[Lopt]

For you francophiles, I have a few.
The 1990 'Cyrano de Bergerac,' anything by a director known as Jean Cocteau, and there was a duo, 'Jean de Florette,' and 'Manon des Sources,' a two movie series.
Anyone else have any suggestions?

[dbl90]

For you francophiles, I have a few.
The 1990 'Cyrano de Bergerac,' anything by a director known as Jean Cocteau, and there was a duo, 'Jean de Florette,' and 'Manon des Sources,' a two movie series.
Anyone else have any suggestions?

Well I can start with films in French:

Z is a film directed by Greek director Costa-Gavras, but was produced entirely in France (probably as Gavras would have been killed for making it back home. Like Manon des Sources it has the renowned actor Yves Montad. Fun movie, great political thriller. Has a French feel, but isn't French per say.

A particular favorite director of mine is Jean-Pierre Melville. Everyone from Scorsese to Trarantino to John Woo cite him as a major influence. And that's the current generation. He really could be considered the father of the French New Wave. That said, He had a very minimalistic style, and may be a tough film to watch for some. That said his films are brilliant and he is one of my favorite directors. If you're into film, his films are probably worth watching just for the educational value.

Several of his films are out as criterion editions in the United States: Army of Shadows, Le Samurai, and Le Circle Rouge. They are all a great place to start. Although, I have to say, Bob Le Flambleur has a special place in my heart.

Along the same lines, Bresson is a great director to watch. If you've seen Taxi Driver you'd probably appreciate his film Pickpocket.

This all goes without saying: you have to watch the big names. Godard. Truffaut. If you like French New Wave, you can probably do a bit more research for other directors yourself.

But, it's wrong to simplify the directorial talent of the French to what happend during the French New Wave. Hyperstylized and fun, I really recommend watching Jean-Jacques Beineix's Diva. It's a big hit in the States. It should be easy to find. It's on HBO from time to time.

A few years back I saw A Man on the Train. I really enjoyed the movie. The people I was with didn't. Oh well. I think it's Flemish rather than French...it felt very Flemish for some reason, but it's still in French.

If you want to take a look at animation the Triplets of Belville, which must have come out five or six years ago, has probably been one of my favorite animated films that have been made this milenium. Lot of fun for a francophile. Pokes a lot of fun at the French and the Americans too. Another Academy Award nominee (and award winner? I don't remember) it is definitely well worth seeing.

More recently, the French nomination for the academy awards this year, The Class, was pretty good. I managed to enjoy it despite the fact I hate the whole "teacher comes in and saves day" genre.

I haven't seen La Vie en Rose, but I heard it was quite a good biogarphical piece on one of France's most famous singers, whom I happen to know nothing about. Amelie was successful at the academy awards. I found it mildly boring.

Brotherhood of the Wolf was another film I missed. It is on my netflix que though. Paris, je t'aime my girlfriend somehow managed to see without me. I never ended up seeing it. It is about Paris and has a few french directors interspersed. I think Tokyo! has the exact same thing going on.

That about wraps up what I have to say about France at the moment. There's a lot there. France has a rich cinematic history, but I feel I have a lot of the bases covered. I can give a bit more in depth recommendations if you like. I haven't watched an insane amount of French cinema, but I know my way around. I'll throw together a list of other non-french foreign films I like a bit later as well.

[DrowFan80]

I have a list of some films, some Asian and a few others, but all good.

MachineGun Girl is if your looking for an asian flick full of blood, ridiculous fight scenes, and a B movie feel.

Azumi is a excellent foreign film from Japan thats about trained assassins out to destroy a corrupt government and the other master warriors and assassins they face as the story progresses.

Great Yokai Wars is a family friendly film for an audience of all ages. Involving a young kid who must save the world of demons and humans from a mad evil dude turning demons into mechanical monsters of destruction. If you liked labyrinth you'll like this one as well.

Alice by Czech director Jan Svankmajer is the retelling of Alice in Wonderland with a twisted gothic view where the creatures are dead animals and puppets come to life as Alice ventures into Wonderland.

Cashback is a UK film from Britain that involves a young art student who recently broke up with his girlfriend and has found himself haunted with insomnia. To cope and earn some cash he begins to work the overnight shift at the local grocery store, it is here that this young man learns he can stop time.

Kitaro the movie. Another one from Japan based off an old comic character named Kitaro, revived in this movie for all ages. Kitaro is a half human half demon who lives to help both races. A great evil gem has come into the possession of the humans and he must find it before tragedy occurs.

Persopolis is a foreign film that is actually an animated movie based off the comic book released by a woman who grew up in the warring middle east and it tells the story of her life. A very interesting book and the film is quite enjoyable with its unique style. I believe this was originally made in France.

I have more that i have yet to watch waiting in my "to watch" pile so I will stop my list here.

[linuxelf]

I loved the Troi Couleurs trilogy by Krzysztof Kieślowski. Two were in French, one was mostly Polish.

Ladri di biciclette (The Bicycle Thief) was just amazing. This is one of my all time favorite films.

I like Fellini films a lot, most notibly Le notti di Cabiria (The nights of Cabiria) and La Strada (The Road).

Baran is an Iranian film by Majid Majidi that I really enjoyed.

And if you haven't seen it yet, try to see Cidade de Deus (City of God). Wow, just stunning cinematography, acting, and directing.

Of course, the Kurosawa films like Yojimbo, or Rashomon, and Seven Samurai. All great movies.

[Paddy0]

May I suggest, 'The Phantom of Liberty' by Luis Bunuel, all in french and is a good film to make you sit up and think "wtf just happened" True surrealism. Theres also Un Chien Andalou the archetypal surrealism film and another Jan Svankmajer short film 'Dimensions of Dialogue'

[Waycos]

To add to the very good list of films so far, Like Water for Chocolate and Live Flesh. Live Flesh actually has Javier Bardem in it, and Penelope Cruz, and I had no clue until recently. Really most of Pedro Almodóvar's movies are very good. There was a really good swedish film I remember seeing and I'm totally drawing a blank on it. If I remember I'll edit here.

[Orelinde]

Les 3 P'tits Cochons is a good French movie from Québec. 3 brothers, 3 different personalities, 3 different relationships. Great acting, good story.

[Waycos]

Just so you know Orelinde, as much as they try and disagree, Quebec is still from Canada.

[Orelinde]

I just know Malone will be all over this...


I thought he meant movies not in English. It's a good movie nevertheless.

[Chaotisynthetix]

Hmm.
Linuxelf is right on Rashomon. that one is pretty good.

I like a lot of popular ones. Amelie, Is really a favorite of mine. I even have the soundtrack. Crouching tiger is obvious but again, I really like it.

Kung Fu Hustle is one of my Favorite movies.

A lesser known one is a japanese movie called Tampopo. Its a food movie, but it has some weird clips in the movie that have nothing to do with the plot with two people having a sennsual food experience. Creeps me out actually, but the rest of the movie is really good.

There is a British Movie called Watership Down My mother used to have me watch as a kid. I like it now, but only because it terrified the hell out of my as a kid. Dispite it being an animated movie about Bunnies I wouldnt reccomend having small children watch this.

[Lopt]

I just know Malone will be all over this...


I thought he meant movies not in English. It's a good movie nevertheless.

Yes, I did mean that, but it's foreign nonetheless.
God damn it, I'm out of pentameter.
And, Watership Down is based off a book.

This post has been edited by Lopt: 02 June 2009 - 07:41 PM

[Waycos]

but it's foreign nonetheless.

How very US centric of you. Keep in mind there are plenty of people here from Canada and Europe, as well as a few Australians.

[Cybercat]

Yes, I enjoy foreign movies like the last Star Trek

As a matter of fact I only go to foreign movies, because I don't like most of the stuff they make in my country.

[Chaotisynthetix]

And, Watership Down is based off a book.

I am aware of this. Does it disqualify it somehow?

An interesting point about Foriegn films defaulting to non-US product. I'm not really sure how to respond to that. With the exception of Bollywood and China, is the film industry in any other country large enough to merit passing off US as mainstream as US arrogance?

[Lopt]

My apologies, I sometimes don't think.
I attempt to be non-US centric,
But it slips out quite often, a nuisance.
Oh, screw it, I can't stay in my meter.
Watership Down's being a book doesn't disqualify it, I just felt like mentioning that.
Besides, I don't make the rules.
I simply said, 'Foreign Movies you feel like mentioning,' but the fine print was, 'to a student who feels like expanding his horizons.'

[Chaotisynthetix]

Spam post removed

This is a weird post. I think its sarcasm, but im not sure.


::Waycos edit:: There was hidden spam in there Chaoti.

[Dark Knightmare]

Seven Samurai is long but worth watching, and Battle Royale is fun to watch

[Chaotisynthetix]

Spam post removed

This is a weird post. I think its sarcasm, but im not sure.


::Waycos edit:: There was hidden spam in there Chaoti.

lol, im an idiot.

[Illyria]

Three good Korean movies are 'Old Boy', 'Thirst', and 'The Host'.

'Old Boy' is really disturbing, a good movie, but not one that someone can really like. Park Chan-Wook directed both Old Boy and Thirst. He also made 'Sympathy for Lady Vengeance' which is also pretty good.

'The Host' is about a creature from the Han River (the river that runs through Seoul, Korea). It's pretty good.

I'm also a fan of Mambo Italiano, its about a gay man in Toronto and all the issues that go with being gay from a traditional, conservative Italian family.

'City of God' is pretty good too, violent, but good.

Also good are 'Monsoon Wedding' and 'Water'. Both are set in India but are very different. 'Monsoon Wedding' is about an arranged marriage and the families both trying to make the wedding happen. 'Water' is quite different, its about an 8 year old widow during Gandhi's rise to influence. It's about her life in a widow house. Definitely worth seeing.

And although they might not be 'foreign' two movies worth seeing are 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind', and 'The Darjeeling Limited'.

[dbl90]

Three good Korean movies are 'Old Boy', 'Thirst', and 'The Host'.

'Old Boy' is really disturbing, a good movie, but not one that someone can really like. Park Chan-Wook directed both Old Boy and Thirst. He also made 'Sympathy for Lady Vengeance' which is also pretty good.

'The Host' is about a creature from the Han River (the river that runs through Seoul, Korea). It's pretty good.

'The Host' is probably one of my favorite horror movies of all time. It manages to somehow be thrilling, touching, and hilarious all at the same time. The line bandied around was "Little Miss Sunshine meets Godzilla" and I think I could agree.

'Old Boy' and 'Sympathy of Lardy Vengeance' are both actually part of a trilogy. The part you didn't mention is actually my favorite, the first film in the trilogy "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance." I really feel that both technically and narrative wise it is a lot better than the the two films that succeeded it.

I didn't like the plot of Oldboy all that much. It was a bit predictable. The "Sidescrolling videogame sequence also bothered me". It was still a great movie and no one will argue that Park Chan-Wook is one of Korea's best directors, but if you are going to watch one film in the trilogy, you should probably watch the first.

Keep in mind that ALL three films in this trilogy are very gory and contain their fair share of mutilation. Not for the weak-stomached.