World cinema
World cinema is a term in film theory
in the United States that refers to films
made outside of the American motion
picture industry, particularly those in
opposition to the aesthetics and values
of commercial American cinema.[1]
The Third Cinema of Latin America
and various national cinemas are
commonly identified as part of world
cinema. The term has been criticized Most productive cinemas around the world based on IMDb (as of
2009). Over 10,000 titles (green), over 5,000 (yellow), over 1,000
for Americentrism and for ignoring
(blue)
the diversity of different cinematic
traditions around the world.[1]
Types
World cinema has an unofficial implication of films with "artistic value" as opposed to "Hollywood
commercialism." Foreign language films are often grouped with "art house films" and other independent
films in DVD stores, cinema listings etc. Unless dubbed into one's native language, foreign language
films played in English-speaking regions usually have English subtitles. Few films of this kind receive
more than a limited release and many are never played in major cinemas. As such the marketing,
popularity and gross takings for these films are usually markedly less than for typical Hollywood
blockbusters. The combination of subtitles and minimal exposure adds to the notion that "World Cinema"
has an inferred artistic prestige or intelligence, which may discourage less sophisticated viewers.
Additionally, differences in cultural style and tone between foreign and domestic films affects attendance
at cinemas and DVD sales.[2]
Foreign language films can be commercial, low brow or B-movies. Furthermore, foreign language films
can cross cultural boundaries, particularly when the visual spectacle and style is sufficient to overcome
people's misgivings. Films of this type became more common in the early 2000s, as Crouching Tiger,
Hidden Dragon, Amélie, Brotherhood of the Wolf, Y Tu Mama Tambien and Talk to Her enjoyed great
successes in United States cinemas and home video sales. The first foreign and foreign language film to
top the North American box office was Hero in August 2004.[3] "The rule for foreign-language films is
that if you've done $5 million or better (in United States cinemas), you've had a very nice success; if you
do $10 (million) or better (in United States cinemas), you're in blockbuster category," Warner
Independent Pictures ex-president Mark Gill said in 2009.[4]
On the other hand, English-dubbed foreign films rarely did well in United States box office (with the
exception of anime films). The 1982 United States theatrical release of Wolfgang Petersen's Das Boot
was the last major release to go out in both original and English-dubbed versions, and the film's original
version actually grossed much higher than the English-dubbed version.[5][6] Later on, English-dubbed
versions of international hits like Un indien dans la ville, Godzilla 2000, Anatomy, Pinocchio and High
Tension flopped at United States box office.[7][8][9][10] When Miramax planned to release the English-
dubbed versions of Shaolin Soccer and Hero in the United States cinemas, their English-dubbed versions
scored badly in test screenings in the United States, so Miramax finally released the films in United States
cinemas with their original language.[10][11]
Pioneering film-making on camera phones
After the launching of high pixel camera phones, these are being widely used for
filmmaking. The early films, made with camera phones are: New Love Meetings,
a documentary film shot on Nokia N90, directed by Barbara Seghezzi and
Marcello Mencarini in 2005 from Italy; Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me It Would
Become This Bad in Afghanistan, a docufiction film shot on Samsung, directed by
Cyrus Frisch in 2007 from Netherlands; SMS Sugar Man, a narrative film shot on
Sony Ericsson W900i, directed by Aryan Kaganof in 2008 from South Africa;
Veenavaadanam a documentary film shot on Nokia N70, directed by Sathish
Kalathil in 2008 from India; Jalachhayam a narrative film shot on Nokia N95,
directed by Sathish Kalathil in 2010 from India. These are among the first noted The Nokia N95
experimental works with the first generation camera phones, which paved the way mobile phone on
tripod which was
for other filmmakers across the globe.
used to shoot
Jalachhayam
Hooked Up, To Jennifer, Tangerine, 9 Rides, Unsane, High Flying Bird, Ghost,
mobile phone film
Pondicherry I WeirDo, Banger are some examples shot on iPhones.
See also
Art cinema
Film industry
Independent film
International co-production
List of cinema of the world
Transnational cinema
World Cinema Foundation
References
1. Nagib, Lúcia. "Towards a positive definition of world cinema." Remapping world cinema:
Identity, culture and politics in film (2006): 30-37.
2. Curran, Daniel. Foreign Films: More than 500 films on video cassette, pages v-vi. Evanston,
Illinois: CineBooks, 1989.
3. Brandon Gray (August 29, 2004). " 'Hero' Soars to Late August Record" (https://www.boxoffi
cemojo.com/news/?id=1445&p=.htm). boxofficemojo.com. Archived (https://web.archive.org/
web/20071004023456/http://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=1445&p=.htm) from the original
on October 4, 2007.
4. "Foreign affairs" (https://web.archive.org/web/20090703133158/http://www.hollywoodreporte
r.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000724461). The Hollywood Reporter.
3 July 2009. Archived from the original (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article
_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000724461) on 3 July 2009. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
5. "EDITORIAL: Life Isn't Beautiful Anymore, it's Dubbed" (https://www.indiewire.com/1999/08/
editorial-life-isnt-beautiful-anymore-its-dubbed-82123/). Indiewire.com. 23 August 1999.
Retrieved 10 August 2018.
6. "Will Dubbing Fly in the U.S.? Read My Lips - The New York Times" (https://web.archive.org/
web/20180805152511/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/02/19/business/will-dubbing-fly-in-the-
us-read-my-lips.html?gwh=5B7FDE5A22B394D810DA99A95EFCDECB&gwt=pay). The
New York Times. 5 August 2018. Archived from the original (https://www.nytimes.com/1996/
02/19/business/will-dubbing-fly-in-the-us-read-my-lips.html?gwh=5B7FDE5A22B394D810D
A99A95EFCDECB&gwt=pay) on 5 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
7. "LITTLE INDIAN': BIG MISTAKE - The Washington Post" (https://www.washingtonpost.com/
archive/lifestyle/1996/04/02/little-indian-big-mistake/be40c0e7-fbb7-42ba-aa35-8481c485f29
a/?noredirect=on). Archive.today. 18 July 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
8. Pandya, Gitesh. "Weekend Box Office" (http://www.boxofficeguru.com/082100.htm).
Boxofficeguru.com. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
9. Horn, John (7 February 2003). " 'Pinocchio' will try again, in Italian" (https://www.latimes.co
m/archives/la-xpm-2003-feb-07-et-horn7-story.html). Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved
10 August 2018.
10. Thompson, Anne (11 October 2009). "Girl with Dragon Tattoo Gets U.S. Release" (https://w
ww.indiewire.com/2009/10/girl-with-dragon-tattoo-gets-u-s-release-239436/). Indiewire.com.
Retrieved 10 August 2018.
11. Xu, Gary G. (2007). Sinascape: Contemporary Chinese Cinema. Rowman & Littlefield.
p. 44. ISBN 978-0742554504.
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