6 Foreign Films You Should Watch Right Now
In a year that has prohibited social interaction, travel, and any sense of normalcy, movies are the perfect mental escape. Foreign films are my favorite because they remind me that despite different languages and cultures, the human experience is universal. It’s also the perfect opportunity to travel anywhere in the world, if only for a few hours.
If you’re looking for inspiration, here are 6 of the best foreign films I watched this year:
1. Chungking Express (1994) dir. Wong Kar Wai
Set in the Chungking Mansions of Hong Kong, Chungking Express is one of my favorite movies of all time. The film tells the tale of two lovesick police officers mourning their recent breakups. The two characters never meet, but they share one main connection: the Midnight Express food stand. Wong Kar Wai masterfully uses narrative symmetry to intertwine the two stories. This is my favorite of WKW’s films because he just gets it. The desperation of hoping you’ll hear from your ex. The intimacy of talking to someone over a restaurant countertop while they make your food. Dreams that seem out of reach. The language of longing is universal, and Wong Kar Wai is fluent.
2. Tampopo (1985) dir. Juzo Itami
Tampopo follows its eponymous character and her ragtag team of helpers as she becomes a ramen master. Along the way, we’re presented with a lot of fun vignettes (my personal favorite involving an old lady stirring up trouble at a grocery store). The film is truly a love story to food and how intricately woven it is into the fabric of Japanese culture. Do yourself a favor and have the number of a local ramen restaurant on speed dial. You’ll need it after you’re done watching.
3. The Distance Between the Sky and Us (Η Απόσταση Ανάμεσα Στον Ουρανό Κι Εμάς) (2019) dir. Vasilios Kekatos
One boy needs 22.50 € to get to Athens, and the other is just filling up his motorcycle’s tank. In exchange for the money he needs, the stranded boy offers the motorcyclist the distance between them and the sky. What follows is a beautiful reminder of the joy of connecting with strangers. I watched it as part of the virtual San Francisco Greek Film Festival, and I loved it so much that I immediately watched it again. It’s hard to find online, but keep an eye out for it in virtual film festivals. The Distance Between the Sky and Us won both the Short Film Palm d’Or and the Short Film Queer Palm at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, and for good reason.
4. Landscape in the Mist (Τοπίο Στην Ομίχλη) (1988) dir. Theo Angelopoulos
Landscape in the Mist could be classified as a road movie, but the road leads to nowhere. It’s a modern-day Odyssey about two young children, Voula and Alexandros, embarking on a journey to find their long-lost father. It’s a grim (but stunning) coming of age that cements director Theo Angelopoulos’ status as one of the greatest Greek directors. Landscape was my first foray into his work, and I’m hooked.
5. And Then We Danced (2020) dir. Levan Akin
Merab is a young Georgian dancer who yearns for the ultimate honor, a spot in the National Georgian Ensemble. When a coveted position opens up, Merab realizes he feels more than envy for Irakli, his biggest competition. There are parallels to Call Me By Your Name, but And Then We Danced is a masterpiece in its own right. An act of defiance and love rolled into one. You can read my full review here.
6. Purple Noon (1960) dir. René Clément
Alain Delon. Need I say more? Based on the novel “The Talented Mr. Ripley” by Patricia Highsmith, Purple Noon is a visually sumptuous feast about jealousy, murder, and a stolen identity. It’s an oddly calming movie for such a dark and twisted story. This is the perfect film to watch if you want to pretend you’re in Italy on a beautiful summer day (or with the equally beautiful Alain Delon).
