20 Great Foreign Language Films

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

I'd like to add ONI BABA to my list-brilliant Japanese cinema.

And now a question, I'm being extremely optimistic because of my vagueness, but here goes.

Around 15-20 years ago there was a season of Japanese movies on either BBC2 or Channel 4.

I'm sure YOJIMBO and SEVEN SAMURAI were shown during the season (though not certain), but there was one film I particularly liked.

Unfortunately, I can't remember what it was called, and I remember very little about it.

Only thing that has stayed in my mind was a scene where a princess (maybe) drops a flower (or something) into a stream which flows from where she is being held captive (some kind of castle/fort) as a signal to the guys outside who are trying to rescue her.

I told you it was vague.

I thought it might be HIDDEN FORTRESS, so I bought it, but though it is a great film, it wasn't the one I remembered

I also think that it might have Toshiro Mifune in, but again, I'm not certain.

PLEASE!!!! Does anyone have any idea what I'm on about?

 

[Anonymous]

Could I add,

1) The Grudge

2) Tale of Two Sisters

3) Baise Moi

4) Battle In Heaven

5) Cashhern

6) Chaos

7) Chose Secretes (French and smutty)

8) The Dream of Garuda

9) A Hole in My Heart

10) Insatiable

11) Irreversible (A must see, cracking movie)

12)Lower City

13) Lust, Caution

14) Ma Mere

15) Novo

16) The Ring, Ring 2, Ring 0

17) Scarlet Diva

18) Visitor Q

 

[Alantiggger]

BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW:Anyone have any opinions on the films I have chosen???

Yeah Bernie, none are as good as ''Tae Guk Gi - The Brotherhood of War'' I had that in my war movies list

 

[drummerman]

Battleship Potemkin

 

[AlmaataKZ]

Here is a question.

Have you heard of (not trying "seen one") the Russian version of Sherlock Holmes movies? It is a series of about 8 full-lenth movies done in the 80s and I have heard that it is widely considered, including by the Brits, the best screen realisation of Conan Doyle and the charachters involved.

The Russian actor Livanov got Order of the British Empire from the Queen for the movies.

So it is interesting to see if the movie fans here on whf have even heard of it? I am not sure if it was shown in UK or about its availability on dvd/vhs but since it got some form of recognition it must have been shown at least once?

http://www1001.bakerstreetdozen.com/russianholmes.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasily_Livanov

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Sherlock_Holmes_and_Dr._Watson

Interestingly, due to lack of direct contacts between people during the time the perception of Britain and English of a lot of Russians was (and still is if they have not travelled much) based not in little part on these very stories, these characters and these very movies. I wonder what a brit would get from watching these?. I would really be interested to hear from anybody who has seen these. If I knew where to get these in English I would love to get them and give to my British friends to try.

 

[Anonymous]

Not a brit, so can't comment. They are good, indeed, great actors and play. But you need to watch them in original language to see them in best. They are television series, low budget, so everything depends from actors play. There is divx version of series in torrent sities with hardcoded english subtitles. Quality is not great for big television sets and subtitles is a little bit simplified but they are OK for watching on computer.

 

[audioaffair]

I have to put a word in for Luc Besson. Leon is one of my favourite movies although this can't make the list as its not foreign language, but some of his earlier films are also superb - La Femme Nikita and Subway specifically. Although they're a little silly, I also love Les Visiteurs and Tai Toi! (both Jean Reno)

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Thanks Big Chris.

I've just watched "Tell No One", and really liked it.

Reminded me of "Hidden (cache)" in it's feel and mood, excellent thriller.

I'll probably move on to either "Mesrine" or "Timescrimes" next.

Thanks again for your recommendations.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi BBB. Have you managed to track down Dead Or Alive and A Bittersweet life? Outstanding, the both of them!

 

[DandyCobalt]

Try "Ten Canoes" - part english, part aborigine (and picked up a prize at Cannes in 2006 I think). A real experience!

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Hi BBB. Have you managed to track down Dead Or Alive and A Bittersweet life? Outstanding, the both of them!

Hi bobbyg,

I've seen Dead Or Alive if it's the Japanese film you're on about, was good.

I ordered Bittersweet Life from HMV, but no stock for ages, so I cancelled the order.

I'm currently trying to get a copy on ebay, but might wait until early January as I'll get some ebay points then and will get it free.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Thanks. Will look in to "Ten Canoes" and check a few reviews

 

[Anonymous]

BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW:
Hi BBB. Have you managed to track down Dead Or Alive and A Bittersweet life? Outstanding, the both of them!

Hi bobbyg,

I've seen Dead Or Alive if it's the Japanese film you're on about, was good.

I ordered Bittersweet Life from HMV, but no stock for ages, so I cancelled the order.

I'm currently trying to get a copy on ebay, but might wait until early January as I'll get some ebay points then and will get it free.

Yeah it was the japanese DOA I was talking about. One of my favourite endings to a film. The mind of Miike Takashi is something else!

Fair play if youre waiting for ebay points but if you end up getting something else with them you'll get A Bittersweet Life for a fiver on Amazon.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Yeah it was the japanese DOA I was talking about. One of my favourite endings to a film. The mind of Miike Takashi is something else!

Fair play if youre waiting for ebay points but if you end up getting something else with them you'll get A Bittersweet Life for a fiver on Amazon.

I have nearly £30 worth of ebay points, I bought a Pioneer Kuro, and the wife buys anything.

Have you seen Gozu?

Scene at the beginning involving the small dog made me cry with laughter, it is horrible, but funny in a very dark way

 

[professorhat]

A couple from my collection which I think are missing here are Letters from Iwo Jima and Sophie Scholl.

 

[Anonymous]

Have you seen the Three Colours trilogy - White, Red and Blue? Directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski

Also Betty Blue

Cheers

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Have you seen the Three Colours trilogy - White, Red and Blue? Directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski

Also Betty Blue

Cheers

Thanks, Yes, seen them all

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

A couple from my collection which I think are missing here are Letters from Iwo Jima and Sophie Scholl.

"Letters....." is fantastic, far better than "Flags Of Our Fathers"

Haven't seen "Sophie Scholl", so will keep an eye out for it.

 

[Anonymous]

BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW:
Yeah it was the japanese DOA I was talking about. One of my favourite endings to a film. The mind of Miike Takashi is something else!

Fair play if youre waiting for ebay points but if you end up getting something else with them you'll get A Bittersweet Life for a fiver on Amazon.

I have nearly £30 worth of ebay points, I bought a Pioneer Kuro, and the wife buys anything.

Have you seen Gozu?
Scene at the beginning involving the small dog made me cry with laughter, it is horrible, but funny in a very dark way

Ive got Gozu but not watched it. Might stick that on tonight
actually. Got it exrental in Blockbuster for 99p. HMV wanted 20 quid!
Bargain!

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

It's great, but be warned, it's also very very weird.

 

[johnnyblue]

Aguirre:Wrath Of God.

The Enigma Of Kasper Hauser.

M.

In The Realm Of The Senses.

Lacombe Lucien.

Le Cop.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

I've just watched another film from Big Chris's list, "Timecrimes"

Brilliant! Still trying to get my head around what I've just watched.

If you're in to time travelling thrillers, or just very interesting films, try this one.

Thanks Big Chris

 

[mikegtar]

Anything with Ziyi Zhang in it really for me. She first caught my interest in Memoirs of a Geisha which wasn't foreign language but was very atmospheric.

2046

The Banquet (2006 version)

Jasmine Women

Purple Butterfly

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Hero, House of Flying Daggers

Also I liked Old Boy

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Bobbyg81, did you watch Gozu?

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

TheHomeCinemaCentre:I like your list. City of God, Amores Perros and Oldboy are real favourites. I recently saw Dogtooth ( a greek film) that is weird and engaging. I would add Cinema Paridiso and Sex and Lucia ( very Lynch) both amazing and very different in style. I will check out some of your list though.

Saw DOGTOOTH last night, extremely good. I can imagine some people just not getting the humour, but I laughed often and occasionally loudly. Would go straight into my top twenty, very clever.