Cuncha's Foreign Film Fhread

[Winkle van Tinkle]

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.

[Mik]

I'm interested. I've got a dropbox account already. I dont watch anywhere near as many films as I should.

[Beefy]

Don't put up direct links to downloads. We don't want to start going down that route. I don't think there's any harm in mentioning websites where people can search for links though.

[El Capitano Gatisto]

I liked Oldboy a great deal, didn't really like Lady Vengeance or Mr. Vengeance, however. I still can't decide if I enjoyed Thirst or not, it was a bit crazy. I wasn't sure whether to have a gander at this one or not going by my hit rate on gory mad Korean films but this thread has probably tipped the balance in favour of getting it. It'll no doubt be months before I get round to it.

[Winkle van Tinkle]

Its well worth a gander, as is The Chaser which I almost put up instead. The acting is pretty fantastic too..i wont say no more because its better to not know too much about it.

Instead of just doing one at a time I will put a few up and update the OP. A few South American gems, and an epic Russian saga coming later.

Understood Beff, no worries.

[Lagom]

Ahh, Cuncha, this is a lush idea. Been meaning to show some love for foreign cinema here for a while, so I'll definitely be up for this.

As long as we can sneak Tzameti into the schedule at some point.

[Winkle van Tinkle]

Next film added in the OP

[Ringo]

Great idea. I've seen so any foreign films over the last 6 months or so, constantly looking for good new stuff though. Big fan of The Secret In Their Eyes, might as well give it another watch, and I've had I Saw The Devil downloaded for a while but never really feel like it when I decide to watch something.

[Winkle van Tinkle]

Next film added, and yes it's a blimmin easy choice that you should all have seen. Shame on you if you don't own this movie.

[Fanny]

fantastic idea Cuncha. If I might make a request, if people could recommend some good modern Kung Fu movies I'd really appreciate it. I'll contribute to this in the next couple of days as well as I'm about to watch The Troll Hunter :yes:

[MACE]

Los Cronocrímenes (Timecrimes) is brilliant. Probably thes best time travel film I've seen.

(Apart from Back to the Future of course ;) )

[son_of_foley]

I thought Primer was better than Timecrimes

[Clive Plasma]

Figured I'd try and revive this thread. Keen to know what people's favourite foreign films are at the moment, or one's they have watched recently...

Finally watched I Saw The Devil the other day. It was incredible.

Off to the Korean Film Festival this week in London too. I recommend it for people in the area. Some great films due to be shown. Seeing Hide & Seek this Thursday and Fatal the following week.

Recently watched;

Heli (2013)
Durban Poison (2013)
Lower City (2005)
In A Better World (2010)
La Zona (2007)
The Lives of Others (2006)
Run Lola Run (1998)
El Topo (1970)
Anything For Her (2008)
Headhunters (2011)

Full list of my film ratings here for those that are interested; http://www.imdb.com/user/ur9296552/ratings

[Simon]

Wait, is Clive Plasma Cuncha?

[Clive Plasma]

Nah

Just saw an opportunity to make a foreign film thread, and rather than make it and someone get sand in their vagina and actually trawl the archives and go "but there was already one made :(", I figured I'd kick this one back up to the top.

[Simon]

OK, be wary I'm unlikely to be the only person to assume you are him.

[Clive Plasma]

Maybe I should start a new thread then? Distance myself from this character...

[Simon]

More fun would be to edit this little correspondence out and then heavily imply that you are him.

[GeezaTap]

It's ok Clive, outside of the wrestling forums I''ve rarely seen someone dug up for duplicate threads in here.

Not seen a good foreign film in ages - need to get the finger out. Been wiped out from caning Breaking Bad on Netflix.

[Clive Plasma]

It's ok Clive, outside of the wrestling forums I''ve rarely seen someone dug up for duplicate threads in here.

Not seen a good foreign film in ages - need to get the finger out. Been wiped out from caning Breaking Bad on Netflix.

It happened to me the other week with a Brooklyn Nine-Nine thread. I searched for it but couldn't be arsed to search further back than a few pages, and low and behold it was dug up.

Oh well.

A lot of people still trying to fill that Breaking Bad hole. I've decided to fill it with Foreign Films and Damages. The film next Thursday sounds like your typical Korean revenge thriller. Both bleak and violent;

Fatal - "Sung-gong has always found himself the victim of bullies. But one day is worse than even he could have thought of as he is dragged to a Jang-mi's house, a local schoolgirl. The gang of boys take turns raping the girl and force Sung-gong to do the same. Ten years later Sung-gong accidentally meets Jang-mi at church and swears to earn her forgiveness but is too afraid to reveal himself as one of the rapists. The realises that the only way to truly gain her forgiveness is to seek out the bullies."

[Donald]

I quite enjoyed that film, I think it was called the Brotherhood of the Wolf.

[Clive Plasma]

I quite enjoyed that film, I think it was called the Brotherhood of the Wolf.

Sounds good. It's got Monica Bellucci in it which is never a bad thing.

Malena & Irreversible were brilliant films.

[Alf]

Le Passe
Blue is the Warmest Colour

There's a danish movie called The Keeper of Lost Causes that looks like it might be ace.

[Clive Plasma]

Really wanted to see Blue Is The Warmest Colour. Looked really good.

Other films I have yet to watch, but ordered from Play;

Revanche
Let The Right One In
Incendies
Dogtooth
A Separation
Das Boot
The Beat That My Heart Skipped
Belle De Jour
La Haine

[The_Mike]

Let The Right One In is brilliant, I really enjoyed it, though I probably enjoyed the US version a little more. Since I saw the US one first, I suspect this could easily have flipped the other way around had I simply been seeing the Swedish one cold.

Dogtooth's on my Netflix list, I hope to get around to that soon.

[Clive Plasma]

I actually heard the US version was one of the few movies where the remake is as good, if not better, than the original (good idea for a thread).

[turdpower]

Didn't know Cuncha had made this thread.

Assumed it'd be about porn.

[Mik]

Really wanted to see Blue Is The Warmest Colour. Looked really good.



Watch it when it comes out then.

[Clive Plasma]

Watch it when it comes out then.

I will do. Thanks for the advice.

What I meant by stating my comment in the past tense ('looked good', 'wanted to see it') was that I had the chance to see it at the LFF but it conflicted with a different film I went and saw.

[Tainted Eclipse]

La Haine

This is really great overall though the symmetrical philosophical yammering at the beginning and then end is terribly cheesy and overdone.

[Beer-Belly]

Fritz Lang rules. Metropolis is one of my favorite movies despite it having an incredibly trite message.

[Clive Plasma]

Just came back from Hide & Seek at the Korean Film Festival. It was fucking brilliant. If it ever sees a general release it is well worth seeing.

I feel exhausted.