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Favorite Foreign Language Film (2021)

zen

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zen Grand Master

zen

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Rounding off the "favorite film" series with the Favorite Foreign Language (for e.g. French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, etc.) Film topic. If you had to list one foreign-language film as your favorite, which one would it be and why? ... We are discussing the favorite in the present moment therefore as the taste changes, the favorite. 

 

 

For me, good foreign language films are arty and/or experimental, at times showing new direction or bringing new ideas to the table. I am going to stick w/ the 60s, which ignited the European new wave. I am not going to consider musicals (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg) and silent films (Metropolis). After using the process of elimination,  I am going w/  L'Avventura (1960). It won the jury prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1960. 

 

L'Avventura (The Adventure) is directed by Michelangelo Antonioni. It is the first film of the "tetralogy of decadence" involving La Notte (1961), La Eclipse (1962) and the Red Desert (1964), all starring Monica Vitti. L'Avventura probably made her an international star. 

 

 

So what is the film about? Well, it is about nothing. It is the antithesis of an Hitchcock film. It follows a bunch of rich but shallow characters during a short period of their lives. However, the journey or the adventure portrays a profound meaning. A group of friends go on a boating trip where one of the girls goes missing. The boyfriend and her friend carry out a search for the girl across Italy and in that process end up getting close to each other. At the end of it, the missing girl gets sidelined and a new relationship is developed. The message probably is that during decadent times, everyone is simply replaceable with people merely playing roles either for them or someone else. Life moves on ... 

 

So what is impressive about the film? The unique way in which the story is told including how the locations in Italy are captured. A part of you is concerned about the missing girl but not many care for her in the film apart from probably her friend. Most of the characters continue with the pleasures of life as if nothing has happened. Eventually, everyone move on as soon as possible. Is life shallow? As you think about the film, its profound message begins to uncover. 

 

 

 

 

 

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YixingLao Newbie

YixingLao

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Mine would have to be a Japanese film. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the movie: Mugen Train. it was really really nice. It immediately got me hooked to it after I had also watched the anime series. the two complemented great and I'm just glad that I was able to watch it.

zen Grand Master

zen

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On 2/16/2021 at 10:50 PM, YixingLao said:

Mine would have to be a Japanese film. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the movie: Mugen Train. it was really really nice. It immediately got me hooked to it after I had also watched the anime series. the two complemented great and I'm just glad that I was able to watch it.

 

I think there is a Demon Slayer series available on Netflix. 

Vijy Grand Master

Vijy

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On 2/16/2021 at 10:50 PM, YixingLao said:

Mine would have to be a Japanese film. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the movie: Mugen Train. it was really really nice. It immediately got me hooked to it after I had also watched the anime series. the two complemented great and I'm just glad that I was able to watch it.

it's rare that you were able to watch the movie; not many could since it's not out yet "formally" in most parts of the world.

zen Grand Master

zen

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Btw, those who like Memories of murder ... Criterion has done a restoration and it is available in blu-ray ... if in the mood, I might order it 

 

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