By Far too often people appear to be put off by the idea of watching a film in a foreign language. The thought of having to focus on subtitles for the entirety of a viewing puts them on edge – but they’re really missing out on some truly underrated gems with this stance.
With Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite winning the Academy Award for Best Picture last year (see more of this later), foreign language films are growing more and more in popularity. It really is the perfect time to try something different and tackle some of these adventures into different cultures – exploring alternative outlooks on storytelling that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
We’ll be visiting four different countries in this list, travelling to Argentina, France, Brazil and South Korea (twice) as we take a look at five foreign language films to help you get started on your journey into the wide world of cinema.
5) The Secret in Their Eyes
We kick off our journey around the world in Argentina, with The Secret in Their Eyes – a Spanish-language thriller with a nonlinear narrative which follows the investigation of a rape and murder case over a period spanning decades. Directed by Juan José Campanella, the film won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film for 2009 and was well lauded by critics and fans alike, also becoming the second highest-grossing film in Argentinian history.
As well as the murder case, the film also covers a buried romance between the two main characters in the movie (played by Ricardo Darín and Soledad Villamil). The characters revisit their past through the lens of a novel which Benjamin Espósito (Darín) is writing on the case and stumble upon mysterious secrets which had yet to be uncovered.
The Secret in Their Eyes received a less acclaimed American remake in 2015, but this original version of the revenge thriller is well-crafted, cleverly written and excellently combines suspense with romance to leave you second guessing with every next direction that the film takes you. This really is one to get you questioning what’s morally right or wrong with a climax that will leave you speechless.
4) La Haine
Jetting over to the world of French cinema next, we bring you La Haine – a 1995 independent black and white crime-drama centred around 24 hours in the lives of three young men living in a poor Parisian neighbourhood. The film focuses heavily on police brutality, taking inspiration from real-life events as the youths find a gun and seek revenge on law enforcement after a spate of riots led to one of their friends being put into a coma.
The characters at the centre of the plot are Vinz (Vincent Cassel), Hubert (Hubert Koundé) and Saïd (Saïd Taghmaoui) – three young men from immigrant families who are faced with the problem of trouble seeming to follow them wherever they go. Taxi Driver impersonations, Russian Roulette stand-offs, and art gallery mishaps ensue, with the characters discussing their outlooks on a world which burns – both physically and politically – around them throughout.
The dialogue featured within the film is a particular highlight, as well as its gritty realism and its ability to make you feel like you are part of these characters’ lives, as if you too are following the same journey that they are. With innovative camera techniques and cuts in the storyline to take a brief glimpse at everything from breakdancing to disk jockeying within the less affluent Parisian communities, director Mathieu Kassovitz succeeds in bringing this alternative coming-of-age tale to life.
3) City of God
Next up we head over to Brazil with City of God – a 2002 crime film co-directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund set in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro. Similar to The Secret in Their Eyes, the film also spans over the course of a couple of decades as we grow up alongside a multitude of different characters with their lives surrounded by incessant crime.
As well as Rocket, the film’s photographer narrator, City of God also introduces us to characters such as Lil Ze (a drug lord), Benny (his partner in crime), Knockout Ned (a charismatic vigilante), journalists, drug addicts, thieves and arms dealers. The film also notably features a cast where most of the actors involved grew up in and around Rio de Janeiro – including several who were raised in the actual City of God slum itself.
Regarded not only as one of the greatest Brazilian films of all time, but also as one of the greatest films of the 21st century, the film was nominated for four Academy Awards (Best Editing, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director and Best Cinematography). It’s a perfect viewing experience for any fans of the gangster genre looking for something new to explore.
2) Oldboy
We’re heading over to Asia next for the first of our two entries from South Korea. Oldboy is a 2003 mystery film based around the concept of a man who has been kidnapped and imprisoned in a cell-like room for 15 years. One day he is released and seeks revenge on his captors – despite knowing very little about them – leading to some scenes of incredible violence and a web of conspiracy.
The protagonist Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik) sets off on a long path for justice as he discovers his wife has been murdered and he is now the prime suspect. Staying out of sight, a romance blossoms with a young sushi chef Mi-do (Kang Hye-jung) who helps him with his goals – but as is often the case Oh Dae-Su needs to quickly figure out who he can and cannot place his trust in – leading to a climax which is still talked about today as one of cinema’s most shocking twists.
Due to its brutality, the film might not be to everyone’s tastes, but as a revenge thriller Oldboy is unrivalled in its ability to shock its audience and keep them hooked as they try and guess its secret. Along with Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Lady Vengeance, the film is part of director Park Chan-wook’s Vengeance Trilogy, and these other two entries may be worth checking out if you’re looking to keep that thrill ride going.
1) Parasite
We’re staying in South Korea for our final stop on this cinematic world tour with the film that was the initial inspiration with coming up with this list – Parasite. The film transformed the way we look at film-making and is now regarded as one of the greatest films of the 21st century despite only being released last year.
It’s very difficult to describe Parasite without giving too much away. Bong Joon-ho’s 2019 release falls into many different categories, so varied in style that it’s amazing that they all come together and work so fluidly. The film is a black comedy, a stylish heist, a social satire, a thriller with borderline horror aspects, and a serious drama tackling poverty and the class system all rolled into one.
A poor family trick their way into the lives of a wealthy family by posing as highly qualified individuals, and each end up becoming employed to do various jobs around the house. Their moneymaking scheme works successfully for a while, but things become more difficult when someone from their past makes a surprise reappearance. It’s best not to reveal too much at this stage, but I would highly recommend checking it out if you haven’t already and think it’s the perfect place to start on your journey of world cinema.
Written by Josh Glover.
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