All tagged foreign film

BONUS EPISODE - A Hero

This week, we watch the Grand Prix winner at this years Cannes Film Festival, which is equivalent to second place (first place being last weeks movie, Titane). The writer/director who gave us the dramatic masterpiece A Separation back in 2011 is bound to get the same kind of recognition yet again for this new film. A Hero (2021), directed by Asghar Farhadi.

Episode 55 - The Lives of Others

This week, we watch the Oscar winning drama about Stasi spies in the 80’s. Although this film is a work of fiction, it takes place during a real historical time period, and the fear of the government portrayed by each character was very real for the people of East Germany at the time. The Lives of Others (2006), directed by Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck

BONUS EPISODE - Mandibles

This week, we watch a story about two idiots who find a giant fly in the back of a stolen car. Part Bill and Ted, part Dumb and Dumber, part Beavis and Butthead….insert any dumb pair of guys in comedy history… this film does enough to stand out from its influences. At just over an hour long, this film will make you laugh and wish for more once the credits roll. Mandibles (2020), directed by Quentin Dupieux .

BONUS EPISODE - Quo Vadis, Aida?

This week, we watch the Bosnian film that has been nominated for the the Best International Film at the Academy Awards. Documenting the horrible, historically accurate events occurring during the Bosnian war in 1995 through the eyes of a fictional UN Translator, this films unrelenting tone will likely ruin your day. You will feel stressed, you will feel sad, and you will be wondering how the Oscars passed up an acting nomination for Jasna Djuricic. Quo Vadis, Aira? (2020), written and directed by Jasmila Zbanic.

BONUS EPISODE - Minari

This week, we watch the Best Foreign Language Film winner at the Golden Globes, and nominee of 6 Oscars, including Best Picture. This film masterfully jumps between hilarious moments and heavy drama like no other movie this year. The actor who plays the grandmother Soonja (Yuh-Hung Youn) should be holding an acting Oscar in a few weeks. Minari (2020), directed by Lee Isaac Chung.

BONUS EPISODE - Andhadhun

This week, we start a new format - every other week, we’ll be watching a more recent addition to the top 250 movies of all time list, and we’ll try to make them as easily stream-able for everyone as possible (stuck inside, together!). This week’s movie is currently 185 on the top 250 list, and is streaming on Netflix. If you’re looking for something fun to watch in this new world we live in, strongly consider this comedy/mystery film from India. Andhadhun (2018), directed Sriram Raghavan.

BONUS EPISODE - Parasite

This week, we watch the film that just won Best Picture at the Oscar’s (as well as Best Director, Best Writing, and best Foreign Picture). It is also currently very high on the IMDB top 250 list. We couldn’t recommend this movie enough, and we highly recommend watching it without watching a trailer or reading about it. Parasite (2019), directed by Bong Joon-ho.

Episode 98 - For a Few Dollars More

This week, we watch the second installment in the Man-With-No-Name Trilogy (sandwiched between A Fist Full of Dollars and The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly). This film helped Clint Eastwood further catapult himself into stardom, launch a fully fledged international film industry in Italy, and push the boundary of allowable violence in film a few years ahead all across the world, as evidence by it being X rated even with multiple scenes cut and edited down. For a Few Dollars More (1965), directed by Sergio Leone.

Episode 99 - Rashomon

This week, we watch the film that broke Japanese cinema onto the worlds stage. Revolutionary for its time, its non-linear story telling has influenced not only film, but criminal psychology as well, as lawyers and academics alike have referenced the theories presented here for the past 70 years. Rashomon (1950), directed by Akira Kurosawa.

Episode 103 - A Separation

This week, we watch the highest grossing Iranian film ever, and also the first Iranian film to be awarded with an Oscar for the best foreign picture of the year. Realistic tension is the mood sought here, and the actors do an outstanding job realizing this, making for an uncomfortable yet engaging watch throughout. A Separation (2011), directed by Asghar Farhadi.

BONUS EPISODE - Dangal

This week, we watch the highest grossing Indian film ever made. Currently sitting in the top 100 movies of all time, we keep the Aamir Khan train going (star of 3 Idiots and Lagaan) with this epic true-ish story of a father who teaches wrestling to his daughters, and how they made history for women in India. Dangal (2016), directed by Nitesh Tiwari.