The 5 best foreign language films you’ve probably never heard of…
Our team are, unsurprisingly, TV and film fanatics. Forever discussing our favourites, the latest and greatest, and the nostalgic oldies. With a team as diverse as ours in nationalities and backgrounds, it’s an amazing way to discover new content outside of your go-to or what Netflix suggests! So we decided to share our team’s picks - let us know if you agree with our choices, or have others to offer on Twitter.
Here’s Tess’ pick of the 5 best foreign language films and you can find a complete list of Academy Award winning foreign language films here >
1. Black Cat, White Cat (1998)
Director: Emir Kusturica
Language: Romany, Serbian, Bulgarian
A train robbery, feuding gangsters, a brass band and a hoard of wild animals - what more could you want? Famous for his vivid and immersive films, Kusturica has crafted a great comedy and beautiful love story full of amazing shots of the Balkan countryside.
2. Micmacs (2009) Original title: Mic Macs à Tire-Larigot
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Language: French
Directed by the same man behind the foreign film staple, Amelie, Jean-Pierre Jeunet has pulled together a band of outsiders for an uplifting tale of near death experiences, retribution and friendship.
3. Pierrot le Fou (1965)
Director: Jean-Luc Godard
Language: French
Whenever I read Godard’s famous quote “all you need for a movie is a girl and a gun” I immediately think of this film. Two of the most prolific French new wave actors of their generation star together on the run from hitmen to the Mediterranean coast.
4. A Separation (2011) Original title: Jodaeiye Nader az Simin
Director: Asghar Farhadi
Language: Persian
The heartbreaking story of a failing marriage and an aging father, this film tugs on the heart-strings and painfully demonstrates how impossible choices can tear people apart.
5. Hiroshima Mon Amour (1959)
Director: Alain Resnais
Language: French, Japanese
Mixing French and Japanese cinema styles, this film is a testament to how much colour can exist in black and white. Following the story of a French actress sent to Japan for a role in an anti-war production, this film captures perfectly captures nostalgia for bygone days.
Do you have your own you’d add to the list? Tweet us @wegotpop and we’ll bring out another post of fan favourite foreign language films soon!
And here’s IMDb’s list of the 50 best