Foreign films are often feared and rejected by viewers accustomed to consuming English-language productions. In recent years, the social perspective has been changing, and this has favored the box office and allowed the industry to increase the possibilities.
In 2020, the history of cinema was changed when Parasite won the Oscar for best picture. Although the South Korean film had been acclaimed in different awards, it turned out to be the big surprise of the night for being the first non-English-speaking production to obtain the maximum award. Few critics placed it among the obvious choice to win because the background does not favor this type of movies, as actors and directors are not as well known by the audience in the United States or by the academy.
The paradigm in movie theaters and in awards is changing. There are many international films that have been recognized over time, but, in recent years, certain titles have resonated more in Hollywood, causing audiences to watch movies with subtitles, which, in the past, was a deterrent.
Pain and Glory
With Dolor y Gloria, Pedro Almodóvar closed a Spanish trilogy starring film directors. The movie is established by a great performance by Antonio Banderas, which earned him an Oscar nomination. Another of Almodóvar's well-known faces and great muses is Penelope Cruz, who becomes an ever-present and active mother, which represents the childhood remembered by the director.
The self-fiction is inspired by the life of Almodóvar and a mixture of experiences of other people around the creator. Pain and Glory shows the illness, the lost love, the loneliness, and the childhood days that marked the protagonist, achieving an intimate and emotional story.
Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi)
The depth of the narrative shows how serious and emotional this type of cinema can be, quickly entering the soul of the spectators. The Japanese animated film has been acclaimed worldwide and won important awards. Audiences also recognized the quality of the production, and it was considered the best animated film to date. In Japan, it is the highest box-office success of all time, and it has record ticket sales internationally.
The director, Hayao Miyazaki, created a plot that takes place in an alternative world. The inspiration for the unusual story came from the daughter of one of his friends when he wanted to reach out to an audience of children, but the quality and sincerity of the message makes it transcend age and time, so it will continue to be seen through the years all over the world.
The Sea Inside
Alejandro Amenábar is internationally recognized for this film in which he directs, produces, and performs the music and script. Mar Adentro expresses with scenes through poetry and the sea, which represents the life and misfortune of the protagonist. This movie is one of those that generate, for hours, different sensations in the spectators after they finish watching it.
The Oscar winner for best foreign film exposes the controversial subject of euthanasia. It is based on a true story of a quadriplegic man and his struggle for state recognition of his right to decide on his own death. The film stars a physically unrecognizable Javier Bardem, who gives a masterful performance.
La Vie en Rose
The beautiful passion of Edith Piaf can be felt in La Môme or La Vie en Rose. No matter the nationality of the viewer, everyone who sees this film cannot remain indifferent for all the emotions it manages to convey through music and performance. The main role was played by French actress Marion Cotillard, who achieved a magnificent interpretation, which consolidated her career at an international level.
The biographical film portrays the difficult life Piaf had and describes how she suffered big tragedies that marked her forever. The production has an excellent soundtrack, showing the singer's hits that turned her into a world figure, and that many people continue to sing no matter how many years pass.
The Secret in their Eyes
Movie fans who appreciate productions that keep them in their seats for every minute of the screening can certainly enjoy The Secret in their Eyes. This film, which crossed the Argentinean borders, became so successful in Hollywood that, a few years later, it had an adaptation with Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman. The success is due to an unbeatable narrative which allows the viewer to get into the suspense and drama of the plot.
The film is based on the book by Eduardo Sancheri where the drama turns around a police story and an unsolved murder which marked the protagonist for more than 25 years. The director, Juan José Campanella, joined forces with the writer of the novel to capture the intensity in the script and finally reflect the interesting narrative in theaters.
Roma
This Mexican film, directed by Alfonso Cuarón, is made with a superior artistic vision, where each scene, millimetrically thought out, can be savored. The fiction is based on Cuarón's childhood memories and is a tribute to Liboria Rodríguez is a member of the director's family and a fundamental part of his upbringing and life.
The story was in Cuarón's mind since he began in the film world, but he waited for the right moment to make it. The director was very jealous and careful during the production and did not share the screenplay with anyone, trying to create natural reactions in the actors during the shooting.
Amour
Few films show love in such a pure and real way. This French drama that tests love in an elderly relationship introduces the audience to a story that stirs up emotions from the depths. The story, directed by Michael Haneke, won critical and audience acclaim by overflowing with sensations. The beautiful plot is not for all types of audiences, as it is a slow story that is felt gradually, like a sigh. Without a doubt, the story crosses barriers and makes people forget the subtitles and only enjoy the artistic quality.
Pan's Labyrinth
El Laberinto del Fauno invites viewers to explore fantastic worlds where fabulous creatures take over the screen and conquer the imagination of the audience. The Spanish and Mexican produced film counted on the genius of Guillermo del Toro who wrote, directed, and produced the fantasy film, which is representative of this filmmaker.
In the development of the plot, the fantasy is mixed with real facts, during a convulsed period in Spain. The story, although it deals with political aspects, focuses on a 13-year-old girl who discovers a labyrinth in some ruins and a faun who reveals to her the history of an underground kingdom.
Parasite
At this point, everyone has heard of this film. It could be considered a simple story, but it has surprising messages, it takes the breath away, and it catches the audience in their seats during the 132-minute runtime. These qualities made it conquer the masses without intending to, becoming a rival to the big Hollywood productions.
The South Korean film conquered the audience and critics with a different plot where suspense, drama, and black comedy are intertwined. Parasite is one of the most modern stories that has been shown in movie theaters in recent years. It depicts a reality that, although it takes place in South Korea, is similar to what is experienced in the rest of the world.
Biutiful
A simple life in the complexity of today's world is portrayed in Biutiful by Alejandro González Iñárritu. The storyline set in Barcelona is starring Javier Bardem, who won the Palme d'Or for his interpretation of a selfless father who seeks to find peace. Bardem is accompanied by a global cast to better represent the history that required cultural diversity.
González Iñárritu, one of the most internationally renowned Latin directors, exposes a family drama of a sick man living among ghosts with a particular sensitivity to spirits. It also tells the reality of hard work, the life of immigrants, and poverty.