For the first time in history, a foreign language film has won Best Picture at the Academy Awards. The recipient? Bong Joon-Ho’s Parasite. The movie has been on a tear recently with wins in the major awards, picking up four-out-of-five Oscars and many other awards. During his acceptance speech at the Golden Globes, Bong Joon-Ho dropped this gem:
"Once you overcome the 1-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films."
The newly-awarded Oscar-winning director is right, of course. Many people do miss out on amazing films because they “don't like reading”. Here’s a few non-English films that could pique your interest and expand your horizons beyond the one-inch barrier.
Oldboy (2003) dir. Park Chan-wook
An intense revenge thriller that keeps the audience guessing.
Oldboy follows the story of a Korean businessman named Oh Dae-su who is kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years, for seemingly no reason. Once released, Oh Dae-Su embarks on an epic revenge tour. Oldboy features brutal and realistic violence and boasts one of cinema’s most iconic fight scenes, a one-shot take of a hallway fight (before hallway fights became cool).
For some reason, Spike Lee made a remake of Oldboy in 2013, starring Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Olsen. I’ve never seen the remake but its existence speaks to Hollywood’s attitude towards international cinema. Audiences should have been encouraged to experience the original film rather than watch a remake that lacks cultural context.
I’ve only experienced Park Chan-Wook’s revenge thriller twice, once as an impressionable fourteen-year-old and again in my twenties. I can confidently say I’ll never watch it again. Don’t let my comments disparage you from giving Oldboy a shot, though. It’s a beautifully shot and choreographed film and the protagonist’s path of vengeance and tragic ending is something to behold. If you are one to enjoy dark and anxious films, make sure to watch Oldboy.
Watch this instead of: ...Memento? I guess.
Also see: I Saw The Devil, Mother
Infernal Affairs (2002) dir. Andrew Lau and Alan Mak
A crime thriller that focuses on undercover agents on opposite ends of the justice system.
Senior Inspector Lau (Andy Lau) is a decorated and effective police officer in the Hong Kong police department. Chan Wing-yan (Tony Leung) is a career criminal and subordinate of one of Hong Kong’s most successful Triad bosses. What very few people know is that Inspector Lau is a mole for the Triads and Chan is an undercover police officer. Andrew Lau’s Infernal Affairs follows these two characters, and their bosses, as they square off in a vicious game of cat and mouse; a game where everyone is a predator.
Infernal Affairs was a critical and commercial success in Hong Kong and among fans of Asian cinema however, it has been overshadowed by its remake, Martin Scorsese’s The Departed. Both films have merit but Infernal Affairs keeps its plot and characters simpler and more streamlined. Personally, I enjoyed Infernal Affairs more. The character motivations are stronger and more real and the movie doesn’t feel the need to turn everything into an action sequence. If you’re a fan of Scorsese’s film make sure to check out it’s inspiration.
Watch this instead of: The Departed
Pan’s Labyrinth (2007) dir. Guillermo Del Toro
A young girl’s journey through a dark and magical world.
In the summer of 1944, years after the Spanish Civil War, Spain is still in a state of violence and pain. A young girl named Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) discovers a magical realm and uses it as a means of escape from a difficult life. Things are not as they seem when her newly discovered world proves darker and more dangerous than she imagined. Ofelia meets a monster and is charged with completing trials to truly be free. Del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth is a modern day fairytale; a cinematic parable.
Guillermo Del Toro used to be known as the director who adapted supernatural comic book characters (Blade, Hellboy) or as a horror filmmaker (The Devil’s Backbone, Mimic). After Pan’s Labyrinth, Del Toro became recognized as a master storyteller, a crafter of magical worlds and terrifying monsters. Pan’s Labyrinth became the first of Del Toro’s films to win an Academy Award. Whenever I watch Pan’s Labyrinth I always leave with two takeaways: the undeniable genius of Guillermo Del Toro and his hauntingly beautiful monster creations.
Watch this instead of: Alice in Wonderland
Dead Snow (2009) dir. Tommy Wirkola
A horror/comedy that turns the zombie genre on its head.
I watched Dead Snow in my cousin’s living room with my best friends while on an 18-hour movie binge. It’s one of my all-time favorite movie watching experiences. The film starts off in usual horror movie fan fare. A group of young adults goes out of town and gets stuck in a cabin with a haunted past. Eventually, the group discovers that the area is plagued by magically risen Nazi zombies. The group must traverse from their lonesome cabin to the main road where their cars are parked. Can they survive?
Dead Snow seems like a normal horror movie but ends up as an enjoyable and hilarious ride. There are some jump scares and a few dumb horror movie character moments but you end up rooting for the group of vacationers by trips end. Nothing in his Norwegian zombie flick breaks the mold but it sure does bend it slightly. If you do happen to track down this gem just power through. There is a very specific moment where the film evolves from schlocky horror to horror-comedy. I promise you won’t miss it and I promise it’s worth it.
Watch this instead of: Shaun of the Dead, Tucker and Dale vs. Evil
Police Story (1985) dir. Jackie Chan
The Hong Kong police department is comprised of only the best, specifically Sergeant Chan Ka-Kui (Jacke Chan). Sergeant Chan is tasked with taking down a local Hong Kong gang lord. To do it, he must hang off of speeding busses, combat bat-swinging mobs, and answer phones in a ridiculous but impressive manner. Police Story, which is also directed by Jackie Chan, is one of Hong Kong’s best films. Jackie is at his apex in this film and it’s put on full display by highlighting what he does best: stunts.
Stunt work. Movie stunt work is what gets the blood pumping. It’s very often the thing that turns a “movie” into an “experience”. In recent years Hollywood has put a spotlight on excellent stunt work and practical effects; the vehicular insanity of the Fast and Furious franchise, Tom Cruise’s fearlessness in the face of unimaginable heights, and Mad Max: Fury Road’s entire canvas of blood, sand, and fire. In the modern era, only one man can boast a stunt work resume more impressive than any of the films mentioned above: the indestructible Jackie Chan.
To American audiences, Jackie is best known as a goofy but highly capable sidekick to a less qualified, loud mouthed leading man (Rush Hour, Shanghai Noon). In the 1985 Police Story, Jackie instead plays the leading man and he does so with incredible effectiveness. Jackie’s directorial effort may not have a Fast and Furious budget or Mission: Impossible equipment but it does have the most fearless and experienced stunt team in history. Watch Jackie and his team do high-flying 80’s-style stunts and wait till the credits to truly admire the tenacity and danger of their work.
Watch this instead of: Mission Impossible, Fast and the Furious
The Man from Nowhere (2010) dir. Lee Jeong-beom
A former spec-ops soldier takes on a criminal organization to save a young girl.
In every major city in the world there are children with absent, drug addicted parents and such is the case in The Man From Nowhere. Ten year old So-Mi (Kim Sae-ron) gets kidnapped by criminals after her mother is caught stealing drugs. Luckily, So-mi made friends with the neighborhood pawn shop owner, a quiet man named Cha Tae-Sik (Won Bin). Throughout the film, we learn that Cha Tae-sik is not a man to be trifled with, as he wreaks havoc among the criminal organization in an attempt to get So-mi back. Lee Jeong-beom’s The Man from Nowhere is an excellent action thriller that boasts clean storytelling, incredible imagery, and great fight choreography.
Films of the “former soldier fights criminal organization to save young girl” genre have grown in popularity since Liam Neeson’s Taken. Lee Jeong-beom’s film is my favorite of the group. All the action is shot cleanly and the story telling never gets bogged down. The movie is full of clever moments and moments of humorous brevity. It also does the best job of developing the “young girl” role (in this case So-Mi) which makes the audience more invested in her saving.
The Man From Nowhere doesn’t have the big name actor in its lead role but it should stand out as a top shelf action movie.
Watch this instead of: Taken, The Equalizer