Quite a bit has been written regarding the supposed death of
the foreign language film market. The reasoning behind this is very complex,
with those singing dirges for foreign film pointing out everything from the
American audience doesn’t like to read subtitles, to countries that were once
movie-rich like France and Italy, have stopped rolling camera because generous
government subsidies have dried up leaving many projects unfunded.
Since it is true that foreign language films are having a
harder time getting on screens in the United States, I am really excited that
Cinema Center is premiering the Swedish black comedy “Force Majeure,” starting
today.
As a film community, we must come out and support movies
from all over the globe, it not only makes us more film literate, but also
allows for us to see stories and issues from wholly new perspectives.
In honor of tonight’s opening of “Force Majeure,” I have put
together a short list of fairly recent foreign language films that everyone
should check out on Netflix, where anyone can see that foreign film is very
much alive and well:
Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001)
This Mexican film about two young men who go on a road trip
with an older woman helped usher in a renaissance of Latin American filmmakers,
as well as explode the careers of director Alfonso Cuaron, and star Gael Garcia
Bernal.
City of God (2002)
Growing up as a quiet, creative individual has the potential
to make anyone an outsider, but in this film, it can be dangerous. Rocket is an
aspiring photographer in one of Rio de Janeiro’s most dangerous slums and is surprised
as anyone when he discovers his camera is both a salvation from the drug lords,
and his possible escape from poverty.
Fallen Angels (1995)/ Days of Being Wild (1990)
Three words: Wong Kar Wai. In 2001, he directed one of the
greatest films of all time – “In the Mood for Love.” These earlier films are
both beautiful, and extremely original, in their own right, and show off a talent
that was just on the cusp of his greatest masterpiece.
“ Force Majeure” opens January 9th at 6:30pm.
Jonah Crismore is Cinema Center’s Executive Director and can't think of any witty quips.
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