Ten Great Foreign Films

For years, other countries have led the way in filmmaking. During a time when kissing wasn't even allowed on American screens, European countries were making films like I Am Curious (Yellow) and Ecstasy. In a modern period of so-called "American Horror" filmmaking, the asians are making some of the scariest films ever dreamt up. Yes, it seems that foreign filmmakers are always a step ahead of American filmmakers. Here is a showcase of some of the best foreign films made. *Oh, and production note: I didn't have alot of the codes to do the accent marks on these foreign titles, so they might not be the exact spelling. Sorry guys!*

#10 Le Souffle a Coeur (A Murmur of the Heart)
Country of Origin: France
Plot: After a 14 year-old boy is found to have a heart murmur, he and his mother go to live in a sanatorium in bourgeios France. He and his mother grow closer as he comes into age, and he begins to experience his first feelings of love, loss, and lust.
Tres Bien! This is an especially odd coming-of-age story. It was made in the 70's when everything was that Free Love stuff and y'know, anything goes. There's some pretty racy stuff going on here (i.e. underage sexual situations, incest, and Ginger nudity) but if you can look past all of that, it's an amazingly emotional story. Watch a clip here!

#9 Lola Rennt (Run Lola Run)
Country of Origin: Germany
Plot: Lola is an ordinary young woman put into extraordinary circumstances. In order to save her boyfriend Manni's life, she must find a way to retrieve 100,000 markes (dollars) in 20 minutes.
Spannend! Told in non-linear story lines, this film is an action-packed nail-biter that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It is told with three alternate results that all somehow connect, but who all end differently. This film is perfect for the movie-goer who wants a little something different out of their action films.

#8 Det sjunde inseglet (The Seventh Seal)
Country of Origin: Sweden
Plot: What would you do in order to beat Death? Knight Antonius Block is willing to play the ethereal master of fate in chess in order to buy himself some time to see his wife. During their game, all knight, death, and squire encounter several events that reveal to them that they have not lived a life wasted.
Klassiker! This is considered one of the best-made films in the history of cinema. I have to say, it is done quite nicely. This supernatural drama is a wonderful look at the value of life, and of a life well-lived. Also, Death looks really cool.

#7 Rashomon (In A Grove)
Country of Origin: Japan
Plot: Four people recount the rape of a young woman and the murder of her husband. All of the stories are contradictory of each other, leaving the viewer to be judge and jury.
Hentenko ken Imaimashii! This movie set the bar for both Japanese and American filmmakers. After Rashomon, all Asian filmmakers flocked to edgy movies and haven't looked back since. If you're a fan of Asian films, or if you're looking to get into them then this is the film for you.

#6 Haxan (The Witches)
Country of Origin: Sweden/Danish
Plot: A "true" study of witchcraft through the ages, this film is based on the Malleus Maleficarum, or "Hammer of the Witches"-- a manual on how to deal with sorceresses that was publish during the Inquisition.
Bisarr! This Scandinavian film was actually banned in the U.S. because of "graphic depictions of witchcraft, sexuality, and nudity." The silent film was supposed to be a propaganda film warning the public against the lure of evil-- kind of like the American film Reefer Madness.

#5 Y tu Mama Tambien (And Your Mother Too)
Country of Origin: Mexico
Plot: Set against the political turmoil of Mexican government, two young men find themselves on a road trip across their native country.
Un pelicula muy atractiva! Sexy, thought-provoking, funny, and beautifully shot. What more could a viewer ask for?

#4 Nosferatu: Eins Symphonie des Grauens (Nosferatu: A Symphony of Terror)
Country of Origin: Germany
Plot: Evil has risen out of the grave, and it's name is nosferatu. The vampire Orlok has set his sights on a young woman named Lucy and it's up to a few brave men to stop the demon.
Du kannst mich mal, Twilight! Before there was Edward, before there was Satanico, before Gary Oldman as Dracula, there was Count Orlok. Nosferatu is the preemptive vampire film-- the creme de la creme, the king of vampire movies. Frightening even to this day, Max Schreck's eerie performance stands the test of time by continuing to haunt audiences around the world.

#3 Irreversible
Country of Origin: France
Plot: Told in a completely backward timeline, two friends go on a quest to find the man called le Tenia (literally, The Tapeworm) in a effort to seek revenge for the girl he raped earlier that night.
Entier! This film is not one for the weak of heart, nor for the average film-goer. This film was called "The Most Walked Out Movie At Cannes"-- but not because of bad filmmaking, but because of the realism of it's content. Besides being wonderfully shot using intense colors and camera work, this film treats its viewers as if they are just part of the experience. The most hard-hitting part of the film is the rape of the girl Alex (played by Monica Bellucci.) The scene itself depicts is a nine-minute, one-shot, uncut, gut-wrenching, realistic portrayal of a rape. Several time-tested critics had to leave the theatre in shock and emotion at the scene, proclaiming it to be "too real." My friends, if you think you know torture, gore, or intensity, think again-- this film will almost certainly set you aback.

#2 Ladri di biciclette (The Bicycle Thief)
Country of Origin: Italy
Plot: In a beautifully-spun tale of poverty and the desperation it instills in people, a young couple must do what they can to survive-- even if this means selling wedding sheets and stealing bicycles.
Classico! Bicycle Thief is often cited as many filmmaker's most inspiring film. It certainly a beautiful tale of the human condition. The beautiful Italian language also ties this film together, making almost like a spoken-word opera.

#1 A Bout de Souffle (Breathless)
Country of Origin: France
Plot: Michel is a punk. But just not any kind of punk. A charming punk. Using this charm, he manages to trick his American girlfriend Patricia into hiding him from the police. In this awkward reunion, the two reconnect in a way that they never had before.
Jolie chose! This is such a wonderfully-film. Director Jean-Luc Godard made beautiful use of jump cuts and other cinematic devises. Jean Seberg is a wonderful leading lady, peppering the film with moments of innocence, ignorance, and playfulness. In contrast to her is Jean-Paul Belmondo as the conniving Michel. They play off of each other fantastically-- chemistry is abundant on-screen. This film is a gorgeous telling of love and the lies it leads us to. A perfect comedy/romance/crime-drama for any generation!