G'day Folks (that should give my origins away )

I have always had a fascination with movies made in other parts of the
world
outside the U.S.A., Britain and Australia .................. Any kindred
spirits out
there?

Allan

Other World Treasures:

Infernal Affairs
Malena
The Killer
Brotherhood of te Wolf

Hello, Samurai

"Samurai PD" <pardeep.bhakar@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:n%_Sc.1157$Nc5.533@newsfe1-gui.ntli.net...
Other World Treasures:

Infernal Affairs
Malena
The Killer
Brotherhood of te Wolf

Defintiely a kindred spirit. Have seen (and ejoyed) them all. Perhaps we
should start compiling a list.

Those that I found memorable (which I guess is the way I should go, as if
I
have to look them up they would not have been memorable, now would they?)

In The Realm Of The Senses
City On Fire (which is supposed to have been the inspiration for
Tarantino's
"Reservoir Dogs" but I did not see much of a simlilarity)
Betty Blue
The Road Home
Tango
Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down
Alexandria
A Ma Souer (Which was translated here as "Fat Girl", but if I still
remember
enough of of my schoolboy French actually should mean "For My Sister".

I am leaving out those that made it into mainstream cinema such as
"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" or "Run, Lola Run" as well as those where
I
remember the movie but not the title, but we should give those taking an
interest in foreign (to them) cinema an idea of what to look for next time
they are at their local rental outlet, or if like me they have access to a
World Movies channel.

Allan

called Sada strangely enough - which was such a different take on the
story?
Amazingly quirky, real fondness for the characters, a polar opposite to
the
dark decline presented in "Realm".

And how uncanny was it watching Open Your Eyes, where every shot had been
copied by the Tom Cruise version!

It's nice that quite a few foreign language flicks are getting on the
shelves at the mainstream video stores too. Russian Ark is out, and apart
from the technical achievement, the movie is really very good in it's own
right.

Hello again.

This flick is "The Vanishing", by a Dutch chap I think. Waaaay better
than
the Keifer Sutherland effort, packs a hell of a punch.
I really like Peter Greenaway flicks too, not really foreign, but
certainly
a "foreign" experience when viewed against the mainstream.

Personally, my enjoyment of foreign films is not just the different
slant they put on life and love but because sometimes you really need to
have your brain in gear to understand them, and not just because it is a
bit
difficult to doze off when you are reading subtitles. A good example is
one
I mentioned called "Under the Sand" which also made it into mainstream
cinema (but has not been copied yet) where the director really makes you
put
your thinking cap on.

On the subject of world movies, I just watched an Icelandic film on the
BBC
(101 Reykjavik) & felt entertained from start to finish. Hadn't planned on
watching it, but the comedy, overall tone, performances & story were fun.
(Shiftless but likeable son, living off mum's good graces develops a crush
on mature female dance teacher....and so does his loving mum, a kind
hearted
closet lesbian who's put up with too much shit from him & his long
departed
drunken dad). Seek it out.

On the subject of world movies, I just watched an Icelandic film on the
BBC (101 Reykjavik) & felt entertained from start to finish.

Hello, Joe
I think this reinforces my point that one of the main attractions of
foreign
movies is the different slant you get on life. I could not imagine two
countries with totally opposite cultures, climate, etc. than Iceland and
Australia, yet I recently watched a movie from Iceland called "The
Seagull's
Laughter" which I thoroughly enjoyed, not perhaps so much from the story
(the basic plot synopsis was a woman moves back to her home in Iceland
when
her husband dies, after living in the U.S. for ten years) but from the
view
I was getting on how the other half lives. I have not caught up with "101
Reykjavik" yet, but have seen it in the lists either on World Movies or
the
FTA ethnic channel we have here. However the latter is tied up at the
moment
with the Olympics so I will certainly look out for it afterward.

"MB" <mbelli@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:leUUc.982$v34.276@news04.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com...

Quickie list of my fave world cinema flicks:

Babettes Feast
Pelle The Conqueror
The Official Story (Luis Puenzo)
My Left Foot
Cinema Paradiso
Night of The Shooting Stars (Taviani Bros)
La Strada
Jean de Florette/Momon of the Springs
The Tin Flute
Summer (Erik Rohmer)

These films knocked my socks off, all true masterpieces.


Haven't seen The Official Story or Summer, but I admire the selection from
you & Allan...erm, except The Tin Drum. I know it's highly regarded, but it
dredges up bad memories of my pretentious youth, when you were considered a
dimwit if you hadn't read Gunther Grass, or discussed Sartre or Kafka down
the local trendy wine bar.......

Other than the movies you mention, my personal faves include:

The Hairdresser's Husband
The Phantom of Liberty
Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
That Obscure Object of Desire
Les Bicyclettes de Belsize (mainly because of the theme song)
Jules et Jim
Night for Day
Alphaville
La Cabina (1972, tv short film)
Metamorphosis
Wings of Desire
Fitzcarraldo
Le Boucher

This may sound odd, but these aren't necessarily movies I "enjoy" in an
escapist sense, but for various reasons they've captivated me because they
were "accessible" & so I return to them every couple of years. The Bunuel
movies are the exception....his stuff is genuinely laugh out loud slapstick
funny at times.

Joe McC wrote:
"MB" <mbelli@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:leUUc.982$v34.276@news04.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com...

snip

Other than the movies you mention, my personal faves include:

The Hairdresser's Husband
The Phantom of Liberty
Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
That Obscure Object of Desire
Les Bicyclettes de Belsize (mainly because of the theme song)
Jules et Jim
Night for Day
Alphaville
La Cabina (1972, tv short film)
Metamorphosis
Wings of Desire
Fitzcarraldo
Le Boucher

This may sound odd, but these aren't necessarily movies I "enjoy" in an
escapist sense, but for various reasons they've captivated me because
they
were "accessible" & so I return to them every couple of years. The
Bunuel
movies are the exception....his stuff is genuinely laugh out loud
slapstick
funny at times.


Great list, interestingly enough, most movies on your list I haven't
seen yet, but have really wanted to.

I forgot Wings of Desire, I'd say it would be on my top ten list of the
best movies ever.

Another enchanting movie you might like: 'The Hairdresser's Husband'. It
had me mesmerised first time i saw it, just like the original La Cage au
Folles.

Usually, I'm addicted to mainstream escapism or old classics, but now and
then it's worth testing out foreign climes....

G'day, Joe.


We are getting a pretty good list together here for people starting to sit
up and take notice of foreign films. I am reminded of the old line
"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" and perhaps did not realise
before this thread just how many foreign films have been copied (usually
badly) by Hollywood. You have given me another I'll be looking out for so
I
will throw some more titles into the mix:

Kandahar
Lovers On The Point Noeuf
Amelie (although that could be considered mainstream)
Les Boys

However even with foreign films I could plagarise (and take poetic licence
with) another famous saying: "You can please all of the people some of the
time, some of the people all of the time, but you cannot please all of the
people all of the time" I think that would apply to any movie list anyone
here has been asked to compile, no matter what the criteria.