Access Atlanta > Movies > Blog > Archives > 2007 > July > 05 > Entry
Parle vous foreign films? Monsieur Smithee does
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dear Mr. Smithee,
I am a foreign film fanatic and I would feel fantastic and fabulous if you would recommend 15 of your favorite foreign films. I am a faithful follower of your fascinating, famous columns.
HENRIETTA ROSNER, Boynton Beach, Fla.
Dear Favorite Fan,
As anyone who knows me is well aware, I am not just an avid cinema watcher, but a voracious cinema reader.
Subtitles? Bring ‘em on.
There are reasons why subtitles are a necessity in watching foreign films.
Reason 1: I am fluent in one language.
Reason 2: A dubbed film delivers an inaccurate sense of an actor’s overall performance. I - which also means you - need to hear the performer’s words to understand the character’s emotional arc.
Some moviegoers complain - I know; I receive their e-mails - that subtitles make them miss the action.
I will grant them that, initially, there is short adjustment period. But, honestly, human beings have the capability to play a piano or organ. And many people seem to be able to yak on the phone and drive at the same time. So why not read and look?
If I had but 15 foreign films to recommend and each had to be from a different country (I just have to make things harder), it would be these:
“City of God” from Brazil. “Fanny and Alexander” from Sweden. “Eat, Drink, Man, Woman” from Taiwan. “La Dolce Vita” from Italy. “Rashomon” from Japan. “The 400 Blows” from France. “Metropolis” from Germany. “Talk to Her” from Spain. “Pan’s Labyrinth” from Mexico. “The Decalogue” from Poland (yes, I know it’s a TV series of 10 episodes, but I’m counting it as one film).
Also “The Kingdom” from Denmark (see “Decalogue”). “Fateless” from Hungary. “Moolaade” from Senegal. “Kung Fu Hustle” from China. And “Paradise Now” from Palestine.
And just because, off the top of my head I can also recommend “Seven Samurai,” “M,” “Ran,” “The Bicycle Thief,” “Umberto D,” “Yojimbo,” “Children of Paradise,” “Grand Illusion,” “Battleship Potemkin,” “The Wages of Fear” and “Nosferatu.”
Also “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari,” “Das Boot,” “Amores Perros,” “Life Is Beautiful,” “Run Lola Run,” “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “The Killer,” “Sanjuro” and “Hero.” Plus “The Element of Crime,” “The Idiots,” “Night of the Shooting Stars,” the “Pusher” trilogy, “Wings of Desire,” “Water,” “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” “In the Mood for Love,” “The Sea Inside,” “Open Hearts,” “The Lives of Others,” “Oldboy,” “High and Low” and “House of Flying Daggers.”
All that’s a good start.
ALAN
P.S. You get a new “Harry Potter” shirt and an “Ask Alan Smithee” T-shirt.
Dear Mr. Smithee,
In your esteemed opinion, why hasn’t one woman won an Oscar for directing?
Which women directors would you have nominated for what movies?
T. BEERMANN, Atlanta
Dear Feminine Side,
The reason is simple: It’s the same reason not one woman has ever been president of the United States.
Women have won Oscars for directing short films. And at least one foreign film winner - “Nowhere in Africa” - was helmed by a woman.
To date, three women have been nominated for the best director Oscar - Lina Wertmuller (“Seven Beauties”), Jane Campion (“The Piano”) and Sofia Coppola (“Lost in Translation”).
Here are others I would have nominated:
Sofia Coppola for “The Virgin Suicides” at the 2000 awards. I would have nixed Lasse Hallstrom (“The Ciderhouse Rules”). That same year I also would have put up Kimberly Pierce (“Boys Don’t Cry”) over Michael Mann (“The Insider”).
Nora Ephron for “Sleepless in Seattle” at the 1994 awards. Jim Sheridan (“In the Name of the Father”) wouldn’t have made my list.
Penny Marshall for “Big” at the 1989 awards. The too-lucky male nominee that year was Charles Crichton (“A Fish Called Wanda”).
Kasi Lemmons for “Eve’s Bayou” at the 1998 awards. I would’ve cut out Peter Cattaneo (“The Full Monty”).
ALAN
P.S. You get an “Evening” bag and an “Ask Alan Smithee” T-shirt.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: Alan Smithee
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By jbmlaw
July 6, 2007 9:11 AM | Link to this
I’m crushed, Alan left off my two favorite French flicks - The Tall Blond Man With One Black Shoe, and Amelie.
By FFaficionado
July 11, 2007 12:39 PM | Link to this
I also loved Children of Heaven (Iran)-not to be confused with Children of Paradise. Add to that Burnt by the Sun (Russia)(heartbreaking)and the wonderful Whale Rider (New Zealand).