All three essential! 'Exit Through the Gift Shop' was auteurish, making me realise that documentaries could be as strange and wonderful as my favourite movies. In that vein, I [possibly again] recommend 'Tickled' (2016) which "explores the world of competitive endurance tickling and the people behind it. The filmmakers face legal threats and ethical issues as they uncover the secrets and scandals of the tickling industry."
Great piece. I want to purge the idea from native English-speakers' minds that the only worthwhile movies or music are in English. So much to see out there!
Rightfully said! Once upon a time, long ago in shady Africa, I set the goal to watch 1000 foreign language movies. I'm a couple of hundred past that now. My mind is so much better for it.
'Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring' was such a revelation when I watched it in my film class. I will most certainly check out the rest of his filmography.
If I were I scifi movie, I would start a new life that would result in me saying, "When I watched it in my film class." At least I can say that I've watched more of his than I mentioned. However, he is a mixed bag, so the winners are the first four listed.
I'll be offline until next month so let me kick-off the sharing...
My favourite English documentaries are:
Inside Job (2010)
Hypernormalisation (2016)
Blackfish (2013)
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My favourite Foreign documentaries are extra difficult because it's harder to know what's real. However, these made me the most emotional:
The Cave (Syria 2019)
Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat (Belgium set Congo 2024)
Edge of Democracy (Brazil 2019)
Crumb.
Exit Through the Gift Shop.
And even for the footage alone: Manufacturing Consent
All three essential! 'Exit Through the Gift Shop' was auteurish, making me realise that documentaries could be as strange and wonderful as my favourite movies. In that vein, I [possibly again] recommend 'Tickled' (2016) which "explores the world of competitive endurance tickling and the people behind it. The filmmakers face legal threats and ethical issues as they uncover the secrets and scandals of the tickling industry."
My favourite English movies are:
Donnie Darko
Fight Club
Dead Poets' Society
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My favourite Foreign movies are:
Incendies (Canada shot Jordan set Lebanon 2010)
Turtles Can Fly (Iran set Iraq 2004)
Omar (Palestine 2013)
English Fantasy:
Synecdoche, New York
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Being John Malkovich (1999)
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Foreign Fantasy:
Let the Right One In (Sweden 2008)
Air Doll (Japan 2009)
Night Watch (Russia 2004)
Foreign scifi:
Fish Story (Japan 2009)
2046 (Hong Kong, China 2004)
Alienoid & Alienoid: Return to the Future (Korea)
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English Scifi:
Arrival (2016)
Another Earth (2011)
Mr Nobody (2009)
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And indie scifi:
Moon (2009)
Coherence (2013)
The Man From Earth (2007)
The Man From Earth is an underrated gem.
Knowing that movie gets you an invitation to our Less Than 1% Club.
Music:
Pink Floyd: The Wall (UK 1982)
Whiplash (USA 2014)
The Broken Circle Breakdown (Belgium 2012)
My favourite Foreign TV series are:
Forbrydelsen S1-3 (Sweden)
Umbre S1-3 (Romania)
Trapped S1-2 (Iceland) & The Decalogue (Poland)
Great piece. I want to purge the idea from native English-speakers' minds that the only worthwhile movies or music are in English. So much to see out there!
Rightfully said! Once upon a time, long ago in shady Africa, I set the goal to watch 1000 foreign language movies. I'm a couple of hundred past that now. My mind is so much better for it.
'Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring' was such a revelation when I watched it in my film class. I will most certainly check out the rest of his filmography.
If I were I scifi movie, I would start a new life that would result in me saying, "When I watched it in my film class." At least I can say that I've watched more of his than I mentioned. However, he is a mixed bag, so the winners are the first four listed.