# Would some of you "filmies" recommend some foreign films? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 17, 2000, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-some-of-you-filmies-recommend-some-foreign-films/19705 "2000-05-17T00:06:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-some-of-you-filmies-recommend-some-foreign-films/19705/21 "2000-05-17T04:02:19Z")
Ingmar Bergman’s The Virgin Spring. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-some-of-you-filmies-recommend-some-foreign-films/19705/22 "2000-05-17T04:03:38Z")
See **Scarfies** but only because it has my name in the credits. Actually, you may find it hard to see it, as it has not been released domestically in the US at any stage. And it’s not that great a movie, either, come to think of it. Hmm. ---
**Author:** ![Homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-some-of-you-filmies-recommend-some-foreign-films/19705/23 "2000-05-17T06:13:14Z")
Run, Lola, Run! –Tim ---
**Author:** ![Zhen\_ka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecccb3/32.png) [@Zhen\_ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zhen_ka)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-some-of-you-filmies-recommend-some-foreign-films/19705/24 "2000-05-17T06:39:45Z")
Good Russian Films (in no particular order): Burnt by the Sun (Mikhalkov) Prisoner of the Mountain Brother Stalker (Tarkovsky) The Irony of Fate (I’ve only seen this film in Russian; I’m not sure one with English subtitles exists) Window to Paris That’s all I can remember at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![dpr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dpr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dpr)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-some-of-you-filmies-recommend-some-foreign-films/19705/25 "2000-05-17T07:01:10Z")
Without a doubt would be Claude LeLough’s Les Miserables (not it’s NOT Victor Hugo’s despite the name). Simply magnificent. Everyone in the cinema stod and applauded. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-some-of-you-filmies-recommend-some-foreign-films/19705/26 "2000-05-17T07:15:27Z")
\*\* La Haine \*\* this means “The Hate” this film is absolutely amazing. I dont have to say anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_griffin-kentzel/32/14787_2.png) [@Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Griffin-Kentzel)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-some-of-you-filmies-recommend-some-foreign-films/19705/27 "2000-05-17T07:45:22Z")
“Querelle” (1982-Fassbinder) ---
**Author:** ![\_oo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/e9a140/32.png) [@\_oo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_oo)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-some-of-you-filmies-recommend-some-foreign-films/19705/28 "2000-05-17T08:07:18Z")
I’d have to recommend this HK film called “Running Out of Time”…one of the male leads (Andy Lau - apparently he’s targetting hollywood as well, after the paths of Jacky Chan, Chow Yun Fat, and Jet Li etc) just got the HK equivalent of the Best Actor Oscar… Interesting film, with two outstanding actors (if you are familiar with the HK film industry), by a very well known director. Try it 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-some-of-you-filmies-recommend-some-foreign-films/19705/29 "2000-05-17T11:54:53Z")
“Underground” or “Black Cat, White Cat” by Emir Kusturica. “Delicatessen” (or however you spell that damned word) “City of Lost Children” “The Slingshot” – this is the light-hearted one of the bunch. ---
**Author:** ![Michi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@Michi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michi)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-some-of-you-filmies-recommend-some-foreign-films/19705/30 "2000-05-17T12:01:42Z")
The Hairdresser’s Husband. Gallipoli. The first Mel Gibson movie I ever saw. ::swoon:: 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Propski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5e9695/32.png) [@Guy\_Propski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Propski)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-some-of-you-filmies-recommend-some-foreign-films/19705/31 "2000-05-17T12:54:48Z")
Let’s see, some good international films: Die Angst des Tormannes beim Elfmeter (The Goalie’s Anxiety at the Penalty Kick)–may be a bit too dense and unemotional for some, but I enjoyed it. Eventually Woyzeck–a great Klaus Kinski performance, and a great Werner Herzog film Fitzcarraldo–ditto Belin Alexanderplatz–Fassbinder’s last great work. It’s 15 1/2 hours long, though. A bout de souffle (Breathless)–Jean-Luc Goddard’s first great work. Don’t be fooled by the American remake. Il Conformista (The Conformist)–my favorite Bertolucci film. And I have to put in an additional vote for “Rashomon.” What an incredible film! Amazing, sensual cinematography, a fabulous performance by Toshiro Mifune, and a marvelous, healing ending. Don’t miss it! ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-some-of-you-filmies-recommend-some-foreign-films/19705/32 "2000-05-17T14:14:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > British comedies from the early 50s (I can’t recall the studio name) are superb – Alec Guiness, Joan Greenwood, and others starred in The Man in the White Suit, Kind Hearts and Coronets, The Lavender Hill Mob, and others. > \*\* Oh, yeeeeeahhh!!! The Ealing Studios comedies! DEFINITELY see the three mentioned above, plus _The Ladykillers._ As Maltin says, even Guiness’s TEETH are funny in that one! Oh, yeah, and _Grand Illusion._ Directed by Jean Renoir in 1937. Possibly the greatest flick ever made. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-some-of-you-filmies-recommend-some-foreign-films/19705/33 "2000-05-17T14:26:37Z")
German film notes: • Try to find “Different from the Others,” a 1919 German silent about homosexuality and blackmail. It was shown on TV during Gay Pride Week a few years ago, don’t know if it’s out on video. • “Der Blau Engel” (1930) was NOT Marlene Dietrich’s first film, despite what she insisted. She’d actually made about a dozen silents–which she denied furiously, even as they turned up on video. • Does anyone know if the 1933 German “Viktor und Viktoria” with Renate Muller still exists? I would LOVE to see it, but have never seen it listed in any film catalogs. Renate was the German Claudette Colbert, and died Very Mysteriously. ---
**Author:** ![DVous\_Means](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DVous\_Means](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DVous_Means)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-some-of-you-filmies-recommend-some-foreign-films/19705/34 "2000-05-17T15:10:08Z")
A movie I really warmed to was an Italian classic called “Cinema Paradiso”. I have no idea who directed it or who the stars were. The plot ina nutshell invoplves a man reminiscing about his boyhood when he befrinds the projectionist in the village’s cinema. To go any further would spoil the magic of the movie. Just see it! ---
**Author:** ![SaxFace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SaxFace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaxFace)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-some-of-you-filmies-recommend-some-foreign-films/19705/35 "2000-05-17T15:17:44Z")
I’ll second RealityChuck for “The Tin Drum”. It’s my favorite book, too. “A Prayer for Owen Meaney” by John Irving is a total ripoff of “The Tin Drum”. I hate John Irving. Anyway, I also really enjoyed the Australian flick “Muriel’s Wedding”. ---
**Author:** ![Bucky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Bucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bucky)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-some-of-you-filmies-recommend-some-foreign-films/19705/36 "2000-05-17T16:12:47Z")
“Wings of Desire” (but NOT the American remake/ripoff, whatever the hell they called it)by Wim Wenders. “My Life as a Dog” (available dubbed or subbed). “Swept Away” (the real title is really much longer) by Lena Wurtmueller. “The Killers” by John Woo, just for fun. “Mediterano” I would echo some of the others (“Seventh Seal,” virtually anything by Kurasawa, many of the British ones [although I don’t usually think of those as “foreign” in the usual sense]). I personally find Fellini boring as hell. Bucky ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-some-of-you-filmies-recommend-some-foreign-films/19705/37 "2000-05-17T16:38:48Z")
I haven’t seen it mentioned yet, so I’ll put in a plug for “Three Seasons” (Ba Mua), which tells three interwoven stories of people living in modern day Viet Nam. It’s a little slow-moving in points, but the performances are compelling and the cinematography is stunning. Oh, and it won three prizes at last year’s Sundance festival. I believe it’s the only film to ever win both the Audience and Judges awards. ---
**Author:** ![blueslady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@blueslady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blueslady)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-some-of-you-filmies-recommend-some-foreign-films/19705/38 "2000-05-17T16:44:44Z")
Some of my favorites have been mentioned, I will list them anyway as a second (or third) endorsement **Tampopo** Japanese - Comedy **301/302** Korean - My daughter thought this was a comedy, but she’s a little bent. let’s say very very darkly humorous **Raise the Red Lantern** Chinese- Beautiful and one of my favorites **Dreams** Japanese- I could watch this again and again. It’s several stories, visually breathtaking **Yojimbo** Japanese- this is a lot of fun! Oldies **Metropolis** -Fritz Lang’s masterpiece Fellini’s **La Strada** \*\* The Bed-Sitting Room\*\* This 60’s English film is a hoot. Hard to find, worth the effort! **Never On Sunday** My daughter loved this one, great Greek soundtrack. ---
**Author:** ![vandal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/858c86/32.png) [@vandal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vandal)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-some-of-you-filmies-recommend-some-foreign-films/19705/39 "2000-05-17T18:19:51Z")
The OP didn’t specify a preferred genre, so here’s some general foreign films that I’ve seen and very much enjoyed. **Farewell My Concubine** - Chinese, 1993 **The Killer** - Chinese, 1989 **Akira** - Japanese, 1988 **Run Lola Run** - German, 1998 ---
**Author:** ![Suo\_Na](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@Suo\_Na](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suo_Na)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-some-of-you-filmies-recommend-some-foreign-films/19705/40 "2000-05-17T18:29:35Z")
I second “Bleu”, “Blanc”, “Rouge” and “Raise the Red Lantern”. I’d also like to add “Babette’s Feast” especially if you like food movies. The quails en sarcophage are exquisite! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-some-of-you-filmies-recommend-some-foreign-films/19705.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-some-of-you-filmies-recommend-some-foreign-films/19705.md?page=3)