Sorry it's been a while since my last post... it's been crazy busy. I will try to get back to my posting at least once a week.
I have SO much to comment on... Wall-E... Wanted... some AMAZING music I've discovered... today's release of the film soundtrack to "Mamma Mia"...
However, this post I'm sticking to sharing my obsession with FOREIGN movies.... in particular 2 recent DVD releases.
Both of these movies were Oscar nominees, and both are adaptations of autobiographical books.
The first is the very inspiring "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly."
In 1995 Jean-Dominique Bauby (editor for French Elle magazine) suffered a stroke and awoke from a coma completely paralyzed except for some movement in his head and left eye. Not able to speak, he and his therapist eventually come up with a way for him to communicate... for him to blink his left eye. He eventually decides to write his memoir with the help of a transcriber. She will read the letters of the alphabet and he blinks when she says the correct one.
In 1995 Jean-Dominique Bauby (editor for French Elle magazine) suffered a stroke and awoke from a coma completely paralyzed except for some movement in his head and left eye. Not able to speak, he and his therapist eventually come up with a way for him to communicate... for him to blink his left eye. He eventually decides to write his memoir with the help of a transcriber. She will read the letters of the alphabet and he blinks when she says the correct one.
The film is truly a piece of art. It starts out showing life from his perspective from the moment he opens his eye from a coma. The cinematography eventually opens up as he allows his mind to be free and find a passion for life. This is a beautiful film and is based on his very moving memoir.
Here's the trailer...
The other film is also autobiographical but is based on a graphic novel. It is the stunning PERSEPOLIS.
This movie is the coming of age story of Marjane Satrapi a very outspoken girl in Iran during the Islamic revolution. I LOVED this movie!! This is true art animation. Not some cheap comedy relying on celebrity voices.
This movie is the coming of age story of Marjane Satrapi a very outspoken girl in Iran during the Islamic revolution. I LOVED this movie!! This is true art animation. Not some cheap comedy relying on celebrity voices.
Check out both of these wonderful films... and while I'm on the subject...
Here is my list of favorite FOREIGN FILMS
Amelie
Triplets of Bellville
Y Tu Mama Tambien
A Very Long Engagement
The Motorcycle Diaries
Pan's Labyrinth
All About My Mother
Bad Education
City Of God
La Vie En Rose
Ma Vie En Rose (very different from La Vie!)
8 Women
The Science of Sleep (part French, part Spanish, part English)
What are yours?
7 comments:
I LOVE Pan's Labyrinth!!!!
I love everything on your list. I would also add the original "Shall We Dance", "Delicatessen", "Salut, Victor", and "Borstal Boy". Is "Billy Elliott" foreign? It was set in Ireland, right? But I'm not sure about the production company. Oh, and "The Full Monty". I think that film was so much better than the musical it spawned. Not to criticize the musical, just that the film was much better.
I was going to put "Shall We Dance" on the list. Why oh why did they let J. Lo get her American hands on it??!!!
Love Borstal Boy.... and didn't include Billy and Monty because they were British and that would have made the list gigantafilmatic. Although I had to watch Monty with subtitles the first time!!
Amelie
Ponette
Nowhere in Africa
Run Lola Run
Heaven
City of God
Pan's Labyrinth
Triplets of Bellville
Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
A Very Long Engagement
The Motorcycle Diaries
The Devil's Backbone
The Barbarian Invasions
Lagaan
Cache
Just a Question of Love
Guys and Balls
Ameros Perros
Y Tu Mama, Tambian
Love Me If You Dare
Just some fo my favorites.
ooh... love "Barbarian Invasions!!! " Wonderful film.... also forgot about "Guys and Balls"... cute movie.
Cengiz, good call on Barbarian Invasions... I love that movie. I was also just reminded of Monsoon Wedding, a terrific film that is on Sundance right now. If we're including english language foreign films, The Sum of Us is one of my favorites.
I can't believe I totally forgot about The Chorus and Talk to Her and La CAge Aux Folles. See what happneds when you do lists at work. LOL
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