Entries Tagged 'Foreign with Subtitles' ↓
August 24th, 2011 — Drama, Foreign with Subtitles
IMDB: The Secrets
Basic Plot: Coming-of-age story about a rabbi’s daughter who chooses to delay marriage in favor of studying at a Jewish seminary. When paired with another independent female as caretakers for a mysterious dying woman, they embark on a journey into forbidden realms.
Outburst: I was delightfully pleased to recognize Fanny Ardent, but in truth all the young unknown actresses displayed talent. Even though it is a drama, none of the girls are portrayed as martyrs, victims, or drooping violets. The watcher of this movie gets to discover a whole host of life’s mysteries along with the girls and it feels fresh and new when they do.
— Nothing happy is going occur when girls from an oppressive society try to speak their mind or explore their sexualities, but this is not a tragic tale of doom-and-gloom. Lovely drama.
Official Site: The Secrets
BUT IT NOW! The Secrets (DVD)
July 31st, 2011 — Biography or Based on Truth, Drama, Foreign with Subtitles, Silent Movie
This is one of the great tales of lost films reconstruction, the original having been lost in a fire. The director, both a genius and a madman, died thinking his masterpiece was lost forever. He never made another film. For more on this, check the Wikipedia entry at the bottom.
IMDB: The Passion of Joan of Arc
Basic Plot: A chronicle of the trial of Jeanne d’Arc on charges of heresy. Silent film, originally French but with texts subtitled to English.
Outburst: This has the most amazing and powerful soundtrack I’ve heard EVER, tied masterfully into a film that is only slightly better than average silent-movie fare. Falconetti is a wooden and wide-eyed Joan (which is supposed to portray a girl touched by God, but looks simply bizarre to me); the ecclesiastical judges are natural in their contempt. The bloodless torture sequence is genius, and has the added benefit of improving Falconetti’s acting afterward as she is now playing the “near-death Joan.”
— For a silent film, this is way ahead of its time.
Wikipedia Entry: The Passion of Joan of Arc
Buy the DVD: The Passion of Joan of Arc
WATCH IT NOW FOR FREE on YouTube: Passion of Joan of Arc
In truth, I think the soundtrack is one of the best elements of this movie. I highly recommend it for those into classical, opera, or religious music.
BUY THE SOUNDTRACK! The Passion of Joan of Arc (CD)
BUY IT NOW! The Passion Of Joan Of Arc Soundtrack (MP3)
April 20th, 2011 — Drama, Foreign with Subtitles
IMDB: Women’s Prison
Basic Plot: Tale of two women, one a warden in an Iranian prison, the other a murderer.
Outburst: This movie wasn’t strong on plot, but there was some subtle character development. It was basically a vignette on life in prison, and the only takeaway idea I had from watching was ‘never get arrested for anything in Iran’, which is not something I needed to watch a film to figure out. Despite paying close attention, I feel as if I missed hints of political subtext through lack of background cultural knowledge.
— Folks with a deep interest in learning more about women’s issues in Iran should watch this film. Culture doesn’t get more real than in the microcosm of jail. For the average viewer, more mainstream movies will fill this same cultural niche while also pleasing our sense of entertainment.
April 19th, 2011 — Drama, Foreign with Subtitles, Horror, Mystery
IMDB: The Orphanage
Basic Plot: A women and her family return to her childhood home, where she wants to open up a home for disabled orphans. Strange things start to occur when her son meets up with a new imaginary friend.
Outburst: You know the movie is going to be creepy when Guillermo del Toro asks to co-direct. I’m glad I didn’t watch it at night, because I was alone. Creepy, creepy, creepy, creepy, creepy and fantastic.
/DVD — Subtle horror fans and those who like fairy tales with bite will adore the film even as they cringe into their seats. If it plays at night in a theatre anywhere, you must go see it … with lots of buddies and an empty bladder.
Official Site: The Orphanage (American remake pending)
BUY IT NOW! The Orphanage [Blu-ray]
April 13th, 2011 — Biography or Based on Truth, Drama, Foreign with Subtitles, Romantic
IMDB: Yossi & Jagger
Basic Plot: A romantic interlude between two Israeli soldiers stationed at a remote outpost on the Lebanese border.
Outburst: Service in the Israel Defense Force is mandatory for both men and women, and gays may serve openly, making this movie very different from your average tortured LGBT indie drama. You’ll need to pay close attention. This movie is very short, very condensed, and the subtitles flash by quickly.
— It’s fucking brilliant, but very niche. If you like LGBT movies with adult themes and bare-bones indie films, you will be ruined for any other film after this. If movies without Steadicams make you nauseous, move on.
Wikipedia Entry: Yossi & Jagger
WATCH IT NOW: Yossi & Jagger
March 27th, 2011 — Drama, Foreign with Subtitles, Romantic
IMDB: Guzaarish
Basic Plot: A former magician fights to end his life after an accident leaves him a quadriplegic.
Outburst: It’s a drama, but the main character is too quirky for pity and sadness. It’s a romance, but without any sex. Being an Indian movie, there is music and some dance, but this is no traditional Bollywood production. The film is beautifully constructed, more inspirational than depressing, and one of the most visually arresting movies I’ve seen in quite some time.
— Interested in the debate over the human right to die? This is a must see. You will also enjoy this movie if you appreciate visual artistry or bittersweet romance.
Official Website: Guzaarish
BUY IT NOW! Guzaarish DVD (w/ English subtitles)
December 30th, 2010 — Foreign with Subtitles, Horror
IMDB: Cronos
Basic Plot: Aging antiques dealer stumbles across a device that turns him into a vampire. Too bad he isn’t the only one who wants it.
Outburst: Possibly one of the most original takes on vampirism I’ve seen in awhile. Have I mentioned that director Guillermo del Toro is insane? Genius, yes, but still insane.
/DVD — This is a slow character horror, not a slasher or scary movie. If you need nonstop action, look elsewhere. Goths, collectors of mythical tales, and Guillermo del Toro fans will want to add it to their collections.
Wikipedia Entry: Cronos (film)
BUY IT NOW! Cronos (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]
December 30th, 2010 — Foreign with Subtitles, Horror, Romantic
IMDB: Let the Right One In
Basic Plot: Bullied kid gets a crush on his new neighbor, who happens to be a vampire.
Outburst: The actors seem stilted. It is hard to say if it is from bad acting or if kids in Sweden act that way normally. Some interestingly creepy scenes.
/DVD — If you like vampire romance and are immune to vague overtones of pedophilia, this movie is right for you. Goths will want to add it to their collections.
Official Website: Let the Right One In
BUY IT NOW! Let The Right One In (DVD)
August 29th, 2009 — Drama, Foreign with Subtitles
IMDB: Yesterday
Basic Plot: A young African mother discovers she is HIV positive.
Outburst: This is a powerful, simple tale. It will not leave you puzzled or guessing at motivations; it may make you cry. The landscapes and visual imagery are stunning.
(2 of 3 stars) — The movie as a whole is worth two stars. The artistry of the filmmaking, however, is exemplary. If you are drawn to visual masterpieces this is a must-see.
Yesterday the movie
August 26th, 2009 — Drama, Foreign with Subtitles
IMDB: Captain Abu Raed
Basic Plot: The life of a poor airport janitor becomes deeply mixed with the neighborhood children’s when they mistake him for a pilot. From the Kingdom of Jordan.
Outburst: This is a simple and touching tale, about hope in the face of all that is hopeless. It faithfully keeps to the wonder and mystery present in everyday life without resorting to the fantastical.
(3 of 3 stars) – I highly recommend seeing this.
Official Website for Captain Abu Raed
