Foreign cinema releases

[Thing Fish]

I have always been a massive film buff but like many of my friends I suspect some of you may have overlooked foreign cinema. In particular Asian films.

Well let me tell you that you are missing some of the greatest films ever released. Don't dismiss that last statement please!

Aftershocks - actually (I don't mind admitting) had me it tears. A great film and on of the best I have seen, EVER!!! I was so glad when it ended as I was an emotional wreck.

Bedeviled - A film that will have you wanting to punch someone pretty hard.

Cinema Paradiso, Norwegian wood, Confessions, Old Boy, Armadillo, Amal, Mao's last dancer, Incendies, Of gods and men, Chungking express. The list gos on and on and on...

Please take the time to seek some of these out. If your a film fan, not so much the hollywood crash bang wallop type, as you will have to have a brain of your own and be able to read subtitles! This doesn't apply to the learned scholars here on AOS of course.... You will be enriched beyond your wildest dreams. I promise you...

[slate]

Back in the day (high school/upper secondary)... when video were killing cinemas; we were 3 guys that found our way to a filmclub in the neighbouring town.
There was a small projection room at the town library that the club had borrowed. 1-2 times a month there would be a screening with and intro about the director and movie.

Here I was "introduced" to Andrey Tarkovsky http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001789/
We saw "Stalker"... Others movies to recommend are "Solaris" and his last "Offret" which he filmed while dying of cancer.

Another "introduction" was Akira Kurosawa...
"Ran"
"Kumonosu-jô" aka "Throne of Blood"

His movies became a passion of mine and I have seen all that I could get my hands on... other recommendations:
"kagemusha"
"Shichinin no samurai"" aka "seven samurai"
"Dersu Uzala"
"Kakushi-toride no san-akunin" aka "The Hidden Fortress"
"Sanjuro"

At the same time it was also an introduction to Toshiro Mifune which starred in most of his movies. His presence can be compared to that of John Wayne... see him rule in "Red Beard".

These are the 3 movies that I remember from that small screening room; There were other movies but they drowned in the impression of the others... vague recollection about a brasilian movie about some street kids....
Oh almost forgot Jean-Jacques Beineix's "Diva" which was my introduction to modern french movies... more was to follow in my student years in a small art cinema in Århus.... "Betty Blue", "Leon", "Delicatessen", "La cité des enfants perdus"

There are others.... my collection can be seen here http://www.invelos.com/DVDCollection.aspx/slate_dk

[John]

I too enjoy world cinema
some of my favs include
Cinema Paradiso
Central Station
Men with Guns
Rashomon
Twilight Samurai
I also enjoy some of the madder Japanese films

[Barry]

Back in the day (high school/upper secondary)... when video were killing cinemas; we were 3 guys that found our way to a filmclub in the neighbouring town.
There was a small projection room at the town library that the club had borrowed. 1-2 times a month there would be a screening with and intro about the director and movie.

Here I was "introduced" to Andrey Tarkovsky http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001789/
We saw "Stalker"... Others movies to recommend are "Solaris" and his last "Offret" which he filmed while dying of cancer.

Another "introduction" was Akira Kurosawa...
"Ran"
"Kumonosu-jô" aka "Throne of Blood"


His movies became a passion of mine and I have seen all that I could get my hands on... other recommendations:
"Kagemusha"
"Shichinin no samurai"" aka "Seven samurai"
"Dersu Uzala"
"Kakushi-toride no san-akunin" aka "The Hidden Fortress"
"Sanjuro"

At the same time it was also an introduction to Toshiro Mifune which starred in most of his movies. His presence can be compared to that of John Wayne... see him rule in "Red Beard".

These are the 3 movies that I remember from that small screening room; There were other movies but they drowned in the impression of the others... vague recollection about a brasilian movie about some street kids....
Oh almost forgot Jean-Jacques Beineix's "Diva" which was my introduction to modern french movies... more was to follow in my student years in a small art cinema in Århus.... "Betty Blue", "Leon", "Delicatessen", "La cité des enfants perdus"

There are others.... my collection can be seen here http://www.invelos.com/DVDCollection.aspx/slate_dk

Hi Jan,

I have seen most of the films in your collection. Of the films you mention above, I have highlighted the ones I have in my collection.

I can recommend Tarkovsky's "Mirror" and a couple of films by Kurosawa: "Rashomon" and "Do Deska Den".

I'm also a great admirer of Ingmar Bergman.

Like John, I too love 'World cinema'.

Regards

[The Grand Wazoo]

The best foreign film I've seen in a long time is 'The Yacoubian Building'. It's Egyptian and is based on the novel of the same name (English translation edition available, and very good too). It's about the residents of an apartment block in Cairo - the whole thing being a metaphor for the Egyptian nation - the building is a microcosm of society, if you like. The book was the best selling Arabic novel the year it was published and the film broke box office records for a new film in Egypt.

The thing that made it so gripping for me was the fact that when I went to see it, it (spookily) depicted some of the events which were actually going on in Egypt that very day (popular protests about the government of the day).

[slate]

I guess that I ought to mention some Danish movies as well.
The mainstream are simple comedy based stories like "Italian for beginners" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0243862/

When it comes to directors from this country... today all movie buffs think of Lars von Trier, this odd ´character of a provocatur and yet so fragile human.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001885/

Nowadays his movies are mostly about the exploring the human emotions when pressed to the edge... grief "Breaking the waves" or despair "Antichrist", "Melancholia"

But there was a time when his twisted side showed; I can recommend his tv series "Riget" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108906/
brilliant, odd and funny.

And I have always carried a torch for his technical tour de force "The Element of Crime" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087280/
Fresh from filmschool... "see how good I am"

- Susanne Bier http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0081540/
Our latest Ascar winner... love her smile.
I have not seen all her movies but so far they have all been solid work; writing and directing. They are not chick flicks, but about human relations and as such a sure hit with your girlfriend/wife.

- Ole Bornedal http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0097079/
it was "Nattevagten" that really launched his career as a director.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110631/
A massive hit and of cause Hollywood had to do a remake; that Bornedal actually got to direct.

- Nicolas Winding Refn from the new breed of directors looks promising http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0716347/#Director
well he isn't exactly new anymore...

- Lone Scherfig http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0771054/
After "Italian for beginners" her international career has taken off
- "Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself" nice little comedy
- "An education"
- "One day"
Like Susanne Bier; solid, girlfriend/wife friendly films

The old guard are
- Bille August http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000806/
Eventhough he has made several international movies since, his best is still "Pelle Erobreren" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093713/
Ok I still have to see "Les Miserables"

- Gabriel Axel http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002196/
Forgotten.. or rather not really thought of as Danish director as he have lived in France for many years.
Before he moved he did many productions for TV; his movies are all in the folksy comedy genre; actually his movies are still shown on TV from time to time.
He did an unexpected return to Dansih cinema with "Babettes Gæstebud" based on a Karen Blixen novell. It won an oscar and it is a fine little ensemble play.
I remember seeing his "Les colonnes du ciel" when it was aired on Danish Radio; looked forward to every episode. Still have to see his "Amled"

- Carl Theodor Dreyer; the big old man in Danish cinema.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003433/

His movies are rarely seen nowadays and I can only remember seeing "Ordet"... but often "Vredens dag" and his Jeanne d'Arc movie are mentioned.
I will let Roger do the talking http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/...914866035/1023
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/...401010350/1023

[griffo104]

I would recommend Tarkovsky's films to anybody with even an inkling of cinematic love in them. All difficult but all reward you. I've got the lot on DVD and I'll probably end up getting them on blu-ray when available. For me Andrei Rublev is as good as any film ever made, it's massive, intense and amazingly beautiful and you'll feel totally rewarded after 3 or so hours of it.

There was a time when Asian cinema was coming with so many great films but it seems to have dried up a bit recently - or I just haven't bought any for a while.

[John]

I enjoyed 13 Assasins recently but not up with The Twilight Samurai

[John]

Forgot to add Ikiru

[griffo104]

- Nicolas Winding Refn from the new breed of directors looks promising http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0716347/#Director
well he isn't exactly new anymore...

I can certainly recommend Pusher and Bleeder from his earlier days, Pusher especially.