International Favourites
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- DirectorMarleen GorrisStarsWilleke van AmmelrooyJan DecleirVeerle van OverloopA Dutch matron establishes and, for several generations, oversees a close-knit, matriarchal community where feminism and liberalism thrive.A lyrical celebration of strong women and an unconventional self-made family of villagers in post WWII Holland. An absolute rejoicing in body and spirit, told with the rhythm of the seasons. Touching and authentically quirky. Caution: two scenes of sexual violence, but both victims survive and triumph.
- DirectorJûzô ItamiStarsKen WatanabeTsutomu YamazakiNobuko MiyamotoA truck driver stops at a small family-run noodle shop and decides to help its fledgling business. The story is intertwined with various vignettes about the relationship of love and food.Zesty, quirky, and kinky, this comedy interweaves several stories about food and passion. The main story is a Japanese trucker "cowboy" who coaches a downtrodden housewife along her quest to transform her noodle shop. May be a little bizarre for some, but I found it an absolute treat!
- DirectorRoberto BenigniStarsRoberto BenigniNicoletta BraschiGiorgio CantariniWhen an open-minded Jewish waiter and his son become victims of the Holocaust, he uses a perfect mixture of will, humor and imagination to protect his son from the dangers around their camp.A life affirming fairy tale about the holocaust. Italian.
- DirectorVittorio De SicaStarsDominique SandaLino CapolicchioHelmut BergerThe story of the Finzi-Continis, a noble family of Ferrara, during the Jewish persecution in Italy's 1930s.Poignant Italian story of a glamorous Jewish family shortly before the holocaust. Captures the flush of teenage passion and the fickle beauty of youth.
- DirectorsClaude NuridsanyMarie PérennouStarsKristin Scott ThomasJacques PerrinA documentary on insect life in meadows and ponds.A mesmerisingly beautiful nature documentary about insects. With hardly any narration, nature tells its own story. This cinematographic journey took years to film. Inspiring! And features one of the most blushing-ly awesome operatic sex scenes ever.
- DirectorGeorge CukorStarsCary GrantKatharine HepburnJames StewartAfter a rich woman's ex-husband and a tabloid-type reporter turn up just before her planned remarriage, she begins to learn the truth about herself.Holywood golden age classic, featuring Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn at their bantering best. Jimmy Stewart also plays a charming curmudgeon critical of America's wealthy. Like the rest of us Holywood lovers, whatever his moral and intellectual criticisms, he becomes mesmerised by the glamour. A sweet and thought-provoking story full of theatrical verve.
- DirectorHoward HawksStarsCary GrantRosalind RussellRalph BellamyWhen a newspaper editor's ace reporter ex-wife is about to quit her job and remarry, he buys himself time to win her back by promising her an exclusive interview with a death row convict.It is a comic and fast paced classic. Dynamic banter, stunning cinematography, and all the breathless wit and glamour of Holywood's golden age. Cary Grant dazzles opposite the smart and plucky Rosalind Russell in this newsroom buzz about two reporters.
- DirectorWilliam WylerStarsMyrna LoyDana AndrewsFredric MarchThree World War II veterans, two of them traumatized or disabled, return home to the American Midwest to discover that they and their families have been irreparably changed.An ultimately upbeat but poignant love story in post WWII America. Features one of the best stolen kisses in Holywood!
- DirectorXiaogang FengStarsDaoming ChenChen LiYi LuThe epic story of a family separated as a result of the Great Tangshan Earthquake of 1976.One of the saddest movies ever, gutting, heart-wrenching, but ultimately a celebration of life. Chinese.
- DirectorPaul HaggisStarsDon CheadleSandra BullockThandiwe NewtonRacial tensions collide in a collection of intertwined stories involving residents of Los Angeles.Beautifully written with a flawless ensemble cast, Crash is a series of intertwined stories about race relations in LA. One of the smartest scripts I've seen in years, and well-deserving of several Oscars including Best Original Screenplay, and of course Best Picture.
- DirectorHo-Cheung PangStarsMiriam YeungShawn YueSingh Hartihan BittoHong Kong health authorities have implemented a law that bans indoor smoking. As office smokers now take their cigarette breaks outside, a mild-mannered advertising executive meets a cosmetics salesgirl as an awkward flirtation ensues.Fun hong kong rom-com. Say that five times fast.
- DirectorJan SverákStarsZdenek SverákAndrey KhalimonLibuse SafránkováA confirmed bachelor is in for the surprise of his life when a get-rich-quick scheme backfires and leaves him with a pint-sized new roommate.Life affirming Czech film about a friendship between a disconnected old man and a little boy.
- DirectorsJonathan DaytonValerie FarisStarsSteve CarellToni ColletteGreg KinnearA family determined to get their young daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant take a cross-country trip in their VW bus.Americana with heart. All that and a bag of chips.
- DirectorRob SitchStarsMichael CatonAnne TenneyStephen CurryA working-class family from Melbourne, Australia fights city hall after being told they must vacate their beloved family home to allow for infrastructural expansion.Hilarious Aussie comedy really "takes the piss" out of the overriding positivity of middle class Australian values. Brilliant. If you see one Australian comedy, make it this one.
- DirectorMarc GracieStarsOwen LubyStephen O'ConnorNathan PhillipsBest friends Jeffrey and Philip embark on a ridiculous scheme to save their favorite TV soap, "Sons of Surf." In HD.Two loveable Aussie blokes in a good natured comedy. Even more funny than it is stupid. And yes, it is a little bit stupid.
- CreatorsJames BobinJemaine ClementBret McKenzieStarsJemaine ClementBret McKenzieRhys DarbyBret and Jemaine are Flight of the Conchords, a folk-rock band from New Zealand living in New York City in search of stardom.Hilarious. New Zealand classic.
- DirectorTaika WaititiStarsLoren TaylorJemaine ClementCraig HallThe tale of two socially-awkward misfits and the strange ways they try to find love: through revenge on high-school bullies, burgers, and video games.Another sample of the most offbeat and engaging comedy New Zealand has to offer.
- DirectorPaul MurphyStarsRhys DarbyFaye SmytheAlvin MaharajDoug's girlfriend leaves him and he falls apart. He finds a hurt "not duck" on the roof and ends looking after it. He meets cute, single bird specialist Holly at the zoo.It may be a cheesy Rom Com, but this New Zealand film sparkles with character development and great acting.
- DirectorIngmar BergmanStarsVictor SjöströmBibi AnderssonIngrid ThulinAfter living a life marked by coldness, an aging professor is forced to confront the emptiness of his existence.Classic Swedish film may be a touch dour but has heart. Great to watch on a cold winter night, sip tea and poetically savour regrets.
- DirectorsJoel CoenEthan CoenStarsJeff BridgesJohn GoodmanJulianne MooreJeff "The Dude" Lebowski, mistaken for a millionaire of the same name, seeks restitution for his ruined rug and enlists his bowling buddies to help get it.Hilarious cult classic from the Coen brothers. So many quirky characters! a USA treasure.
- DirectorRichard LinklaterStarsEthan HawkeJulie DelpyAndrea EckertA young man and woman meet on a train in Europe, and wind up spending one evening together in Vienna. Unfortunately, both know that this will probably be their only night together.The ultimate backpacker movie of two young travellers sharing one night of adventure together. Recalls E.M. Foster's quote "only connect."
- DirectorJuan José CampanellaStarsRicardo DarínSoledad VillamilPablo RagoA retired legal counselor writes a novel hoping to find closure for one of his past unresolved homicide cases, and for his unreciprocated love with his superior--both of which still haunt him decades later.A slow burning suspense, surprisingly romantic at its core, this is a stark contrast to the USA straight-up-thriller of the same name, re-made several years later. While I enjoyed both films, the Argentinian film is much more deeply romantic and slowly thoughtful while the American film I found fast, engaging, but focused on blame and revenge rather than the quiet and personal evolution of the Argentinian film, which centers around "the secret in their eyes" of human connection, love, undying passion. Different pacing, different characters, different story.
- DirectorsMatthias SchweighöferTorsten KünstlerStarsSascha AlexanderAriane PochonMartin NeuhausPaul, an employee at a professional separation agency that helps couples break up amicably, tries to tackle the problems that come with Toto, the boyfriend of a customer, while he has his own thinking to do about love and relationships.A sweet silly German rom com, enjoyable and has heart.
- DirectorsMatthias SchweighöferTorsten KünstlerStarsMatthias SchweighöferMavie HörbigerThomas KretschmannWhat a Man: The young teacher Alex is abandoned by his girlfriend Caroline and therefore begins a journey in search of himself. But how he overcomes the pitfalls out there for a modern man? And what is it that makes a man a man?Like Schlussmacher, A delightful German rom com, enjoyable and has heart-- and makes me curious about more German rom coms! :)
