Foreign Films

I feel like a lot of people who primarily speak English tend to stick to films that are in English. If I had to guess, I imagine that only 5% of the films that I’ve seen are in a language other than English. It’s a shame because there are so many incredible films that are made in other languages. I know that it’s annoying to have to read subtitles, but, I just want to suggest some films that I think are worth watching.

I don’t know what it is but Danish people can just make incredible films. They have won multiple Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film, and I think they deserve it. I think it has something to do with their culture and the way they approach storytelling. A lot of these films have darkness and dry humour that brings out a sense of realism and authenticity. Here are some of my favorite Danish films:

• The Hunt
• The Celebration
• Another Round
• Pusher and its sequels Pusher II and Pusher III
• Flickering Lights
• Riders of Justice

These films evoke a wide range of emotions and are absolutely worth watching. They cover everything from The Hunt, about a man falsely accused of being a pedophile, to The Celebration, where a family gathering slowly exposes dark secrets from the past. Then there is Another Round, where a group of friends experiment with drinking alcohol to see if it can improve their lives. Each film is completely different, but they all feel unique, grounded, and deeply human.

The same can be said about Korean films. Again, similar to Danish films, they have a unique style and approach to storytelling. Korean films often explore complex themes and emotions, and they are known for their intense and gripping narratives. Here are some of my favorite Korean films:

• Oldboy
• Parasite
• Memories of Murder
• The Handmaiden
• Burning
• Train to Busan
• I Saw the Devil
• The Wailing

I haven’t seen many films from these specific languages but I thought they would be great to include as well:

• Day of the Wacko
• Boys Don’t Cry
• City of God

These two films were actually shown to me in high school and remain as some of my favourite films I have ever seen.

• The Intouchables
• Life Is Beautiful

The point I’m trying to make is you could pick any of these films and I think you would be pleasantly surprised. I know that these films cover a wide range of genres and themes, but they all have one thing in common: they are incredibly well-made and worth your time. All I’ll say is shoutout to the Danes and Koreans for making some of the best films in the world.