Winkle van Tinkle
January 24th, 2012, 9:45 AM
Hello. I used to be heavily into films with writing at the bottom, and the people saying words differently to English. Then I stopped. Well now i've started again, and I thought this may be a good opportunity to start some conversation on the wonder of foreign film.
I could just name a list of films for you to watch, some of which will be pretty well known (some less so), and then say "this is good, so watch it". Or I could list one or two films per week, and then we can somehow watch them together, and discuss and talk and chat and all that. For now, i'll go with the latter. I'll also post links of where you can buy this film, and also (though this may be frowned upon) post links to where you can acquire the film in not-a-strictly-legal sense (if this is a big no-no, then just PM me, and I will give you a link). Another way of doing this is by everyone getting a Dropbox account, and then i'll put the film in that Dropbox and people can dip into the account and download it from there. We'll get to that once I know the mod's thoughts.
So anyway, film number one.....
Akmareul boatda (English title: I Saw the Devil)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/69/Isawthedevil.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/m6goe.jpg
Official Trailer
http://youtu.be/tkwEFKdTckk
Director: Jee-woon Kim (2010)
Starring: Byung-hun Lee, Min-sik Choi, Gook-hwan Jeon
Find it: IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1588170/), I Saw the Devil [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Film & TV
The Overview
When his pregnant fiancee becomes the latest victim of a serial killer, a secret agent blurs the line between good and evil in his pursuit of revenge.
Country of Origin
South Korea
Cuncha says
I chose this film as I watched it a couple of days ago and it's currently available on Netflix, and also because it's excellent. It stars Min-Sik Choi who most will recognise from Oldboy, or possibly Lady Vengeance, as one of the best serial killers in recent times. However, after one killing of a beautiful young lady, he pisses off the wrong bloke and what unfolds is one of the best revenge films to ever come out of Korea (and they love their revenge films, folks). It's violent, it's gory, and it's unflinching in what it shows the audience (so be warned). But it doesn't just rely on the blood and guts; it merely adds to the beauty of the film. I saw one review of this film that takes a view of the two main characters and compares them to Batman and The Joker, in the way they play off each other, and how they become to need each other to have a reason for being.
Anyway, go and watch it, and enjoy.
El secreto de sus ojos (English title: The Secret in Their Eyes)
http://www.audiovideohd.com/v15/images/stories/Cine/2010/elsecretodesusojosfront.jpg
http://media.theiapolis.com/aR/cDCDCDC/dB/e4/h1JK/i3X/r1/s1/t4/wGO/z23/the-secret-in-their-eyes-official-movie-site.jpg
Official Trailer
http://youtu.be/CvCi6DBTDkc
Director: Juan José Campanella
Starring: Ricardo Darin
Find it: IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1305806/) Amazon.co.uk - Currently £2.99
The Overview
A 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.
Country of Origin
Argentina
Cuncha says
Oh Ricardo, I love you so. Ricardo Darin is probably my favourite non-English speaking actor. He started off in some cheap, low-rent soap in Argentina and then moved into film, and has starred in a few films that I love (and will post in here, in time). This film is a great little thriller, and for £3 is a steal. The cinematography is excellent (there is a great scene during a packed football match), and the acting is delicious. If anyone says a bad word about this film or Ricardo, i'll cut you.
Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (aka Amelie)
http://www.allposters.com/IMAGES/131/003_AMELIE.jpg
http://heartstrand.co.uk/amelie.jpg
Official trailer
http://youtu.be/sECzJY07oK4
Director:: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Starring:: Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz and Rufus
Find it: IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0211915/) Amazon - £3.49
The Overview
Amelie, an innocent and naive girl in Paris, with her own sense of justice, decides to help those around her and along the way, discovers love.
Country of Origin
France
Cuncha says
I wasn't sure if I was going to add the "obvious" foreign films to this thread, but then there may be just one person who reads this that hasn't seen this beautiful, beautiful film, and if this makes them watch it, then i'm a happy bunny. Even if you couldn't read, and couldn't understand French this film would still be enjoyable because you get to look at Audrey Tautou for 2 hours. But this film has so much more; the acting, the scenery, the music, the tempo. Amelie is truly one of a kind, eccentric, unusual and uplifting; I promise you it will make you smile.
I could just name a list of films for you to watch, some of which will be pretty well known (some less so), and then say "this is good, so watch it". Or I could list one or two films per week, and then we can somehow watch them together, and discuss and talk and chat and all that. For now, i'll go with the latter. I'll also post links of where you can buy this film, and also (though this may be frowned upon) post links to where you can acquire the film in not-a-strictly-legal sense (if this is a big no-no, then just PM me, and I will give you a link). Another way of doing this is by everyone getting a Dropbox account, and then i'll put the film in that Dropbox and people can dip into the account and download it from there. We'll get to that once I know the mod's thoughts.
So anyway, film number one.....
Akmareul boatda (English title: I Saw the Devil)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/69/Isawthedevil.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/m6goe.jpg
Official Trailer
http://youtu.be/tkwEFKdTckk
Director: Jee-woon Kim (2010)
Starring: Byung-hun Lee, Min-sik Choi, Gook-hwan Jeon
Find it: IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1588170/), I Saw the Devil [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Film & TV
The Overview
When his pregnant fiancee becomes the latest victim of a serial killer, a secret agent blurs the line between good and evil in his pursuit of revenge.
Country of Origin
South Korea
Cuncha says
I chose this film as I watched it a couple of days ago and it's currently available on Netflix, and also because it's excellent. It stars Min-Sik Choi who most will recognise from Oldboy, or possibly Lady Vengeance, as one of the best serial killers in recent times. However, after one killing of a beautiful young lady, he pisses off the wrong bloke and what unfolds is one of the best revenge films to ever come out of Korea (and they love their revenge films, folks). It's violent, it's gory, and it's unflinching in what it shows the audience (so be warned). But it doesn't just rely on the blood and guts; it merely adds to the beauty of the film. I saw one review of this film that takes a view of the two main characters and compares them to Batman and The Joker, in the way they play off each other, and how they become to need each other to have a reason for being.
Anyway, go and watch it, and enjoy.
El secreto de sus ojos (English title: The Secret in Their Eyes)
http://www.audiovideohd.com/v15/images/stories/Cine/2010/elsecretodesusojosfront.jpg
http://media.theiapolis.com/aR/cDCDCDC/dB/e4/h1JK/i3X/r1/s1/t4/wGO/z23/the-secret-in-their-eyes-official-movie-site.jpg
Official Trailer
http://youtu.be/CvCi6DBTDkc
Director: Juan José Campanella
Starring: Ricardo Darin
Find it: IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1305806/) Amazon.co.uk - Currently £2.99
The Overview
A 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.
Country of Origin
Argentina
Cuncha says
Oh Ricardo, I love you so. Ricardo Darin is probably my favourite non-English speaking actor. He started off in some cheap, low-rent soap in Argentina and then moved into film, and has starred in a few films that I love (and will post in here, in time). This film is a great little thriller, and for £3 is a steal. The cinematography is excellent (there is a great scene during a packed football match), and the acting is delicious. If anyone says a bad word about this film or Ricardo, i'll cut you.
Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (aka Amelie)
http://www.allposters.com/IMAGES/131/003_AMELIE.jpg
http://heartstrand.co.uk/amelie.jpg
Official trailer
http://youtu.be/sECzJY07oK4
Director:: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Starring:: Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz and Rufus
Find it: IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0211915/) Amazon - £3.49
The Overview
Amelie, an innocent and naive girl in Paris, with her own sense of justice, decides to help those around her and along the way, discovers love.
Country of Origin
France
Cuncha says
I wasn't sure if I was going to add the "obvious" foreign films to this thread, but then there may be just one person who reads this that hasn't seen this beautiful, beautiful film, and if this makes them watch it, then i'm a happy bunny. Even if you couldn't read, and couldn't understand French this film would still be enjoyable because you get to look at Audrey Tautou for 2 hours. But this film has so much more; the acting, the scenery, the music, the tempo. Amelie is truly one of a kind, eccentric, unusual and uplifting; I promise you it will make you smile.