I had no trouble picking a Top Ten among the foreign-language films I saw this year. Not only are these ten movies ones that will stay with you long after you leave the theater, most are by celebrated international directors who are at the top of their game, and a couple will prove to be lasting classics. The first five films in particular encapsulate everything I love about Foreign Films: they challenge, surprise, and engross you.
I pride myself on the scope of my selections, too -- my list goes from one end of Europe (Norway) to the other (Italy)! I can't remember the last time an Italian film made the cut. The country's absence has been missed.
I admit that I am drawn to more films from these countries than say Asia, but that is because I have been burned too many times by over-rated Asian films: examples that come to mind like Yi, Yi ... (Taiwan), Uncle Boonmee ... (Thailand) and anything created by the ponderous Chinese-Malaysian director Ming-liang Tsai, have made me gun shy. (I will go see anything by directors Zhang Yimou and Wong Kar-Wai, on the other hand).
Links are to my reviews - (Director) Country:
1. ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA - (Nuri Bilge Ceylan) TURKEY
I haven't written about this 157-minute cinematic masterpiece in full, but it is enthralling! Great characters, great faces ... haunting.
I haven't written about this 157-minute cinematic masterpiece in full, but it is enthralling! Great characters, great faces ... haunting.
2. CAESAR MUST DIE - (the Taviani Brothers) ITALY
Another unexpected gem: Shakespeare performed by prisoners in a maximum security Roman prison...brilliant! (just now released in the US).
Another unexpected gem: Shakespeare performed by prisoners in a maximum security Roman prison...brilliant! (just now released in the US).
3. THE KID WITH A BIKE - (the Dardenne Brothers) BELGIUM A simple story that will tear you up inside.
4. THE TURIN HORSE - (Bela Tarr) HUNGARY
5. FAREWELL, MY QUEEN - (Benoit Jacquot) FRANCE
6. Rust and Bone - (Jacques Audiard) France
7. Amour - (Michael Haneke) Austria
It is shocking that this unrelentingly bleak film received a Best Picture Oscar nomination.
8. Elena - (Andrei Zvyagintsev) Russia
9. The Intouchables - (Olivier Nakache & Eric Toledano) France
10. Oslo, August 31st - (Joachim Trier) Norway
The one French film I deliberately excluded was Leos Carax's HOLY MOTORS. Too impenetrable to be enjoyed. I felt like I was missing too many of the cinematic references (and when that happens to the foreignfilmguy, you know they are obscure!).
