Most Recommended Foreign Films!
It turns out at some point I became a huge movie snob. Actually I'm not snobbish, I just find that I agree with the people who are snobs (the critics) with regards to what movies they like! I've developed a somewhat simple formula to find great movies that aren't pushed by millions of Hollywood dollars and the number of insanely good films I've watched in the last ten years using this formula has just been...well, too many to disregard.
The best is when I find a film from some foreign country that I've never heard of before, watch it, and then am blown away. This has happened maybe 30 times now. So here's a list of my "best."
Go get them on Netflix today!
By the way, I'm skipping the Asian films as they seem to have a lot of recognition already here in the US, especially the Hong Kong ones (Zhang Yimou and Wong Kar Wai) and Japanimation (Miyazaki) ones. Also, Im skipping newer films since nowadays decent foreign films get wide recognition (Pans Labyrinth, Slumdog).
My top foreign film recommendations: Original name first and then the (US name) in parenthesis, then country/language and year of release.
Der Unterung (Downfall) - Germany
IMDB
An extremely powerful drama about the desperate last moments of the Third Reich...an incredibly powerful performance by the lead actor.
Shaun Of The Dead - England
IMDB
Introducing English comedy to the world as a zombie parody movie and introduces Simon Pegg and British star Nick Frost.
Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels - England
IMDB
The breakout movie for director Guy Ritchie, funny, witty, surprising and full of colorful characters and situations.
24 Hour Party People - England
IMDB
The story of Manchester, Factory Records, Joy Division, Happy Mondays, New Order and the birth of the rave culture.
Maria Full Of Grace - Mexico
IMDB
Like Scarface but instead of a meteoric rise to power of a man, it's the victimization of women in the illegal drug trade.
Trois Coleurs: Rouge - France
IMDB
One of my personal favorites about love that transcends time and space...the final chapter of the Trois Coleurs trilogy.
Hable Con Ella (Talk To Her) - Spain
IMDB
Two kindred souls face the horror of progressive, terminal mental illness and explore the possibilities or lack thereof of love.
Mar Adentro (The Sea Inside) - Spain
IMDB
Javier Bardem's breakout role that landed him his starring role in No Country For Old Men, about a man who fights for the right to die finding love and pain.
Lucia Y El Sexo (Sex And Lucia) - Spain
IMDB
One of my most favorite movies of all time, erotic, intellectual, surreal and romantic.
Y Tu Mama Tambien - Mexico
IMDB
Gael Garcia Bernal again in this erotic tale of friendship and erotic desperation.
Diarios De Motocicleta (The Motorcycle Diaries) - Mexico
IMDB
Gael Garcia Bernal returns as a carefree student studying to be a young doctor who becomes a famous revolutionary.
La Vita E Bella (Life Is Beautiful) - Italy
IMDB
Just simply an amazing movie about how precious the dreams of children are.
Fanny Och Alexander (Fanny And Alexander) - Sweden
IMDB
Surreal, magical and with a beautiful androgynous character in it. Written/directed by the legendary Ingmar Bergman.
Lola Rennt (Run Lola Run) - Germany
IMDB
Starring Franka Potente, the movie's cinematography was so striking, it was parodied by the Simpsons for a whole episode (Run Lisa Run).
Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids - USA
IMDB
Not actually released as a foreign movie, it stars a British photographer who tries to save hopeless children in India through photography.
Amores Perros (Dog Lovers) - Mexico
IMDB
Gael Garcia Bernal's debut, this movie was credited by the Academy for jumpstarting both high end cinema in Mexico and interest in all things latino in the 90s.
Le Fabuleux Destin D'Amelie Poulain (Amelie) - France
IMDB
The film that made Audrey Tautou an international superstar and movie darling.
Festen (The Celebration), aka Dogme #1 - Denmark
IMDB
The first movie by Dogme95, this movie is possibly the most compelling drama ever filmed...all for a tiny budget.
Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (Cinema Paradiso: New Version) - Italy
IMDB
Everything magical about the movies in one nutshell.
Cidade De Deus (City Of God) Brazil [Portugese]
IMDB
This amazing film is also a true story. The sequel is out, City Of Men.
I skipped a few great movies as "too famous" such as Pan's Labyrinth, Snatch and Trainspotting as almost everyone already knows those films.
- R
It turns out at some point I became a huge movie snob. Actually I'm not snobbish, I just find that I agree with the people who are snobs (the critics) with regards to what movies they like! I've developed a somewhat simple formula to find great movies that aren't pushed by millions of Hollywood dollars and the number of insanely good films I've watched in the last ten years using this formula has just been...well, too many to disregard.
The best is when I find a film from some foreign country that I've never heard of before, watch it, and then am blown away. This has happened maybe 30 times now. So here's a list of my "best."
Go get them on Netflix today!
By the way, I'm skipping the Asian films as they seem to have a lot of recognition already here in the US, especially the Hong Kong ones (Zhang Yimou and Wong Kar Wai) and Japanimation (Miyazaki) ones. Also, Im skipping newer films since nowadays decent foreign films get wide recognition (Pans Labyrinth, Slumdog).
My top foreign film recommendations: Original name first and then the (US name) in parenthesis, then country/language and year of release.
Der Unterung (Downfall) - Germany
IMDB
An extremely powerful drama about the desperate last moments of the Third Reich...an incredibly powerful performance by the lead actor.
Shaun Of The Dead - England
IMDB
Introducing English comedy to the world as a zombie parody movie and introduces Simon Pegg and British star Nick Frost.
Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels - England
IMDB
The breakout movie for director Guy Ritchie, funny, witty, surprising and full of colorful characters and situations.
24 Hour Party People - England
IMDB
The story of Manchester, Factory Records, Joy Division, Happy Mondays, New Order and the birth of the rave culture.
Maria Full Of Grace - Mexico
IMDB
Like Scarface but instead of a meteoric rise to power of a man, it's the victimization of women in the illegal drug trade.
Trois Coleurs: Rouge - France
IMDB
One of my personal favorites about love that transcends time and space...the final chapter of the Trois Coleurs trilogy.
Hable Con Ella (Talk To Her) - Spain
IMDB
Two kindred souls face the horror of progressive, terminal mental illness and explore the possibilities or lack thereof of love.
Mar Adentro (The Sea Inside) - Spain
IMDB
Javier Bardem's breakout role that landed him his starring role in No Country For Old Men, about a man who fights for the right to die finding love and pain.
Lucia Y El Sexo (Sex And Lucia) - Spain
IMDB
One of my most favorite movies of all time, erotic, intellectual, surreal and romantic.
Y Tu Mama Tambien - Mexico
IMDB
Gael Garcia Bernal again in this erotic tale of friendship and erotic desperation.
Diarios De Motocicleta (The Motorcycle Diaries) - Mexico
IMDB
Gael Garcia Bernal returns as a carefree student studying to be a young doctor who becomes a famous revolutionary.
La Vita E Bella (Life Is Beautiful) - Italy
IMDB
Just simply an amazing movie about how precious the dreams of children are.
Fanny Och Alexander (Fanny And Alexander) - Sweden
IMDB
Surreal, magical and with a beautiful androgynous character in it. Written/directed by the legendary Ingmar Bergman.
Lola Rennt (Run Lola Run) - Germany
IMDB
Starring Franka Potente, the movie's cinematography was so striking, it was parodied by the Simpsons for a whole episode (Run Lisa Run).
Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids - USA
IMDB
Not actually released as a foreign movie, it stars a British photographer who tries to save hopeless children in India through photography.
Amores Perros (Dog Lovers) - Mexico
IMDB
Gael Garcia Bernal's debut, this movie was credited by the Academy for jumpstarting both high end cinema in Mexico and interest in all things latino in the 90s.
Le Fabuleux Destin D'Amelie Poulain (Amelie) - France
IMDB
The film that made Audrey Tautou an international superstar and movie darling.
Festen (The Celebration), aka Dogme #1 - Denmark
IMDB
The first movie by Dogme95, this movie is possibly the most compelling drama ever filmed...all for a tiny budget.
Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (Cinema Paradiso: New Version) - Italy
IMDB
Everything magical about the movies in one nutshell.
Cidade De Deus (City Of God) Brazil [Portugese]
IMDB
This amazing film is also a true story. The sequel is out, City Of Men.
I skipped a few great movies as "too famous" such as Pan's Labyrinth, Snatch and Trainspotting as almost everyone already knows those films.
- R
VIEW 6 of 6 COMMENTS
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and the Motorcycle Diaries are two great ones and part of my dvd collection.
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