Do You Like Foreign Movies?

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Do You Like Foriegn Movies?
94.92%
56 votes
Yes
5.08%
3 votes
No
59 votes. You may not vote on this poll




matt72582's Avatar
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To be clear, when I mean "foreign", I mean movies that are NOT in English, since we speak English here.


Since my last post about things I've observed regarding foreign movies, some try and talk for the entire board by saying how no more than a handful are interested in foreign movies, which is baffling.. I've thought about it for quite a while, because I really, really care about this site, and hope we can learn more from each other with discussion and movie recommendations. I love the joy others get when others recommend them a successful movie.



Judging by the "Rate the Last Movie" thread (and others) it seems they're very popular, but that fact is ignored, but I want to gauge the interest and see out of curiosity.



Of course, I will answer yes, but will add because its a wonderful educational experience. It's just like food. People shrug and consider cheeseburgers American food, and I like them, but just imagine if you never tried Italian food like Pizza (etc etc). It's also interesting to see their interpretation of the form. Another educational experience is to see a movie made in the 60s that covers WWII, which many European movies do, since most of the fighting was there. And in contrast, I love comparing that to a European movie that was made during or immediately after the war. It's also fascinating to see how one country or continent judges an historical event, and how they portray it to the viewers. And then you have "allies" and "adversary" interpretations, which can enable one to think for a while about the message, but also how they go about it.



When people say "American" movie, it could mean anything, and I think its the same for every other country. Regardless of what happens to a future countdown, I'd urge people to expand..



I think film in general is underappreciated in terms of influence. When I traveled the world I noticed how a majority of people (despite being intelligent) associate countries with movies. A few will say "I know it's just a movie, but I didn't know ...."... When asking people who spoke good English how they learned, almost every answer was "The movies"... I also think subconsciously (and consciously) that movies have a profound effect on people, even if they are fictional. People "fall in love" with characters on the screen. Some movies influence for "bad", whose examples are displayed more often, since bad news sells. One example is how African soldiers were influenced by "The Wild Bunch" after an interviewer asked Peckinpah about the effects of violence in movies. However, you'll never read about a story where someone did the right thing or just became a better person because of a movie touched them in a way, or finally woke them up.



Here's a sub-question... Do you know of any great foreign movies that portray American events? I'd love to see their take.



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I like both foreign and moies in English, if they are good. Lately for the past few years though, I've not been liking movies coming out of Hollywood at all much so I've been watching a lot more foreign ones.



I do enjoy foreign films, from all over the world, in different languages. According to my stats on Letterboxd, I've seen films from 82 different countries.



I like foreign films. But unlike some who love foreign films, I don't then need to hate American films. Ever since I joined MoFo there's been a small amount of Mubi type post exclaiming foreign films as always superior to American films. That's a pity because America makes more films than any other country and to discount them or label them bourgeoisie and only for the popcorn munching crowd is a shame. Luckily most MoFos watch and enjoy a wide variety of films from all over the globe and then share those movies with the rest of us.



I tend to enjoy international films a bit more than English speaking films, as they push boundaries a bit further.


Here's a sub-question... Do you know of any great foreign movies that portray American events? I'd love to see their take.
'Strozsek' may fit this bill. Werner Herzog's film about German people moving to USA. I don't think it's a critique of the American dream, more a comment on how some people just don't fit into modern Westernized society and that should be OK.

Ciro Guerra's films tend to have something to say about colonization and while not American events, they strongly hint at Western people being at fault for destroying sub cultures elsewhere.



matt72582's Avatar
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I tend to enjoy international films a bit more than English speaking films, as they push boundaries a bit further.



'Strozsek' may fit this bill. Werner Herzog's film about German people moving to USA. I don't think it's a critique of the American dream, more a comment on how some people just don't fit into modern Westernized society and that should be OK.

Ciro Guerra's films tend to have something to say about colonization and while not American events, they strongly hint at Western people being at fault for destroying sub cultures elsewhere.

I agree about having more of an independent spirit in those movies, and "Strozsek" is one hell of a movie! Great example, but I think it's a little of a critique. They come with optimism, they work hard, but get hit with the credit system of the US, and the callousness of those who are quick to "turn out the lights" if they're late with a payment. They find themselves working a lot for very little, and they don't have the social welfare European countries have. I think they wanted to escape the people they were surrounded by in Germany, too, especially after leaving prison for alcoholism - a new start, so to speak and avoiding the past.



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I agree about having more of an independent spirit in those movies, and "Strozsek" is one hell of a movie! Great example, but I think it's a little of a critique. They come with optimism, they work hard, but get hit with the credit system of the US, and the callousness of those who are quick to "turn out the lights" if they're late with a payment. They find themselves working a lot for very little, and they don't have the social welfare European countries have. I think they wanted to escape the people they were surrounded by in Germany, too, especially after leaving prison for alcoholism - a new start, so to speak and avoiding the past.
Neither country was good for them. Because they couldn't live how they wanted to. Great film.



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The last few years I’ve watched far more foreign films AND foreign language films. There’s a distinction. Foreign films in English such as Ireland, Australia, Canada, and England. And then the various foreign language films.
I still watch plenty of American films, but my attention has definitely moved to the other countries.



i just the Beast (1975)
such a weird experience watching this movie, a french film with so much pornography and a real weird and erotic one, probably the most deranged film i ever saw



I like movies, regardless of where they come, so yeah.
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matt72582's Avatar
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What are your favorite foreign countries to watch movies from? For me, it's Russia/USSR.
-Italy
-France
-Japan
-Czechia
-Poland
-Germany


I really want to check out more Russia/USSR movies.. I've seen a handful, mostly the classics.. My favorite one is "The Cranes Are Flying", and speaking of the director whose name I forget, his "Soy Cuba" does an over-exaggerated American nerdy businessman agitprop bit, and turned it off after "BETTY?!?!", but I'd love some recommendations..



I'll post a few movies I thought in addition to some I thought of yesterday if that helps - I'll take recommendations from anyone who thinks I'll like a certain movie. I have my "Lists" filled out, by the way, and my Top 10 and I'll avoid any popular ones

I don't know if I've seen more than one Chinese movie.

Shadows in Paradise, Sult, Il Sorpasso, Knife in the Water, Chit-Chat On The Nile, His Days Are Numbered, The Sign of the Leo, Purple Noon, Accatone, Fist in Pocket, The Roof, Boy, Pather Panchali, The Cranes Are Flying, A Woman in the Dunes, Les Chat, Pitfall, La Promesse, Whity, Dry Summer, La Notti Bianche, The Working-Class Goes To Heaven, Taste of Cherry, Ordet, Marriage Italian Style, Il Gido, Pickpocket, No Regrets For Our Youth, Paradise: Love, The Forest For the Trees, Ivan's Childhood, Le Cercle Rouge, Purple Noon, Night at Maud's, My Brilliant Career, Viridiana, Cairo Station, Carriage to Vienna, Two Half Times in Hell, Tsotsi, City of God, Rana's Wedding



-Italy
-France
-Japan
-Czechia
-Poland
-Germany


I really want to check out more Russia/USSR movies.. I've seen a handful, mostly the classics.. My favorite one is "The Cranes Are Flying", and speaking of the director whose name I forget, his "Soy Cuba" does an over-exaggerated American nerdy businessman agitprop bit, and turned it off after "BETTY?!?!", but I'd love some recommendations..



I'll post a few movies I thought in addition to some I thought of yesterday if that helps - I'll take recommendations from anyone who thinks I'll like a certain movie. I have my "Lists" filled out, by the way, and my Top 10 and I'll avoid any popular ones

I don't know if I've seen more than one Chinese movie.

Shadows in Paradise, Sult, Il Sorpasso, Knife in the Water, Chit-Chat On The Nile, His Days Are Numbered, The Sign of the Leo, Purple Noon, Accatone, Fist in Pocket, The Roof, Boy, Pather Panchali, The Cranes Are Flying, A Woman in the Dunes, Les Chat, Pitfall, La Promesse, Whity, Dry Summer, La Notti Bianche, The Working-Class Goes To Heaven, Taste of Cherry, Ordet, Marriage Italian Style, Il Gido, Pickpocket, No Regrets For Our Youth, Paradise: Love, The Forest For the Trees, Ivan's Childhood, Le Cercle Rouge, Purple Noon, Night at Maud's, My Brilliant Career, Viridiana, Cairo Station, Carriage to Vienna, Two Half Times in Hell, Tsotsi, City of God, Rana's Wedding
Here's a pretty substantial list of Russian/Soviet films I often return to:

https://www.listchallenges.com/best-...-former-soviet

Surprisingly, I haven't seen The Cranes Are Flying, but I plan to soon.
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I really want to check out more Russia/USSR movies.. I've seen a handful, mostly the classics.. My favorite one is "The Cranes Are Flying", and speaking of the director whose name I forget, his "Soy Cuba" does an over-exaggerated American nerdy businessman agitprop bit, and turned it off after "BETTY?!?!", but I'd love some recommendations..
If you liked Mikhail Kalatazov at all, then you have to track down his film 'Letter Never Sent'. It's absolutely amazing.