# Must-see foreign language films **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 3, 2001, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-foreign-language-films/79518 "2001-09-03T14:58:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2001, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-foreign-language-films/79518/21 "2001-09-03T20:10:27Z")
A trilogy of Polish films “Ashes and Diamonds” “Kanal” and “Generation” . All three films are interlinked and deal with the German occupation of Poland. ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2001, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-foreign-language-films/79518/22 "2001-09-03T20:28:02Z")
A few suggestions: Como agua para chocolate (Like water for chocolate) - directed by Alfonso Arau. And there’s another one, which I’ve done multiple searches for and come up empty handed, but it’s about Sephardic Jews who were forced to go to Mexico in the 1930s. It begins with them at the train station in Mexico, and it deals quite a bit with the girl, who is a Sephardic Jew, and her boyfriend, who is something else, and there’s a big family fight at the end. Whatever the title or director may be, it’s an excellent movie, very informative about the plight of Sephardic Jews in Mexico. The only version I’m familiar with is in Spanish; I’m not sure if it comes with English subtitles or dubbing anywhere or not. I would offer more suggestions, but I don’t remember any more titles. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2001, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-foreign-language-films/79518/23 "2001-09-03T21:44:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by katiekilldare \* > \*\*_Run Lola Run_ is a breathtaking example of style over substance. It’s German. \*\* The original title is _Lola Rennt_. A nice Fastbinder piece is _The Marriage of Maria Braun_, good example of new German Cinema, it is a analogy of Germany’s post WWII “economic miracle”. [sub]I just saw I am seconding Ukelele Ike, always a good idea. [/sub] For Chinese, there is a whole list of stuff, \*Red Sorghum, Ju Dou, Raise the Red Lantern, Farewell my Concubine, To Live, \*etc. In French, from Louis Malle, _Au revoir les enfants_ ---
**Author:** ![ashtayk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@ashtayk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ashtayk)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-foreign-language-films/79518/24 "2001-09-04T00:38:21Z")
let me in my $0.02 worth and plump for some movies from my hom country of India. For those film buffs out there, India produces more films each year than any other country in world. That said, much of it simply trash, but of course, when there is so much of it being made, ther is bound to be some good stuff. Films by Satyajit Ray are good to have (Pather Panchali, Apur Sansar), as are some of the newer films like Bandit Queen (lots of violence and based on a true story). I could go on and on… but these would be good to start with. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-foreign-language-films/79518/25 "2001-09-04T00:57:35Z")
**Riso Amaro** (1948, Italian) directed by Giuseppe de Santis - starring Vittorio Gasman and Silvana Mangano (Miss Italy, I think, at one time); _great_ film, about two thieves who hide out at a rice plantation…really neat exploration of good and evil in people. The title is a play on words: “amaro” means “bitter” and “riso” means both “rice” and “smile.” **The Celebration** , aka **Festen** (1998, Danish) directed by Thomas Winterberg - one of the “Dogme” films, filmed in its characteristic style; one of my favorite movies ever, about a family secret that’s revealed at a reunion and the repercussions of the revelation. **La Strada** (1954, Italian) directed by Federico Fellini - starring Anthony Quinn and Giulietta Massina (Fellini’s wife); a beautiful film about a travelling circus clown and the strongman she takes up with. All the kids in my high school Italian classes loved this film and asked to see it more than once. **The Offical Story** (1985, Argentinian) directed by Luis Puenzo – about the political situation in 1970s Argentina, specifically the “disappeared” (people murdered by the government for being alleged rebels). IIRC, it won the 1985 Academy Award for best foreign film. **The City of Lost Children** (1991, French) directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro – surreal children’s story that’s not necessarily for children. If you haven’t seen this, go get it. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-foreign-language-films/79518/26 "2001-09-04T01:17:22Z")
Bunuel’s _The Exterminating Angel_ and _Belle du Jour_. Bergman’s _Cries and Whispers_ and _The Magician_. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-foreign-language-films/79518/27 "2001-09-04T01:24:36Z")
Did anyone mention the rather excellent _Cyrano_ of just a few years ago, with Depardieu in the title role? Also, a wonderful filming of the opera _Tosca_ was done not too long ago, in which the filming was done at the actual locations in which the opera supposedly takes place, with Placido Domingo among others singing. The whole thing was done live, shown over two days originally on television, so that the last act actually takes place at dawn as scripted. Of course, there are those today who would think any Shakespearean play done with the original language would be a foreign film. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-foreign-language-films/79518/28 "2001-09-04T02:36:05Z")
Just remembered that a lot of Iranian films lately have been touted as being very good, can anyone here recommend some? (I am just back in the country so am a bit behind in this regard) And as long as I am at it, these have popped into my head, _Ladri di biciclette, aka The Bicycle Thief_. ---
**Author:** ![kasuo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8c91f0/32.png) [@kasuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kasuo)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-foreign-language-films/79518/29 "2001-09-04T04:10:55Z")
**The Red Violin** (1998) is a must-have. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-foreign-language-films/79518/30 "2001-09-04T04:40:41Z")
I would second **The Red Violin** and add **Jésus de Montréal** and **Maelström** , two wonderful Québécois films. ---
**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-foreign-language-films/79518/31 "2001-09-04T04:54:57Z")
Blow-Up By Michelangelo Antonioni Ikiru; Kagemusha; Warui yatsu hodo yoku nemuru by Akira Kurosawa Tokyo Monogatari by Yasujiro Ozu Le Locataire (The Tenant) by Roman Polansky ---
**Author:** ![xanadu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c4cdca/32.png) [@xanadu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanadu)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-foreign-language-films/79518/32 "2001-09-04T04:55:27Z")
Okay, everybody’s got to go out and rent “The White Balloon.” I don’t usually like foreign films, but I absolutely loved this one. Also, another good movie is “The Dinner Game.” It’s a hilarious French movie about a group of friends who have a contest to see who can bring the biggest idiot to dinner that week. The only catch is that the “contestants” can’t be told the real reason that they are attending the dinner. ---
**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-foreign-language-films/79518/33 "2001-09-04T05:01:02Z")
Oops, I missed the foreign _language_ thing, Blow-Up is in English. Sorry. Still, it’s a damn good film. ---
**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:** [September 4, 2001, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-foreign-language-films/79518/34 "2001-09-04T06:13:06Z")
I’d like to third(or is it fourth) **Wings of Desire** by Wim Wenders, but would like to point out that it may also be available under the original title, **De Himmel Ober Berlin** More votes here for Wenders, Fassbinder and Hertzog ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-foreign-language-films/79518/35 "2001-09-04T06:48:14Z")
Most of those I’d mention are there - The White Balloon (I’m amazed how much I liked that one), the Kurosawa and John Woo flicks, Cinema Paradiso… I’d also reccomend The Stolen Children (I can’t remember the Italian title.), and Il Monstro. (Can’t remember the directors of either…) Also, The Heroic Trio is a very well done example of the ‘wire-fu’ genre of Hong Kong action movies. ---
**Author:** ![maryliza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dfb087/32.png) [@maryliza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maryliza)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-foreign-language-films/79518/36 "2001-09-04T07:49:45Z")
Don’t forget the Spanish! Anything by Pedro Almodovar, but especially _Todos sobre mi madre_. Another great French movie that is a must-have is _La vie rêvée des anges_, directed by Eric Zonca. A French comedy that is worth having is \* Dîner de cons\*, directed by Francis Veber. The _Red, White and Blue_ trilogy is by a Polish director named Krzysztof Kieslowski who has also directed the fabulous movie _La double vie de Véronique_ and the _Dekalog_, a ten part movie that deals with the commandments. (That’s an oversimplification, but I haven’t seen it so I can’t give more detail!) The Bosnian director Emir Kusturica has really fabulous and funny movies that should be in any comprehensive library. Two of his better known titles are _Black Cat, White Cat_ (or more accurately _Crna maka, beli macor_) and _Underground_. For anyone who hasn’t seen these movies, you are missing out. They are excellent, bizarre, twisted and hilarious. Finally, any movie by Ingmar Bergman, the Swedish director of films like _The Seventh Seal_ and _Fanny and Alexander_. Oooooh, you have such a cool job! I’m so jealous! ---
**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:** [September 4, 2001, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-foreign-language-films/79518/37 "2001-09-04T08:47:06Z")
Is _The White Balloon_ the children’s film about a balloon floating around a city? If so, I’ll definitely second that one. **DSYoungEsq** mentioned _Tosca_ above; apart from the fact that most opera vids are “foreign language”, Bergman did an excellent film of Mozart’s _The Magic Flute_ (_Die Zauberflo:te_) that I would highly recommend. On a sort-of recommend basis, I saw a German film on late-night television called _Funny Games_ (I can’t remember the German title) about two young men who torture a family just for the heck of it. It’s not especially gory, but it’s very well made: the suspense and emotional impact is intense and disturbing, and it’s not what one might call a “happy” film (hence the “sort of” recommendation). ---
**Author:** ![Skijumper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3e96dc/32.png) [@Skijumper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skijumper)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-foreign-language-films/79518/38 "2001-09-04T10:47:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ukulele Ike \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Legomancer \* > > \*\*Oh hey I don’t think anyone’s said _Metropolis_. \*\* > > I skipped over the silent era, as I figured someone sponsoring a foreign-language program would be more interested in films with spoken dialogue. > > Trust me, MOST of my favorite German flicks are silents. \*\* Metropolis is already in our (small) collection of silents. I only remember a few - a range of Chaplins, Hitchcock’s The Lodger, Murnau’s vampire movie. I don’t think management would mind developing that area so if you’ve got any suggestions for silents, Ukulele Ike (or anyone else), I’d like to hear them. Thanks everyone, for your recommendations. By the way, Wenders and Kieslowski are personal faves so they were first on my list, even before I posted this thread. ---
**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:** [September 4, 2001, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-foreign-language-films/79518/39 "2001-09-04T11:02:39Z")
Silent flicks? Apart from some of the standard ones like Keaton’s _The General_, I’ll put in a plug for [The Passion of Joan of Arc](http://www.suntimes.com/ebert/greatmovies/passion_of_joan.html). While I have yet to see it, due to unavailability at video stores, my friends (and Roger Ebert, as per the link) rave about it. I also have the soundtrack by Richard Einhorn, which is excellent (a recent addition to the 1928 film), so try and get a copy with the new music. I promise, it’s better than the Moroderized version of _Metropolis_. ---
**Author:** ![TomH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90db22/32.png) [@TomH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TomH)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-foreign-language-films/79518/40 "2001-09-04T11:29:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > Jean-Jacques Annaud: “Noirs et blancs en couleur” (the title, translated as “Black and White in Color” misses the pun – “en couleur” means “angry”). I think you’re thinking of _en colère_, which means “angry”. _En couleur_ just means “in colour”. Two other fantastic French films from the last year or two: _Harry, un ami qui vous veut du bien_ (Harry, He’s Here to Help) _Le Dîner de cons_ (No English title, AFAIK) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-foreign-language-films/79518.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/must-see-foreign-language-films/79518.md?page=3)