As lovers of film we watch a lot movies, but most of our “intake” has been produced in the U.S. We might occasionaly dip into cinema from other countries (something I really enjoy), but not see enough of it. This week’s question is about it:
What are your blindspots when it comes to international cinema?
Personally I feel I don’t watch enough French and Scandinavian movies. I’ve seen some awesome ones, but feel I just scratched the surface. So if you have any suggestion, I’m all ears!
I try to watch much foreign cinema but unfortunately most movie theaters don’t play foreign flicks. I don’t believe I’ve seen enough films from the German expressionist age, though I’ve really gotten into Fritz Lang’s work.
Yeah, I should watch more of his work…
One of my favorite directors is Czechoslovakian and that got me interested in cinema from there. I tend to watch a lot of foreign – Finland has some great stuff coming out of it…I really like Asian cinema, not just J-horror but from all around. I kind of like it all! 🙂
I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything from Czechoslovakia…what’s worth watching from there?
I love Korean cinem, but China and Japan make good ones too.
My very favorite is Jan Svankmajer. He does a lot of stop motion animation and has done a ton of shorts but my favorite full length of his is his version of Alice in Wonderland. Very trippy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyep0BE4Di0
That seems to be the full movie on Youtube. It’s mostly without dialogue.
I also enjoy Jiri Barta. He’s another Czech that utilizes stop animation.
Yes, Korean cinema is fabulous! China and Japan are also good but I do have a special place in my heart for Korean cinema. 🙂
Some of the greatest films ever made have come from Czechoslovakia.
Here are a few essential titles:
Milos Forman: Loves of a Blonde
Ivan Passer: Intimate Lighting
Jiri Menzel: Closely Watched Trains
Vera Chytilova: Daisies
Frantisek Vlacil: Marketa Lazarova
Thanks for those!
Right now, some films by Kenji Mizoguchi that I’m going to watch this month as well as other Japanese films by Yasujiro Ozu, Hiroshi Inagaki, some Italian neo-realists, some German films, some Bergman. A whole bunch of stuff from the 1940s to the 1970s that is just endless.
Yeah, I still have tons of movies from that period to watch as well.
I’ve been lucky with my intake of foreign films living in Miami. Between the numerous film festivals and art-house movie theatres we get a lot from a lot of countries.
My main blind spot would be French Cinema. I have an unfortunate stereotype that all French films suffer from poor editing and glacial pacing. This is based on only a limited viewing of films that I know have thrown on all other French Films. It is most likely the reason why I haven;t watched “400 Blows” yet, even though I have owned the DVD now for at least five years, probably closer to ten.
That’s nice you are ablew to see a lot during festivals and in art house cinemas.
I did like 400 blows and there are quite a lot of good French action movies.
I watch quite a few foreign films but avoid french ones, so damn boring!
Troll Hunter was good 😀
You should try watching Intouchables or Sleepless Night, which I think would change your opinion about French cinema.
Still want to see Troll Hunter, but haven’t come around to it yet.
My biggest blind spot is Soviet films. Of course I’ve seen Tarkovsky, but nothing else.
Also, contemporary German cinema. There is an interesting movement happening right now that will be my next area of focus. I plan on starting that soon, once I’ve completed my exploration of the Czech New Wave.
I don’t think I’ve seen any Soviet films…
I think there is a mistaken belief that foreign cinema is made up of really bleak depressing films, but that’s just because other countries are very good at doing these kinds of films. So we see more of the sad ones because humour doesn’t translate as well as despair therefore less comedies. Well that’s my theory, maybe its time for foreign cinema to be promoted more in english speaking countries.
There are a lot of funny foreign movies. One of my favorites is My Sassy Girl from Korea, but also like films like Kung Fu Hustle…
Foreign movies should be promoted more!
My major blind spot is Indian films. I can’t recall seeing a single one, actually. I’m also well behind in many non-European countries, unfortunately.
Yeah, it is the biggest industry, but I also haven’t seen many, probably less than 5…
My blind spots for foreign movies are basically everything except Hong Kong movies. My longstanding love of Hong Kong cinema means that when I reach for a foreign film I almost always go there. I have seen a lot of Italian and Japanese movies too, but there’s always so many to discover. I’d probably say that I need to see the most French or Russian films, as I’ve only seen a handful of each.
You should try Korean cinema first then, you might enjoy it. If you need suggestions just let me know.
Recently watched ‘Caesar Must Die.’ Wonderful humanist film. Beginning to follow a lot from French cinema.
I have never heard of that movie, but looking at IMDB it seems like an original one.