# What's your favorite foreign language film? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 21, 2018, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-foreign-language-film/809266 "2018-02-21T13:41:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-foreign-language-film/809266/101 "2018-02-25T17:56:50Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > Speaking of five-hour film versions, the cobbled-together _The Kingdom_\* (from the 13-episode mini-series) is a fun Lars von Trier romp. Excellent! I’ll have to dig that one out. (It’s so hard finding anything since SWMBO made me get my DVDs out of the living room, where they were categorised by genre and alphabetical position.) I was _literally_ on the edge of my seat with my jaw hanging open during the birth scene. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-foreign-language-film/809266/102 "2018-02-25T18:24:42Z")
There are a number of non-English speaking films I like. But my favorite, even if it['s not the best of those films, is… …_Godzilla_, the origininal Japanese production. This was before they chopped it up and added Raymond Burr for us Westerners. ---
**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:** [February 25, 2018, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-foreign-language-film/809266/103 "2018-02-25T19:01:12Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > Speaking of five-hour film versions, the cobbled-together _The Kingdom_\* (from the 13-episode mini-series) is a fun Lars von Trier romp. This was a great series. Disturbing on many levels, and horribly updated by Stephen King (who should not have been allowed to touch it). > [@](#): > > This sucker for Rene Soutendyk from thirty years ago gets recommendations for _The Fourth Man_ (_total_ howl) … Good god, that had a dream sequence that I still remember to this day even if I’ve forgotten the rest of the film. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2018, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-foreign-language-film/809266/104 "2018-02-25T19:27:09Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Don’t have a lot of them on my resume, but probably was most impressed by _ **Alexander Nevsky** _, which got removed from distribution in 1939 when Hitler and Stalin were making nice (it was re-released in 1941). Then you may enjoy this anecdote - many years ago, the Toronto Symphony played the Prokofiev soundtrack - with the full symphony - as they played the film on a large screen overhead. It was awesome. “Battle Across the Ice” played in concert has to be one of my favorite things ever … 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-foreign-language-film/809266/105 "2018-03-02T02:59:26Z")
_Amelie_ and _Cinema Paradiso_ have been mentioned so I’ll add _Il Postino_. I just saw _The Insult_ in a theater and it is excellent. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-foreign-language-film/809266/106 "2018-03-02T14:51:30Z")
> [@Donald\_Trump](#): > > Triumph of the Will. Just what I thought. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-foreign-language-film/809266/107 "2018-03-02T15:01:13Z")
[**Trollhunter (2010)**](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1740707/videoplayer/vi2670304537?ref_=tt_ov_vi) This is a Norwegian film that was originally in Norwegian, although there is a dubbed English version of it also. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2018, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-foreign-language-film/809266/108 "2018-05-31T20:24:02Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > I have only seen the 5+ hour version, do you think I’d lose anything by going to the shorter one? And what other Bergman film would you suggest next?, that’s the only one I’ve seen. I’d most strongly recommend _The Seventh Seal_, followed by \*Wild Strawberries \*and _The Virgin Spring_. _Cries and Whispers_ is a fantastic film, also - probably his closest to _Fanny and Alexander_. \*Persona \*is kind of an exercise to get through - it’s not long, but the vast majority of it is just Bibi Andersson talking, with Liv Ullmann reacting when the mood suits her. It’s a heck of a movie, but watch the Knight play chess with Death first. Almost any Bergman is good, really. An early effort, _Summer with Monica_, was re-edited as an exploitation film in the States, so it was probably wretched in that form - but the original is still a fine little movie. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2018, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-foreign-language-film/809266/109 "2018-06-01T08:54:04Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Good god, that had a dream sequence that I still remember to this day even if I’ve forgotten the rest of the film. It sucked. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2018, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-foreign-language-film/809266/110 "2018-06-04T04:00:50Z")
Hm, tie betwn Babbettes Feast and Fritz Langs M. I also like Langs Mabeuse films. Well, also really fond of older movies in general. ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2018, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-foreign-language-film/809266/111 "2018-06-04T06:08:16Z")
In no particular order: Au revoir les enfants (1987) Amores Perros (2000) Cinema Paradiso (1988) City of God (2002) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) Internal Affairs (2002) Rashomon (1950) Seven Samurai (1954) ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2018, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-foreign-language-film/809266/112 "2018-06-04T12:46:44Z")
I love some Kurosawa. Until my mother passed last year I would have said _Dreams_ is among my all time favourite movies… But my mother was a huge Shakespeare buff and used to travel to the Stratford Festival on an annual basis. When she moved into her condo which was designed with a strong Asian flavour, I asked her if she knew about Kurosawas’ Shakespeare influence. She didn’t, so I bought her copies of _Throne of Blood_ and _Ran_. Because of the time we spent together watching those movies, they hold a special place in my heart. I do also love the original ‘Heroic Bloodshed’ work of Chow Yun Fat and John Woo. Particularly, _The Killer_, _A Better Tomorrow_ (I & II) and my favourite of theirs _Hard Boiled_. ---
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-foreign-language-film/809266/113 "2018-06-05T06:02:37Z")
Lots of great movies listed here! Don’t think I have seen [The Wages of Fear](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wages_of_Fear) mentioned yet. Super suspenseful- still holds up 65 years down the road. ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-foreign-language-film/809266/114 "2018-06-05T06:14:27Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > [Diabolique!](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046911/) My choice as well! ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-foreign-language-film/809266/115 "2018-06-05T06:21:21Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > [**Trollhunter (2010)**](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1740707/videoplayer/vi2670304537?ref_=tt_ov_vi) > > This is a Norwegian film that was originally in Norwegian, although there is a dubbed English version of it also. I mentioned this way back in … February, not long before you did. I think it would get mentioned more if people actually saw it. I think I was losing interest in the movie when suddenly I found myself understanding Norwegian. Except it was some dialogue in English, that’s how the Norwegian and the Polish guy communicated with each other. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-foreign-language-film/809266/116 "2018-06-05T07:39:48Z")
> [@chaika](#): > > Far too many to choose just one! I love _Au revoir les enfants_, _The Lives of Others_, _Open City_, _Cache_, _Son of Saul_. And many others. > > As for Russian films, which is the category of “foreign” films that I have seen most of, some of my top choices are _Wings_, _We’ll Live until Monday_, _The Cranes Are Flying_, _The Ascent_, _Ivan’s Childhood_, _The Italian_, **How I Ended this Summer**. My favorite contemporary Russian director is Andrei Zvyagintsev. His films _The Return_ and _Elena_ are magnificent. His most recent film, _Loveless_, is also outstanding. I saw it last summer in Russia but I think it is playing in the US now (at least in some locations). I don’t watch many films but I came in here to mention _How I Ended This Summer_ which was a great psychological piece. Descriptions don’t do it justice ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-foreign-language-film/809266/117 "2018-06-05T10:06:55Z")
I would like to say “me, too” to _Ridicule_, and suggest _Tous les Matins du Monde_ and _Queen Margot_. I would like to say “me, too” to Roberto Begnini’s _The Monster_, and suggest his version of _Pinocchio_. _Wings of Desire_ is magnificent. The sequel, _Far Away, So Close!_ is less Artistic, but more entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![fervour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@fervour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fervour)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-foreign-language-film/809266/118 "2018-06-05T10:45:55Z")
I can’t choose one. “Delicatessen”, “Pan’s Labyrinth”, “City of Lost Children”, “Amelie”, There’s some Polish flick I liked----I guess I’d go with something by that French director who made “Amelie”. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-foreign-language-film/809266/119 "2018-06-05T14:33:52Z")
> [@Quint](#): > > Lots of great movies listed here! Don’t think I have seen [The Wages of Fear](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wages_of_Fear) mentioned yet. Super suspenseful- still holds up 65 years down the road. I concur. That’s one heck of a movie. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2018, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-foreign-language-film/809266/120 "2018-06-05T15:30:52Z")
[Memories of Murder](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4y7W3ON0OI) from 2003. It is beautifully shot with amazing cinematography and blocking. There is comedy, suspense, action, and drama. Emotionally, it sucks you in, doesn’t let go, and really gets inside you like very few films I have ever seen. It’s a modern noir but much more than that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-foreign-language-film/809266.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-foreign-language-film/809266.md?page=7)