# Best foreign language movies you've watched **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [December 15, 2021, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-foreign-language-movies-youve-watched/956121 "2021-12-15T21:23:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2021, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-foreign-language-movies-youve-watched/956121/61 "2021-12-16T23:33:57Z")
> [@teelabrown](#): > > How could I forget _Jean de Florette_ and _Manon des Sources_? Yes, I love those movies, too… > > > [@Paintcharge](#): > > > > **Cinema Paradiso** A love letter to movies. I came in to post these three. Also, no love for **Parasite**? mmm ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2021, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-foreign-language-movies-youve-watched/956121/62 "2021-12-16T23:50:40Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Also, no love for **Parasite**? Sure, it’s been mentioned twice. ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-foreign-language-movies-youve-watched/956121/63 "2021-12-17T07:31:40Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > I was trying to provide the languages of the movies. Trying and succeeded. Sorry about that, I looked twice and must have been thinking they speak Norse in Norway. 😞 Guess I should have looked three times. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-foreign-language-movies-youve-watched/956121/64 "2021-12-17T10:22:48Z")
> **[The Road Home (1999) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0235060/)** > > The Road Home: Directed by Yimou Zhang. With Ziyi Zhang, Honglei Sun, Hao Zheng, Yulian Zhao. Prompted by the death of his father and the grief of his mother, a man recalls the story of how they met in flashback. A beautiful Chinese movie directed by Zhang Yimou, the director of _Raise the Red Lantern_, and starring Zhang Ziyi, who later starred in _Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon_. It’s a very gentle, simple, moving, and memorable love story, set in a remote village in the 1950s. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-foreign-language-movies-youve-watched/956121/65 "2021-12-17T10:32:42Z")
No love for Studio Ghibli? **Spirited Away** deserves a mention, and I admit a deep fondness for **My Neighbour Totoro**. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-foreign-language-movies-youve-watched/956121/66 "2021-12-17T10:42:06Z")
Perhaps Japanese anime is hardly even considered foreign any more. 😉 _Kimi no na wa_ (Your Name) deserves a mention. I prefer _Kagemusha_ to _Ran_. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-foreign-language-movies-youve-watched/956121/67 "2021-12-17T11:00:38Z")
If we can mention TV series as well as movies, the Korean series _ **Winter Sonata** _ first turned me (and a lot of other people) on to things Korean. It’s a kind of high-class soap opera, but it draws you in. The theme music is unforgettable. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Mv4nF6jD7fY/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgSihYMA8=&rs=AOn4CLDQcB2loaFIrdcxGqk5pUsOErpmNQ "Winter Sonata - From the beginning till now (처음부터 지금까지)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mv4nF6jD7fY) ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-foreign-language-movies-youve-watched/956121/68 "2021-12-17T14:38:38Z")
Loads listed already that I like. **Black Cat, White Cat** (1998) a Serbian black comedy directed by Emir Kusturica. **The Weeping Meadow** (2004) a Greek historical epic about the first half of the 20thC, directed by Theo Angelopoulos. Great soundtrack by Eleni Karaindrou. **La Fee** (THe Fairy) (2011) French comedy/fantasy by Dominique Abel & Fiona Gordon. They also made **Lost in Paris** (2016) gentle comedy about a French Canadian visiting Paris **My Sweet Pepper Land** (2013) directed by Huner Saleem. Life in a remote part of a somewhat independent Kurdistan after the Gulf War ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-foreign-language-movies-youve-watched/956121/69 "2021-12-17T16:40:00Z")
No worries! According to Wikipedia, _Insomnia_ is in Norwegian and Swedish, but it’s been a while since I’ve seen it. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-foreign-language-movies-youve-watched/956121/70 "2021-12-17T17:05:02Z")
Short-ish ( 1:20 ) Italian comedy-drama from 2008 ‘Pranzo do ferragosto’ ( or the English title ‘Mid August Lunch’ ) ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-foreign-language-movies-youve-watched/956121/71 "2021-12-17T17:42:24Z")
> [@Meurglys](#): > > **Black Cat, White Cat** (1998) a Serbian black comedy directed by Emir Kusturica. Yeah, he directed a few good ones. **Sabato, domenica e lunedì** (1990), directed by Lina Wertmüller. The MacGuffin is a Neapolitan ragú that takes three days to prepare and consume (hence the title “Saturday, Sunday and Monday”), during which time a husband (Luca De Filippo) and wife (Sophia Loren) work out problems that arise after 30 years of marriage. Plenty of comedy and also moments of surrealism that reminded me of Fellini. Turns out director Wertmüller worked with Fellini and her films are known to bear his influence. I saw it just once many years ago. Since then, I haven’t seen or heard a single reference to it or even met anyone else who’s seen it, including people in the film industry. I thought it was delightful and would like very much to see it again, if only to confirm that first impression. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-foreign-language-movies-youve-watched/956121/72 "2021-12-17T19:23:22Z")
**Man Bites Dog** has been mentioned twice, and having seen it, I have to post a disclaimer. **That film is extremely violent, like pornographic levels of violence.** Imagine if every significant scene in Reservoir Dogs was like the “Stuck in the Middle” scene. There’s also a rape scene, but in relative terms, it’s one of the less disturbing incidents. I can’t think of any reason to watch this film, unless brutal, graphic violence is what you crave, in which case, YDY. * * * Okay, with that out of the way, I’ve recommended [Mediterraneo](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102426/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0) and [Leningrad Cowboys Go America](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097728/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0) before. The first is a poignant character-driven story about Italian soldiers in WWII occupying an idyllic Greek island. The second is a very deadpan comedy; kind of a Soviet Spinal Tap. More recently, I can’t believe it took me so long to discover [Monsoon Wedding](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0265343/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1). I don’t know what to call that; it’s got everything. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-foreign-language-movies-youve-watched/956121/73 "2021-12-17T23:58:22Z")
Missed the edit window: ‘ **Pranzo di ferragosto** ’ ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-foreign-language-movies-youve-watched/956121/74 "2021-12-18T00:12:30Z")
Wanted to say Fannie and Alexander or Like Water for Chocolate so that I can sound all fancy (I loved both) but my most favorite was Run Lola Run. But then I read Pan’s Labyrinth here and remembered how this movie stuck with me for a very, very long time. Shout out to The Gods Must Be Crazy for originality and laughs. Foreign films don’t have a good track record of making me laugh. I think something literally gets lost in the translation. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-foreign-language-movies-youve-watched/956121/75 "2021-12-18T00:24:21Z")
Oooh oooh! This started a discussion between me and my husband, who said he loved every Pedro Almodovar movie he’s ever seen. _My_ absolute fav is Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down. It was the first Almodovar movie I ever saw and remains my favorite. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-foreign-language-movies-youve-watched/956121/76 "2021-12-18T00:37:04Z")
The first time I saw “Babette’s Feast”, it was in a theater, and I went to a late show after a night from hell at the carryout pizza place where I was working at the time. As I was going in, the early show was getting out, and EVERY.SINGLE.PERSON was absolutely raving about the movie, an experience I have never had before or since. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-foreign-language-movies-youve-watched/956121/77 "2021-12-18T00:43:38Z")
I also recommend “Women On The Verge of a Nervous Breakdown”, an Almodovar masterpiece. “Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner” is a Canadian movie about an Inuit community, and the dialogue is entirely in Inuktitut. Good movie, although very slow-paced as the running time implies. Haven’t seen “Rashomon”, “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” or “Dersu Uzala” on this list yet. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-foreign-language-movies-youve-watched/956121/78 "2021-12-18T01:49:55Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Wanted to say Fannie and Alexander We saw the five-plus-hour version of F&A in the theater a million years ago and loved it. Might have to revisit that. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-foreign-language-movies-youve-watched/956121/79 "2021-12-18T06:39:29Z")
I have very fond memories (and the DVD) of Bergman’s film of **The Magic Flute** , made in the 18th century court theatre at Drottningholm, which retains its original stage machinery and sets. Plus many of the French classics mentioned above\*, and I’d like to add **A Bout de Souffle** ( **Breathless** ), **Jules et Jim** , and the **Don Camillo** movies with Fernandel. And while we’re on the theme of parish pump political rivalries between church and the left - how about **Clochemerle**. \*_Anything_ by Jacques Tati and don’t overlook **Jour de Fête** (anyone who uses a push-bike will see why). ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-foreign-language-movies-youve-watched/956121/80 "2021-12-18T10:22:32Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > _The Gods Must be Crazy_ – The danger of Coca-Cola > [@Biggirl](#): > > Shout out to The Gods Must Be Crazy for originality and laughs. Did you watch it in Afrikaans? Because the version most people know is the English version. There’s a bit of Juǀʼhoan in both, but most of the film is in either Afrikaans or English. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-foreign-language-movies-youve-watched/956121.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-foreign-language-movies-youve-watched/956121.md?page=5)