Foreign films that you should watch
Parasite winning best picture was no ordinary feat, being one of the few foreign films to transcend language barriers and reach a wide global audience. But there have been other amazing films made by foreign directors in foreign languages which deserve its own praise and recognition. Here's a few:
Melancholia (2011)
Danish film Melancholia is a drama/Sci-Fi film that tells a provocative story through complex elements and is a stunning testament to Kristen Dunst's acting brilliance. The movie starts with two completely unrelated events; a rural Danish wedding and a planet, Melancholia, heading towards earth. From there, it goes on to become a film about depression and destruction that uses sublime scores and hypnotic visuals to glue the audience to the screens.
Mother (2009)
Mother chronicles the struggles of a single Korean mother as she fights to prove her son's innocence of a murder case he was imprisoned for. Mother is directed by Bong Joon Ho, the same man behind Parasite. Mother's use of humour and dark portrayals of family drama is reminiscent of Parasite and it will leave a knot in your stomach.
Amelie (2001)
Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Amelie is a story of a Parisian young waitress, caught up in an imaginative world of her own. She sets on to help people around her with their lives, which eventually leads her towards the path of discovering the love of her life. Amelie is an extraordinary portrayal of quite a simple story and is certainly the right choice if you are looking for feel-good movies.
The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)
Based on the book by the same name, The Motorcycle Diaries depicts the story of an 8000-mile trip taken on a motorcycle by Ernesto "Che" Guevara and his friend Alberto Granado. The movie follows the tale of Ernesto and his friend, as they experience the complex social topography of Latin America that would later inspire Ernesto to become the revolutionary icon. A beautiful Spanish film about friendship, road trips, revolution, and socio-political complexity, The Motorcycle Diaries is a must-watch for anyone interested in Che and Latin America in general.
Cidade de Deus (City of God) (2002)
City of God is a crime thriller film from directors Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund. It looks into the seedy underbelly of violence, gang warfare, and drug usage as it chronicles the youth and teenage years of Rocket, a Brazilian kid who aspires to become a reputed journalist. City of God meticulously crafts its world and its natural flow makes it feel like a documentary at times.
Make sure to also check out Life is Beautiful (1997), Breathless (1960), Double life of Veronique (1991) and the Three Colours Trilogy.
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