Which Off-Hollywood Film Is Your Favorite?
Don't let subtitles turn you off from an unforgettable film-viewing experience. Although Hollywood is the world's main movie-making machine, there's something to be said for films made abroad. They're often less formulaic, more cinematic, and unique, and feature actors who are fresh faces to many of us. From Jean-Luc Godard's 1960s classic to Tarantino's favorite movie, here are 20 foreign language films you can't miss.
1. Breathless
Jean-Luc Godard's Breathless is about a petty thug who impulsively kills a police officer. As interesting as the plot is, it's more the film's aesthetic, the techniques used, and the unconventional narrative structure that sets it apart.
2. Amores perros
Before winning multiple Oscars for his English-language films Birdman and The Revenant, Alejandro González Iñárritu made Amores perros, an ensemble cast film about many totally different lives that collide in a car crash in Mexico City. The film is a highly visceral social commentary full of symbolism and emotional depth.
Mario Antonio Pena Zapatería on Wikimedia
3. In The Mood For Love
In The Mood For Love is about two neighbors who develop a strong bond after finding out their spouses are having an affair with each other. It's a slow-burning love story, full of longing, missed opportunities, and subtle but powerful moments.
4. The Lives of Others
An officer of East Germany's Secret Police in the 1980s is tasked with surveilling a playwright, but finds himself increasingly absorbed in the writer's life, forming a secretively, caring, and protective bond. The film is celebrated for its compelling storyline and ability to humanize historical events.
5. City of God
City of God is a gritty, realistic, and stunning masterpiece about a boy trapped in Rio de Janeiro's drug wars. It's known for its unflinching portrayal of the harsh realities of life in the violent Favelas, full of superb acting and vibrant storytelling.
6. Battle Royale
Quentin Tarantino has famously called Battle Royale his favorite film, and it's clear why. The Japanese dystopian action film is about a group of teenagers who are forced by their government to fight each other until there's just one standing. Its over-the-top violence, political satire, and extreme circumstances have elevated it to a cult classic.
7. Run Lola Run
Run Lola Run is a German film that became an instant classic thanks to its killer techno soundtrack, frantic energy, and super 90s aesthetic. The film sees a woman racing through three alternate timelines trying to save her criminal boyfriend from disaster.
8. Wild Tales
Damián Szifron's Spanish-Argentinian satirical dark comedy explores what ordinary people are capable of when pushed to the brink of injustice, frustration, and betrayal. It's made up of several 20-minute stories, each one as compelling as the other, making it one of the best multi-story features ever made.
MiamiFilmFestival on Wikimedia
9. Amélie
Amélie is known for its whimsicality, enchanting cinematography, and French charm. It's about a young woman who overcomes her traumatic childhood by secretly orchestrating the lives of others to bring them joy.
10. The Handmaiden
In The Handmaiden, a Korean con-woman poses as a maid to seduce a wealthy heiress and steal her fortune in 1930s Japanese-occupied Korea. It's full of steamy, enthralling romance, double crosses, and betrayal.
Marie Claire Korea on Wikimedia
11. Persepolis
Persepolis is a coming-of-age story set in Iran during and after the Islamic Revolution. It makes a complex historical issue relatable and deeply personal, and its unique animation style presents it in a visually striking way.
12. The Intouchables
The Intouchables got an American remake starring Brian Cranston and Kevin Hart, but nothing can beat the original French masterpiece about an unexpected friendship that forms between a paralyzed, wealthy aristocrat and the ex-con he hires to take care of him.
Michaël Bemelmans on Wikimedia
13. Life Is Beautiful
If you haven't already seen Roberto Benigni's Oscar-winning WWII comedy-drama, run and watch it now. Don't forget the tissues: this is one of those rare films that will make you shed tears of both laughter and sadness.
14. Like Water for Chocolate
This Mexican romance tells the tale of forbidden love about a woman who's forbidden by family tradition to marry the man she loves. She pours all her feelings and stifled emotions into her cooking. It's full of all the steamy romantic moments we live for.
Festival Internacional de Cine en Guadalajara on Wikimedia
15. The Assassin
The Assassin is a Chinese action film set in the ninth century about a general's kidnapped daughter who is trained to be a ruthless assassin. It's praised for its cinematography, exceptional acting, immersive narrative, and nuanced feminist plot line.
16. Munyurangabo
Munyurangabo is the story of two Rwandan teenagers who are told they can't be friends because one's a Hutu and the other is a Tutsi. The film is unique because of its minimalist approach, unprofessional acting, and improvised lines, which give it an achingly authentic appeal.
maxime niyomwungeri on Unsplash
17. The Square
Danish filmmaker Ruben Östlund's The Square is about an art curator who experiences an existential crisis. The film is a satire that exposes absurdities in the art world. It's thought-provoking, visually striking, memorable, and unique.
Frankie Fouganthin on Wikimedia
18. Wings of Desire
Wings of Desire is a beautiful and poetic film about an angel who watches over divided Berlin, longing for life, love, and mortality. It's full of strong acting and thought-provoking themes that remind you of the importance of love and humanity.
19. Monsieur Lazhar
Monsieur Lazhar is a French-Canadian film about an Algerian immigrant who becomes a substitute teacher for a class who are grieving their previous teacher, who died by suicide, helping them heal while dealing with his tragic past. The story is powerful yet subtle, and the film is full of incredible acting.
20. Oldboy
Park Chan-wook's Oldboy is a Korean film about a man who wakes up in a prison cell and stays there for 15 years without an explanation. Upon his release, he unravels the reason for his captivity and seeks revenge. It's highly stylized, full of yummy plot twists, and awesome fight scenes.
