Inspired by Rollo learning French for a scene in Booked Out during day 2 of our shoot and a few comments on our facebook fan page I am going to try and make those hard choices to decide my top foreign language films. Instead of coming up with a top 5 or 10 I thought I would make one selection per country. I haven't watched films for every country in the world though so the selection of countries will be random at best. Not least hampered by my memory skills.
I could have picked any Studio Ghibli film to be honest but Nausicaa is my favourite of all time and comes out as my Japanese selection. The character of Nausicaa is such a strong and powerful female lead who takes you on her outstanding journey. There is a final battle scene which is just beautiful and probably the greatest thing I have seen from a animated movie. I am deliberately not saying too much about this and the other films in case you want to watch them yourself! Wikipedia has enough spoilers if that is your thing.
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
Other Contenders:
Hana Bi, Princess Mononoke, Ikiru
Another film that completely blew me away. I remember going to watch it at the cinema but without really knowing anything about it and coming away wanting to tell everyone and anyone to go and see it. It is compelling from the word go and the central performance from Ulrich Muhe is so mesmerising and understated. Still sad to think that he is no longer with us. This is a film I have watched a number of times since and it just seems to get better every time I watch it.
The Lives Of Others
Other Contenders
The Wave, Goodbye Lenin, Aimee & Jaguar
Amelie is one of those films that makes you fall in love with cinema. I find it impossible that anyone could walk out of the cinema after watching this film and not to have a smile on their face. The film manages to create Amelie's world, the production design is exquisite and Audrey Tautou makes you fall in love with her. I loved Delicatessen so was looking forward to Amelie and when it came out I was hypnotised. I think its hard for a film when you go in with such high expectations but this film exceeded all of mine and still does.
Amelie
Other Contenders
L'homme du train, I've Loved You So Long
I think this is my favourite Chinese film primarily for Faye Wong's character in the film. I could watch that character for a few hours nevermind 90 minutes. The film as a whole is ok but now when I watch I just want it to get to Faye's part. This was one of the first Asian films that I watched and it got me hooked on finding out more about world cinema so deserves the top spot for that at least. I nearly picked In The Mood For Love as it is truly beautiful but I went for this because hearing the name 'Chungking Express' always brings a smile to my face.
Chungking Express
Pedro Almodovars Talk To Her was another film that I didn't know anything about before I went to see it and it introduced me into a new kind of cinema. I see it as poetry on screen, gentle and sympathetic treatment of a disturbing subject. I think you probably either love or hate Almodovars work and I love it and this is my favourite film of his. It was the first one that I watched as well, perhaps that has something to do with it.
Talk to Her
Other Contenders
Intacto, Pan's Labyrinth
Supposedly you can't make an indie film these days without reference to a Fellini film. I watched Youth in Revolt the other day and they had a reference to La Strada. Did anyone do it before Kevin Smith in Clerks?
My reason for loving eight and a half was down to the very beginning of the film. Guido being trapped in a car seemed like a really sinister way to start the film but it caught my attention and worked perfectly for the circus that was to follow after it. Whenever I think of this film I remember that scene. It is remarkable.
8 1/2
Not sure what category this film should fit within. Arabic (language), French (language) or Italian (director). Whatever category goes in though this is a film that everyone must see. This is one of my favourite films of all time and one in which needs more people to know about it. A struggle between the French army and Algerians insurgents. It feels like a documentary and takes a even handed view on the conflict so you as a viewer is unsure what side to support and I think that is its masterstroke. At the end I wasn't sure how it made me feel, surely some of the actions on either side could be considered terrible but the film didn't paint it in such a way that this was obvious.
If you haven't seen this film then go and watch it today! and the others too!
The Battle of Algiers
That's a Wrap
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