
One of the best reasons to watch subtitled movies is that they can be entertaining. It is a competitive world and to get your attention takes a lot of creative effort. Hollywood recognizes talent wherever it is available and bought much of it globally. Writers, directors, actors, cinematographers, composers, set designers, etc. etc. Perhaps the bottom line might be sex appeal which is found on all habitable continents.
Genius and intelligence are spaced globally. Much film innovation come from foreign countries and is adopted by Hollywood. Often foreign countries develop unique plots that Hollywood gobbles up.
The world is a big place. You are urged to spread your retirement investments around to protect your limited resources. The world in fact has intruded often very subtlety into your mind. Almost everything you know came from somewhere else with much of it so long ago you are totally unconscious of it. One Facebook post recalled was about some right wing parents upset that their children would be learning Arabic numbers not realizing that is what most of the world relies on. Others love Mexican or Chinese food despite their antipathy to their foreign origins.
Mark Twain once said "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness." Travel with personal contact is better, but it takes both time and money whereas you can travel the world much quicker and cheaper on film.
When you watch a subtitled film you will first notice differences. Some of the differences may eventually (or even sooner) strike you as worthy of thought, although some will seem weird or even disgusting. A second thing you will notice if you spend enough time is the similarities. We think we are unique (and we are) and in fact are at the centre of the world (and we are in a sense), but in fact everyone faces the same problems--to survive, to maintain self worth and to find love. There are obstacles everywhere, one of which is ignorance.
One of the early film pioneers, Herman G Weinberg got involved with foreign films brought to the United States by re arranging German symphony music for string quartets. When talking pictures became more common, many foreign films became inaccessible. In a bit of a learning process Herman subtitled over 300 movies. With a subtitled German film the non Germans were upset that they were not understanding a joke as the German speakers were all laughing.
Talking pictures minimized need for subtitles, except foreign films would be identified as foreign and the main way to overcome language differences was with dubbing which was very expensive and time consuming. One advantage of dubbing is it requires less effort from the viewer, but you will experience a slight cognitive dissonance. The voice may not match the body you see. Each language has a cadence that affects how we move our lips and put words together, so it doesn't sound quite right.
After World War II European nations became concerned about American culture overwhelming their own so they encouraged the film industry to tell their story. So there has always been a bit of a culture war with English being dominant. But we all are enriched and more understanding when we are aware of different cultural perspectives.
Below are some subtitled movies that opened my mind a little. Enjoyable and satisfying

The central problem was understandable as the parents were split over their concerns for their daughter needing a better education (out of country) and of the husband's father with dementia. Tension is boosted with some well executed twists. The lead actor, Payman Maadi later appeared in an American film as an intelligent Arab terrorist prisoner. Asghar is in demand and has been involved with films in European countries. and won another Oscar.
Censorship is a concern in countries like Iran and another film maker who has defied censorship efforts is Jafar Panihi has done films while under house arrest.
http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2012/10/my-three-persian-experiences.html

Read more on Russian films including their contribution to film editing
http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2017/08/russian-movies.html

"After the Wedding" (2006) from Denmark and one of my top favorite films of all time. It was nominated Oscar best foreign film. An interesting twist makes this film memorable, but also deals with global social issues. The director/writer, Susanne Bier has been involved with American films. The lead actor, Mads Mikkelsen has gone onto films in other European countries and America as well as lead for popular American television series.
Read more about Mads Mikkelsen: http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2014/05/mads-mikkelsen-helping-denmark.html

Director/writer/producer Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck has done a number of historical films including winning Oscar best foreign film with "The Lives of Others" (2006) on the East Germany subjugation. More recently "Never Look Away" (2018) covering the Nazi era and the liberation of East Germany from the viewpoint of an artist. It depicts the racist attitude of some people in power positions and afterwards artistic commemoration of the horrors.
One of the actors, Sebastian Koch has appealed in English speaking tv series like "Homeland" (2015-16) and "The Name of the Rose" (2019) and films like "Bridge of Spies" (2015).

Korea is a global hotspot, an upcoming economic power and a successful cultural invader. Recently "Parasite" (2019) won 4 Oscars including best picture. For more on Korean films: http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2014/04/a-slice-of-korean-cinema.html I have found many Korean films and even tv mini series worth blogging about.


Chile is a bigger Spanish speaking country with more film resources. "A Fantastic Woman" (2017), took on a controversial theme, namely that trans genders are humans deserving of dignity. Originally director/writer Sebastian Lelio talked with transgender, Daniela Vega as a consultant, but decided she should play the lead, a role which turned out to be a very good choice. This film went on to win an Oscar. Sebastian directed Natalie Portman to an Oscar nomination in "Jackie'"(2016). Another very interesting film from Chile was "No" (2012) about a constitutional referendum against dictator Pinochet.
Spanish is the third most popular spoken language in the world and encompasses dozens of countries with their own unique stories. Check out: http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2015/07/hispanic-cinema-spans-globe.html
Americans might be familiar with the Richard Gere remake, "Shall We Dance" 2004) of the original Japanese film of 1996. It used the same script by the Japanese writer Masayuki Suo. Part of the strength was about the supposed shyness of Japanese people and how husbands sometimes hide their passions from their wives. Shyness is not unique to Japan. Competitive Ballroom dancing is the vehicle to tell the story.
Check out more on Japanese cinema including their contribution to filming copied globally http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2015/03/japanese-movies-are-more-than-godzilla.html

"Mothers of Mine " (2005) was a Finnish movie with a Swedish partner. The theme really was the attachment of children to their mother. A little bit of history unknown to many. Finland was attacked by Russia during World War II and received German defenders. Children were sent to neutral Sweden breaking up many families that were in most cases brought back together. War distorts human relationships and none is more basic than that between mother and child.
I included this in a blog about sad movies. http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2014/08/the-power-of-sad-movies.html



It is true that Chinese censors can distort reality and you will have to be careful to avoid being sucked in. Still it is important to understand what the Chinese people are watching and forming their opinions from. They have an influence even on American films. The film "Gravity" (2013) won 7 Oscar awards plus two nominations, but in the studio's desire to make money in the lucrative Chinese market they misled the public. The dilemma in the movie was supposedly originated by Russians causing an explosion in outer space, but in reality China is the only nation to deliberately cause such an explosion. The movie also had the Chinese eventually rescuing the American stranded astronaut played by Sandra Bullock. In reality it is only the Russians that are set up to accomplish that.
Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore offer different perspectives that are often of high quality. Ang Lee, well respected in America has done interesting movies in Taiwan. United States and other countries have their own Chinese films not easily accessible to casual film goers.
Learn more at:
http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2014/08/chinese-cinema-is-peek-into-their_1.html
I am not claiming every foreign movie is superior to every English language movie. NO, not by a long shot. Many nations, especially those relatively poor cannot attract the necessary investment and along with that have difficulty to develop their own experienced film crews. Often those interested in a country with few opportunities will go to a foreign country for both training and experience. With Hollywood and Europe grabbing promising prospects, poor countries lose talent before they can develop it. Fortunately often the talented film people will go back home and foreign talent can be bought under the right circumstances..
Another problem in every country is that it often more profitable to cater to the "peanut gallery" meaning those seeking violence and/or, sex in its simplest forms.
Everyone wants to portray themselves as commendable and normally castigate their enemies and critics. Look at your own culture and seek alternative perspectives. The truth is probably somewhere in between. Don't worry that you will be bored with foreign films. Be selective and check out the many possibilities as you already do for the more familiar movies.
Thanks for all these recommendations, John. I have noted them all down for the next time I'm thinking of watching a movie. Have you seen the Iranian film "Children of Heaven"? It's one of my favourites.
ReplyDelete