The MoFo Top 100 Foreign Language Film Countdown

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Wings of Desire was my #19. A charmingly existential and humanist exercise in romantic fantasy that could be trite and gimmicky in the wrong hands (especially with how it intersperses the angels' monochrome world with the colour of humanity in a manner straight out of A Matter of Life and Death, to say nothing of stunt-casting Peter Falk as himself) but still ultimately works so well. Still unsure as to whether I prefer it to Paris, Texas or not, though.

Metropolis was a contender for my list, but ultimately did not make the cut (I put a different German silent film on my list that I doubt will make the list at this rate, but you never know).
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I've had Metropolis on three of my lists, including all-time favorite list and #1 of the 20s, but I made the decision early on not to include any silent movies for this list, so no points for me. But it is a masterpiece. I did include a different Fritz Lang movie, however. Wings of Desire is very good, but I never considered it.
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A few mentions of Paris, Texas, but I also really like Wim Wenders' The American Friend.
If you're familiar with the Ripley books, you know Dennis Hopper is as far away from Tom Ripley as you can get, yet it all somehow works in The American Friend. I seriously considered another Ripley-adapted movie for this countdown, but it just missed out.



In the Mood for Love, Wild Strawberries, and Wings of Desire all are fine films which I haven't seen. Came closest with Strawberries.

Metropolis is my number one. Saw this one little over a year ago and it crashed my top 10 films of all time. The story of a wealthy guy falling in love with a poor girl while learning about how the lesser half of Metropolis is being treated manages to be both compelling and heart-wrenching. The visuals of the Heart Machine, the buildings and "Maria" are all very well done...a knockout in 1927. No wonder it influenced countless sci-fi films decades to come including Blade Runner and Star Wars. Fritz Lang's masterpiece.

For the record, I got a second silent on the list. It's about 50-50 whether it makes the list proper or not. And I got another Lang film on here that should make it?

Revealed:

1. Metropolis
8. Diabolique
20. Let the Right One In



I still haven't seen Metropolis. It looks like there is a 2 hour cut and a 2 hour, 30 minute cut on VOD. Which one do you recommend?



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Maybe there's more room than I thought? Probably missing some big hitters too

Seven Samurai
Rashomon
8 ½
La Dolce Vita
Seventh Seal
Persona
Stalker
Spirited Away
Parasite
Pans Labyrinth
Amelie
Aguirre
City of God
Come and See
Samurai
Ran
Oldboy
Rules of the Game
M
Breathless
Late Spring
Rublev
A Separation
Shoah
Cranes are Flying
Ikiru
Bicycle Thieves

That leaves 3 slots



Maybe Ikiru, Daybreak, Grande Illusion, Bicycle Thieves, Onibaba, Ugetsu, Cranes, Leopard, Human Condition and Wind Rises can duke it out for some of those six?



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Maybe Ikiru, Daybreak, Grande Illusion, Bicycle Thieves, Onibaba, Ugetsu, Cranes, Leopard, Human Condition and Wind Rises can duke it out for some of those six?
Added 3 of those for sure. I think Throne of Blood has a shot but I wouldn't call it a guarantee or anything too.



Especially because of it's influence and inspiration to a lot of my favorites, I could/should have voted for Metropolis but I didn't.

Movies Seen: 33/70

My Ballot: 9/25

My Ballot Forecast:
25. Mongol (1-pointer)
24. 0%
23. 95%
22. The Wages of Fear (#67)
21. Fireworks (#78)
20. 60%
19. In The Mood For Love (#34)
18. 30%
17. High and Low (#41)
16. 0%
15. 0%
14. 0%
13. 70%
12. 0%
11. 99%
10. 45%
9. 0%
8. 50%
7. Samurai Rebellion (#79)
6. The Battle of Algiers (#56)
5. War and Peace (#59)
4. 40%
3. 30%
2. La Haine (#53)
1. 98%



Added 3 of those for sure. I think Throne of Blood has a shot but I wouldn't call it a guarantee or anything too.
Based on some of our list already I think there are some current movies we aren’t thinking of that will make it. I need to ponder some more.



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Seven Samurai
Rashomon
8 ½
Seventh Seal
Persona
Stalker
Spirited Away
Parasite
Pans Labyrinth
Amelie
Aguirre
City of God
Come and See
Ran
M
Breathless
Bicycle Thieves
Solaris
Rules of the Game

With the last spot down to A Separation and Le Cercle Rouge. Or maybe no Rules of the Game?



Seven Samurai
Rashomon
8 ½
La Dolce Vita
Seventh Seal
Persona
Stalker
Spirited Away
Parasite
Pans Labyrinth
Amelie
Aguirre
City of God
Come and See
Samurai
Ran
Oldboy
Rules of the Game
M
Breathless
Late Spring
Rublev
A Separation
Shoah
Cranes are Flying
Ikiru
Bicycle Thieves
Le Cercle Rouge
Solaris
Throne of Blood

This will be my final prediction, can't wait for it to be wrong already later today
I like this list, but what about Cinema Paradiso? Ozu's Late Spring? I also think Bergman might have a longshot to sneak in one more. Also, maybe something else from Bong sneaks in. I'm thinking Mother might have an outside chance.
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Seven Samurai
Rashomon
8 ½
La Dolce Vita
Seventh Seal
Persona
Stalker
Spirited Away
Parasite
Pans Labyrinth
Amelie
Aguirre
City of God
Come and See
Samurai
Ran
Oldboy
Rules of the Game
M
Breathless
Late Spring
Rublev
A Separation
Shoah
Cranes are Flying
Ikiru
Bicycle Thieves
Le Cercle Rouge
Solaris
Throne of Blood

This will be my final prediction, can't wait for it to be wrong already later today
Passion Of Joan Of Arc. This looks pretty strong though. I will do a top ten prediction later.



I doubt enough people have seen Shoah and included it for it to make it.

Looking at potential newer releases...some ideas:

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Y tu mama tambien
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
Talk to Her or All About My Mother

I also think Cinema Paradiso and The Passion of Joan of Arc have a chance.

I see Seven Samurai and Samurai on your list?
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Perhaps add them together and Buñuel's little known Eight Samurai might be in with a shot?

Seriously though I presume by 'Samurai' he means Melville's Le samouraï



I doubt enough people have seen Shoah and included it for it to make it.

Looking at potential newer releases...some ideas:

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Y tu mama tambien
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
Talk to Her or All About My Mother

I also think Cinema Paradiso and The Passion of Joan of Arc have a chance.

I see Seven Samurai and Samurai on your list?
Le Samourai

Interesting newer choices. I think Skin I live In is the most popular Almodovar.

I could see 4 Months

Crouching Tiger is interesting. Seems high but I think it’s popular.



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I doubt enough people have seen Shoah and included it for it to make it.

Looking at potential newer releases...some ideas:

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Y tu mama tambien
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
Talk to Her or All About My Mother

I also think Cinema Paradiso and The Passion of Joan of Arc have a chance.

I see Seven Samurai and Samurai on your list?
Probably right with Shoah, but I'm going with it anyways. It seems more popular than War and Peace though. We will see.



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If you're familiar with the Ripley books, you know Dennis Hopper is as far away from Tom Ripley as you can get, yet it all somehow works in The American Friend. I seriously considered another Ripley-adapted movie for this countdown, but it just missed out.
I had another Ripley-adapted movie on my list. A very different version of Ripley than Hopper, but as you say, both work somehow.