Foreign Films I’ve Been Watching Lately

Given the New Year’s holidays, I’ve had a lot of time as of late to catch-up on movies, and for some reason, I’m on a bit of a foreign film kick. Well actually, I can tell you the reason why I’ve been watching so many films with subtitles: NetFlix offers FREE instant streaming movies for a small subsection of films, many of them foreign. And now I have Apple TV.

Here, what I’ve been watching lately, roughly in order of preference. SPOILER ALERT! Although I’ll try to be indirect about it. If you have any recommendations for other films I should check out, please let me know!

Soul Kitchen: Young Greek guy in Germany runs friendly neighborhood restaurant which Gordon Ramsay would hate. (All deep fryers and microwaves.) Girlfriend moves to Shanghai and he eventually decides to follow her. Gives restaurant to older brother, who just happens to be on parole. You can see where this is going. Old “friend” of main character Zinos pops up and ruins everything. A little drawn out at times, but quirky and enjoyable in general. No one dies in this movie. German with English subtitles.

For My Father: Set in Tel Aviv. Young Arab suicide bomber plans to blow himself up. Plans ruined when bomb doesn’t go off. Develops feelings for local Jewish girl who has her own problems. Also builds meaningful relationship with older crazy Israeli man, who is indirectly and unknowingly helping main character fix bomb. Main character starts to change his mind. BUT! Hebrew and Arabic with English subtitles.

An Education: Older man has sex with teenage cello-playing schoolgirl who dreams of going to Oxford. Oxford plans foiled! Carrie Mulligan is transcendent as main character Jenny. David (the older guy who falls in “love” with her) is a jackass. Jenny’s parents have strange priorities. No one dies in this movie. English.

As It Is in Heaven: Get ready to cry a lot, even though this is a fairly predictable tragedy. World renowned-conductor Daniel with bad acne scars returns to his hometown in Sweden for a bit of much needed rest. To keep himself occupied, he takes on the local choir and quickly figures out that he’s not the only one with troubles. Falls in love with local Swedish girl. Stupid crying, stupid crying ending. Swedish with English subtitles.

The Syrian Bride: Bride in the Golan Heights is arranged to be married to famous actor in Syria she has never met before. Once she leaves the Golan, she will never be able to return. Main character Mona never smiles, which makes this all a bit depressing. Side plot about Mona’s older sister almost more interesting. You will hate immigration officers after watching this movie but you will be desperate to recall your 10th grade history lessons so you can understand what this is all about. No one dies in this movie. Hebrew and Arabic with English subtitles.

Departures: Cello-player loses job in orchestra and moves back to hometown. Takes job as a someone who prepares bodies for burial. Wife gets unhappy and leaves him. Cello-player realizes he really likes his job, but still resents that his father abandoned him and his mother when he was young. Wife realizes her mistake and returns. Many people die in this film, but they’re already dead so there’s that. You will cry at the end end. Japanese with English subtitles.

Welcome: Kurdish refugees make their way to France but are caught on their way to the UK. Teenage Bilal is desperate to save his girlfriend in the UK from an arranged marriage to her much older cousin, and attempts to swim English channel to save her because it’s his only option for getting there now that he’s in the immigration camp. Local French swimming instructor caught up in crazy plan. You will cry. French and Arabic with English subtitles.

Gloomy Sunday: Bizarre love triangle. Woman who works in a restaurant allows herself to be shared by two men: restaurant owner and piano player.  The two men have no trouble sharing her. Would rather be with her than without her sort of thing. Hitler marches across Europe. Restaurant owner is Jewish. You can see where this is going. Same song is played over and over again and by the end, you’ll want to kill yourself too. German with English subtitles.

Bread & Tulips: I think I’ve seen this film before. Family of an Italian housewife accidentally leaves her behind at a roadstop during  a group tour. She decides to go to Venice. Finds man and new friends who truly appreciates her. Realizes husband is a jackass. Italian with English subtitles. Italian with English subtitles.

Got any suggestions for me? Do tell…do tell…