greek movie). Cheers!

cigalechanta, when I want to watch a movie that will make me laugh I put on Women on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown, among others I love the scene when the bed is aflame, then smoldering.

I also get into my Fellini moods and watch 8 1/2, Juliette of the Spirits and, lately, La Dolce Vita, in that one I am hooked on the dance scene in the cavelike nightclub..."Frankie"...and of course the Trevi Fountain scene, until I watched it again I had forgotten the little kitten and Marcello going after a saucer of milk in the middle of the night.

If I want to get nostalgic I watch Il Postino, the soundtrack alone is good enough.

These are the movies I watch over and over at home.

Another good one is the DVD called My Voyage to Italy by Martin Scorsese subtitled A Look at the Movies that Influenced a Filmmaker's Passion.

Ohmigosh! When I posted this only two days ago I didn't realize how many foreign films are worth seeing and also how many Fodorites have favorites. As I said before, my own list is too long to post but then I also found many other suggestions from you guys. And to recall the Guinness classics!

Do some of you have a source for renting such films to be mailed to you? I am guessing that is so and would appreciate the info.

Yes, it is tricky to determine what really is a foreign film, especially recalling some Brit comedies and many American made ones set in a foreign place such as A Room with a View.

Not all foreign films are memorable, of course, but many I enjoy for scenery or simple story even if cinematically subpar.

ozarksbill

All-time favorite: Walkabout.

Runners-up: All About My Mother, Bossa Nova, Juliet of the Spirits, and La Strada

I have many, many favorite British films -- Brassed Off, Ladies in Lavender, The Committments and some Peter Sellers -- but so many of them are cooperative with US studios that I'm not always sure which are entirely not-US, and besides, I don't usually feel that British movies are "foreign" -- frankly, there are plenty of US-made movies that are far more foreign to my nature.

ozarkbill,
I mention here you can buy or rent at www.facets.org.
I waited a year for the price of Celine and Julie go Boating to be slashed.

Sea Urchin,a few Italian films I loved,
Amacord, Malena, Cinema Paradiso, The Tre of Wooden Clogs, Seven Beauties,
Yesterday, today and tomorrow, 81/2,
Rocco and his Brothers,
Night of the shooting stars,
Death in Venice, Fellini Satyricon,
and so many more

Thanks to all! I've fleshed out my Netflix queue quite nicely now.

What about "Elling" (2001) ?!?

"Norwegian movie about two mentally challenged friends who battle adversity and find their place in the sun. The two room together and attempt to create a life for themselves outside the confining, but protective, walls of the hospital."

Yes, it's touching but mostly it's FUNNY! I still laugh when I think of certain scenes years later...

Learned about My House in Umbria on this Fodors board--a very good film.

Another oldie-but-goodie: Marcel Camus' 1959 "Black Orpheus". I also enjoyed the raw look of Pier Paolo Pasolini's "Gospel According to Matthew".

[If other contributors can indulge me for a minute.... Peteralan, I wonder if you're venerable enough to remember what may have been Sydney's only "art house" cinema in the early '60s? The name escapes me but I think it was in Bligh Street.]

remembered few more:

<b>The Promised Land</b> - Andrzej Wajda's BEST! - 3 friends, a Pole, a Jew and a German trying to become top industrialists in 19th century Poland.
Funny, tragic, colorful. A must see!

<b>Knife in the Water</b> - Roman Polanski's classic.

<b>Dead Calm</b> - Australian thriller. Nicole Kidman's first exposure to US audiences. Sam Neill as her husband and Billy Zane as the psycho murderer.
Great, scary thriller and through most of the movie we only see the 3 characters.

The Gods Must Be Crazy for some light relief

Also..

Love HK film with Yun-Fat Chow because he is soooo engaging on screen. The last film I saw with him staring was Once A Thief. He has been in American movies as well and maybe recognised from Anna and the King. He is really yum

An English film I saw a long time ago &quot;Rainy Day Women&quot; I thought was brilliant.

A French movie about an inept policeman I can't recall the title of if anyone can help out! Very funny. Also a German comedy about inept robbers I cannot recall the name of either.

1900. I haved watched it beginning to end 3 times (truth)

Cinema Paradiso also, what is not to like about that film!

Another English movie that traumatised me &quot;The Dresser&quot;.

Very many. An Amercian movie I keep thinking is a foreign film was The Last Supper. Very good movie.

Here's a few more I liked:

&quot;The Full Monty&quot;
&quot;Kitchen Stories&quot; - a Swedish/Norwegian movie that sounds silly but is actually quite good
&quot;Italian for Beginners&quot;

And no one has mentioned The Girl From Paris??

I never consider UK movies as &quot;foreign&quot; so they won't make my lists!

Cassandra

The Committments is an Irish film and there have been two other very good films made from Roddy Doyle's Dublin trilogy: The Snapper and The Van. If you have seen them, I think you would like them a lot. They are among my very favorites.

Of course, I meant to say &quot;if you haven't seen them.&quot;