Foreign Language films for 2025

 For many years my exploration of what foreign movies offer has been very satisfying.  For me they offer a chance to appreciate how the rest of the world thinks and feels.  There are two elements to explore.  One of them is you will notice things that are different from your experiences.  Secondly you should notice things that are familiar (basic humanity).   Expands your understanding and appreciation of the world.

Arabic

"Catalog"  (2025) A widower follows his wife's videos to help raise their children .http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/08/catalog.html 

 

 

 

 

 

"Echoes of the Past" (2024) Egyptian serial of murder more than 15 years past.  Filmed in part on the Mediteranean.  Violent climax.

Bambara

"Moolaade" (2003).  Concerned about male chauvenism.  The main focus is on female circumcision, called purification by the men.  They are Muslim, but as one women proclaims "Purification is not from Islam." and ""Our men want to lock up our minds."  Also saw making Moolaade" which spoke of technical progression.

 

 

 

 

 

Danish

 "A Copenhagen Love Story" (2025) is about a flirtatious woman who meets a divorced man with two children and realizes she wants what he has to offer.  Directly she wants to have his baby, but the effort proves to be more difficult and stressful.

"Secrets We Keep" (2025) A series about a missing Filipino au pair in a wealthy suburb of Copenhagen.

Finnish

"Fallen Leaves" (2023) A slow romance.

French

 "The Battle of Algiers" (1966) Perhaps the first major film with an anti colonialist theme.  Also considered one of the best films ever.  It looks very much like a documentary, but is not.  Depicts both the French side, but also the  Algerian nationalist.  Brutally realistic.  Arabic is also predominant.

 

 

 

 

"The Making of Emilia Perez" (2025) is a 28 minute short mostly covering the stars and some of the crew.  The language in this documentary is a mix of French, Spanish and English.  I chose to categorize under French, because they were the creators.  There is some background, but missing the initial idea. 

"Paris Police 1905" (2022) a series about the vice Squad corruption, also involving church regarding prostitution, syphilis, blackmail, pederasty and corruption.  Very brutal.

"Gueule d"Amour" (1937) one of early films for Jean Gabin.  Sort of a love triangle.

"It's The Heart that dies last" (2017)  Author wrote a book revealing some of his mother's past secrets.  She is under care and suspicious of him.  Set in Montreal, Quebec and Ottawa, Ontario.

"Coupe de Chance" (2023)  Woody Allen's 50th film and all in French.  The title translates to a "stroke of Luck".  a young married women meets by chance an old acquaintance and soon they have an affair.  A one point he buys her a lottery ticket and explains the odds.  Her husband who does find out about the affair claims he makes his own luck.  One note at the end refers to the odds of a individual sperm impregnating an ovum. 

 

"Tom at the Farm" (2015) A gay man from Montreal visits mother of his partner who died.  A brother tried to intimida53 the gay man so the mother does not learn of her son's homosexuality.  Xavier Dolan wrote, directed, acted, edited and produced. 

"Leolo" (1992) is about a coming of age story that is at once weird, grotesque and unique.  Set in Montreal with some scenes in Sicily.  It has been declared a masterpiece by Roger Ebert and Benedict Cumberbatch.   Quote:  "Because I dream, I am not."

 

 

 

 

"Holy Cow" (2025) A coming of age story in farm community.  A bit raunchy in parts. 

"When Fall is Coming" (2024) Focuses is on two older women and the ex convict of one of the women and the daughter of the other.

"Jane Austen Wrecked My Life" (2025) Despite the English them in the title (in French it is J"ane Austen a gache ma vie") it is a French film with English playing a role.  The leading lady has hopes of writing and ends up at a Jane Austen Residency and finds life complicated.  

"Le Successeur" (2024) is a psychological thriller with a big surprise that to me was not explained.  Maybe it was meant to be ambiguous.  

 

 

"The Bridge" (1999) Adultery leads to a breakup.  Gerard Depardieu starred, directed and produced.  

German

"Born in Evin" (2019)  A documentary by a woman who is an actress Maryam Zaree who had been born in an Iranian prison and wanted to find out more.  Her family had ended up in Germany.

Hebrew

"The Other Widow" (2024) Should have been boycotted, but had been reserved and finally became available.  When a playwright dies a mistress learns later, but does get to part of the mourning.

Hindi (Bollywood)

"I want to Talk" (2024) There is mostly English dialogue, with significant Hindi, but no subtitles.  Set in California.  Based on true story of man who survived over 18 surgeries with some support from his daughter.  

"Anuja" (1925) A 23 minute short focusing on young girls working instead of getting schooling.  Backed by Mindy Kaling and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. 

"Dhoom Dhaam" (2025) A comedy with lots of action.  Yami Gautam is always good to watch.

"Emergency" (2025) referred to an emergency declared by Indira Gandhi.  This film has received mostly negative reviews.  I could not detect any inaccuracies.  Kangana Ranaut was the director, lead actress and a producer.

"Dabba Cartel"(2025)  group of wives work behind their husband's pharma company to exploit opporunity to manufacture and distribute street drugs.

"Be Happy" (2025) a dance drama.

"Chhaava" (2025) wars between Mughals and Marathi, very violent.

"The Diplomat" (2025) An Indian woman is lured into Pakistan and abused.  Getting her out against rabid men is very difficult.

 

 

 

"Chopsticks" (2019)  A light, enjoyable comedy about recovering a stolen car. 

 "Aap Jaisa Koi" (2025) A romance with 40 year old virgin male and more sophisticated woman.  Ok.

"Saare Jahan Se Accha: The Silent Guardians" (2025) Indian spy to stop Pakistan from getting nuclear bomb.  Worked with Pakistani people who wanted to prevent the bomb.

"Metro in Dini" (2025) A sort of sequel to "Life in a Metro" (2007).  Parallel relationships involving, uncertain emotions, misunderstandings and above all romance.

 

 

 

 

"Saiyaara" (2025) A love story between an arrogant rock singer and a would be journalist.  A bit hokey at first, but melodramatic towards the end.

"Ek Chatur Naar" (2025) A complicated plot done well, but tied into 7 suicides.  Scamming, blackmail are key elements.  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/11/ek-chatur-naar-dark-comedy.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Jolly LLB 3 (2025) starts out as almost a screwball comedy with 2 lawyers conning each other and clients.  However the two unite to fight some conglomerate takeover of small farms.  A lot of social justice discussed as they fight corruption.  Also tied into suicides.

 

 

 

 

"Humans in the Loop" (2025) juxtaposed AI data input with an indigenous life style.  An Adivasi woman got a job inputting AI data, but noticing that the input from conventional sources did not always reflect natural reality.  One example, one pest was not really a pest.  Only 72 minutes makes its main point very well.  Adivasi translates to "ancient ones" or we might call indigenous, but of course there are complications.

 

"Laila Majnu" (2018) is a tragic romance.  Parents prevent a marriage between two lovers that drives the man insane.  The leading couple are very likeable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indonesian

"Home Sweet Loan" (2024) Young adult woman struggles to get enough money for a house of her own.  She feels taken advantage of and suffers from money crunch.

"The Most Beautiful Girl in The world" (2025).  An enjoyable romance based on tv. producers later getting stranded on an island. 

 

 

 

 

 

"Bolehkah  Sukali Saja Kumenaglis"(2024) A quiet gem about an abusive father and group therapy.   See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/03/bolehkah-sekali-saja-kumenangis.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Aku Jati, Aku Asperger" (2024) is about an Asperger man who wants find a new girl friend for his brothr with often hilarious ressults.  Some practical observations. 

"2nd Miracle in Cell No. 7" (2024) A sequel to "Miracle in Cell No. 7" (2013) filmed in a variety of languages.  I had seen the Turkish version,  Well done.    See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/04/2nd-miracle-in-cell-no-7.html

 

 

"Losmen Bu Broto:  The Series" (2025) a series set in a motel in Indonesia with lots of rotating plots. 

 

 

 

"Pintu-Pintu Surga" (2025) is a mind stretching film for me.  Not quite the first time multiple marriage partners has been shown but the first time when three people discuss and agree.  Very well done.  Seehttp://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/06/pintu-pintu-surga-stretching-my-vision.html

 "A Brother and 7 Siblings" (2025).  A man takes on child raising duties when his older sister and her husband die.  He pulls out of his education and breaks up with girl friend.  Above average movie.   See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/07/a-brother-and-7-siblings.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Call Me Dad" (2025) A remake of a Korean film "Pawn" where two loan sharks take custody of a young girl as collateral.  They brought her up well and they kept in touch with the mother.  There was a lot of affection from both sides.  It is well done and a bit of a tearjerker.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/12/call-me-dad.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Italian

"My Family" (2025) a complicated family drama.  At first thought it was a comedy and although it is very funny in parts it is very definitely not comic.  Some of the characters are excellent as proved by the diversity of moods they have to show. 

"The Leopard" (2025) Il Gattopardo A series based on a classic novel set in Sicily at time of Italian Revolution.

 

 

"Making The Leopard" (2025) About the production with actors, director, dancing, costumes, makeup, etc.  Interesting.

"Yara" (2021) A murder mystery based on a true case.  The culprit was only caught after extensive DNA collection and analysis.

"Born for You" (2023) A gay man seeks to adopt, even for a Downs Syndrome child.  Only very special circumstances--many others refused.  Then after he was in a trial situation authorities planned to look for more more conventional couples, but he was able to prove he was the most fit.  Based on true story.

 

 

 

 

 

Japanese

 "After School Doctor" (2024) In effect watched the second half of the series.  The doctor matures and is well regarded.

"Jin" (2009) A series involving time traveling.  A very long convoluted romance.  Claimed Japanese developed penicillin long before 1928.  Confusing, but in the end satisfying.  Travel theme is history can be changed, but the issue is very complicated.

 

 

 

 

"Flower Shop without Rose" One of the saddest series.  Everyone has a secret.  Bad intentions get turned around.  Perhaps the cutest young girl ever.

 

 

 

 

 

 "Cottontail" (2023) A Japanese widower learns his deceased wife wanted her ashes to be spread around Lake Windermere in England.  He goes with his son and daughter in law with tension flaring up.  It turns out his wife had been a big fan of Beatrix Potter.

 

 

 

 

"Call Me Chihiro" (2023) was about a former sex worker who took a job as a server at bento shop.  I watched this the same day as "Cottontail" and was surprised to see the main character in "Cottontail", Lily Franky was a supporting player in this one,

"Evil Does Not Exist" (2024).  Local people resist a company wanting to establish a luxury camping experience.  A local man is hired to advise.

"Who Saw the Peacock Dance in the Jungle?" (2025) A very good mystery series.  Again I saw Lily Franky in a supporting role.         http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/03/who-saw-peacock-dance-in-jungle.html

 

 

 

 

"Inheritance Detective" (2025) A disbarred lawyer decides to be a detective specializing in inheritance issues.  Teams up with two others and some cases are interesting and a few backstories on the three main characters are good.

"Drawing Closer" (2024) to me a familiar story about two young people with terminal illnesses and how they came to lean on one another.  Very touching.

 

 

 

 

 

"Last Shadow at First Light" (2023) Young girl in Singapore wants to see her mother in Japan.  She eventually does.

"The Man Who Skied Down Everest" (1975) Documentary of Japanese skiier who wanted to ski down Mount Everest.  He had a history of skiing challenges including setting speed record and skiing down Mount Fuji.

"Glass Heart" (2025) Rock group forming with all sorts of problems.  Main charater is a female drummer.

"Unnatural" (2018) A series about forensic scientists investigating difficult deaths to determine the cause.  Interesting inter personal relations. Done well.

 

"Quartet" (2017) a series of musicians who randomly (?) meet and decide to form a string quartet.  They each have secrets and the plot if full of twists.

 

 

 

"Learning to Love" (2025) a most improbable love story between a prim and proper school teacher and a flamboyant "host".  It turns out he has dyslexia and she decides to teach him.  It still seems improbable, but that is why romance series are so popular.

 

 

"Romantics Anonymous" (2025) A romantic comedy with the female suffering from scopophobia and the male not autistic, but upset over being touched.  What binds them is chocolate, the one a secret creative expert and the other the son of the owner.  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/10/romantics-anonymous.html

 

 

 

 

 

Korean

"When the Phone Rings" (2024) A very gripping series.  The most engaging series of previous 12 months.  Layers of mystery, enjoyable actors.   See  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/01/when-phone-rings.html

"Squid Squad" (2024) More socio political.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/01/squid-game-season-2.html  

"Bogota:  The City of The Lost" (2024).  Korean family migrates to Colombia and get mixed up in gang warfare.

"When Life Gives You Tangerines" (2025) is one of the very best series of this year.  Basically two generations.  see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/04/when-life-gives-you-tangerines.html

 

 

 

 

 

"When the Camellia Blooms" (2019) Enjoyable series--romance between a single mother and a sort of bumpkin.  Seems almost comical how he tries to make her a girl friend and she is resistant.  We meet her mother who abandoned her 20 some odds ago and appearing dyslexic.  Gets dramatic towards the end, but most of the characters have happy endings.  Enjoyable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Tastefully Yours" (2025) A romance series with a focus on cooking.  Delightfully done.

 

 

 

 

"Our Unwritten Seoul" (2025) Romance series with identical twins.  Very well done. The main actress takes on two roles. http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/06/our-unwritten-seoul.html

the third most popular foreign film blog this year. 

 

 

 

 

"Sisyphus:  The Myth' (2021) is a time travel series where the future is headed for a disastrous end to civilization.   Check  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/07/sisyphus.html

 

 

 

"Delightfully Deceitful" (2023) is a sometimes confusing series about a group of youngsters that had been corralled into a life of crime and an extremely empathic lawyer.  The law tends to punish behavior that is harmful to others, but in practice does not always consider the underlying causes of harmful behavior.  We are shown a lot manipulative behavior and revengeful action.  Well done.

 

"Trauma Code:  Heroes on Call" (2025).  Talented trauma surgeon is arrogant, but also pushing to improve trauma care.  Interesting plots, good acting.  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/08/trauma-code.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Love Untangled" (2025) is a romance with senior high school students.  The title is only a little misleading in that the female lead has curly hair and tries to get it straightened out.  The actual romance ignores that pretty much, except as a tool.  It seems frivolous at the beginning, but is much less so towards the end.

 

 

 

"Beyond the Bar" (2025) A legal drama series with a hint of romance, but the main characters were left in an ambiguous state.  On the other hand they brought in some very interesting cases with some moral perspectives.  see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/09/beyond-bar.html  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 "Good News"  (2025)  Based on real events.  A Japanese commercial flight was hijacked with the intention of going to North Korea to organize more terrorism to upend the Japanese government.  Koreans step in to fool the hi-jackers and perhaps give them leverage with the Japanese government.

Latvia 

"Flow" (2025) is animated with no dialogue, focused on different animals such as cat, dog, capybaras, meercats and a secretary bird.  They are confronted with a flood disaster and have to learn to trust one another.  Won an Oscar for animated films.  

Luganda

"Masaka Kids:  A Rhythm Within" (2025) A short documentary about youngsters  in an orphanage who have become involved in a dance program and ended up touring.  Prince Harry and Meghan are involved in the promotion of this film.  40 minute short.

 

 

 

 

 

Malayalam

"Rifle Club" (2024)  An action film centering around a rifle club focused on hunting.  "Hunting has one rule.  If you kill, you eat.  If not you do not kill".

"Officer on Duty" (2025).  A very well done crime film with heavy on family involvement.  Brutal and violent.

 

 

 

 

"Detective Ujjwalan" (2025) Amateur detective in small village is confronted by a serial killer and the big city cops who try to keep him out of it.

"All We Imagine as Light" (2024) Mainly focused on two women in Mumbai, a very diverse city.  One woman is a nurse who had an arranged marriage and her husband left to go back to Germany leaving her behind.  The other woman fell in love with Muslim man. Got a standing ovation at Cannes.  see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/09/all-we-imagine-as-light.html

 

 

 

 

"Paradise (2024)  Set in Sri Lanka during troubled times.  Tourists from India get robbed and create a big fuss.  

"Ullozhukku" (2024) A delicate situation (daughter in law pregnant by other than the son who dies).  Very well handled.  Another triumph for Pavarthy Thiruvothu.  see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/12/ullozhhukku.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Malaysian

"Tegkang" (2024) is about a visitor to a remote village discovering a young woman who is blind.  She is protected by guardians who prevent her from leaving the village.  

"Babah" (2024) A family drama with the father going deaf and later the daughter enduring a paralysis.

Mandarin

"Forget You Not" (2025) A woman becomes a stand up comic.  Her father needs care and gradually declines to dementia.  Ying Hsuan Hsieh is becoming one of my favorite actresses and she shines in this series.  see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/06/forget-you-not-something-from-taiwan.html

This was my second most popular film blog.

 

 

"Lovesick  You bing cai hui xi huan ni"  (2025) A young man to avoid expulsion from school fakes cancer.  A classmate who really has cancer at first criticized him for not taking care of himself, later found herself getting more involved with him.  He found himself falling for her.  It is a tearjerker very well done.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Mobius" (2025) series with time looping.  Lots of action.  Favorite actress Chutimon Chuengcharoensakying with supporting role. Jingting, the leading man is someone I would like to watch again.  see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/09/mobius.html

 

"Left Handed Girl (2025) seems focused on a young cute bubbly girl, but she doesn't do a lot for most of the film except be cute and bubbly.  At one point she feels guilty for having stolen different items with her devilish left hand and returns them with an apology.  The family is poor and struggling.  The ending is the very big surprise.  Filmed with an I Phone.  see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/12/two-unrelated-films-that-deserve-more.html

 

 

 

 

 

Norwegian

"Number 24" (2025)  About Norway's most decorated civilian.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/01/number-24.html

 

 

 

Portuguese

"Pictures of Ghosts" (2022) Famous director/writer Kieber Mendoca Filho reminisces about his early career in Recife with a focus on the closing of movie theaters.

"Property" (2023) A brutal film depicting the clash between upper class landowners and peasants that have been laid off. 

'This is Our Everything" (2023) is a documentary set in northern Brazil while the indigenous Guarani is protecting their land against timber thieves.  Their language is dominant.  They have accepted modern culture.  One participant Sonia became the first indigenous cabinet minster under Lula. 

"Hour of the Star (1987) Naive girl goes to the big city of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

"Caramelo" (2025) A dog story.  Very charming.  Young chef is diagnosed with cancer and about that time encounters a rascally dog.  The dog changes his life.  Lots of other things to enjoy.  Set in Brazil on the coast.  Great for dog lovers.

 

 

 

 

Russian

 "Everything will be Alright: (2023) Sort of a family film about a Russian speaking third generation family in Latvia.  Ukraine invasion covered on tv. and discussed.  Local Russian station seems to take Russian view

Sami

"Stolen" (2024) Set in northern Sweden depicting some discrimination against Sami who had modernized, but confronted with limited opportunities to maintain culture.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/02/stolen-film-on-saami-people.html

 

 

Slovene

"The Lake Triology" (Jezero) is a series of murder mystery set in a mountainous country.  Like familiar murder mysteries, but a little different.   http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/10/the-lake-triology-from-slovenia.html

 

 

 

 

Spanish

"One Hundred Years of Solitude" (2024) is a series based on the famous book of the same name.    see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/01/one-hundred-years-of-solitude.html

 

 

 

 

"Solo con tu Pareja" (1992) Sex comedy at time of AIDS. 

"The Eternaut" (2025) A series including favorite Ricardo Darin about an invasion not resolved even at the end.  I understand a sequel is in the works.

"The Klezmer Project" (2025) A story about a man using studying klezmer music to stay close to a woman.  Several languages are used. 

"The Accidental Twins" (2024) is a documentary about two sets of identical twins that had a switch near birth time.  Discovered accidentally at about age 25. One set had been raised in Bogota during violent times, the others in a rural area.  After an awkward time they became close.  Very interesting--personalities were important, but so was environment.   Nancy Segal , an expert provided some psychological perspective

"A Widow's Games (La viuda negra)" (2025)  Murder investigation in Valencia, Spain, based on a real case.

"The Heart Knows" (2025) A sappy love story from Argentina about a rich man having a heart transplant and wanting to know who donated it.  Meeting the wife he softens and falls in love.  He is head of a company committed to tearing down her neighborhood.  I loved it.

 

"Old Dog, New Tricks (2025) A comedy series set in Galicia, Spain about a rural vet who is dealing with cash strapped customers and moves to his niece's pet store.  He is a good vet, but not tuned into maximizing profits.  We see a variety of animals, from, cows, horses, goats to hamsters, dogs, cats, etc. 

"No One Saw Us Leave" (2025) Series from Mexico where the husband took his kids away from their mother and took them to France, Italy, South Africa and Israel.  The wife had fallen in love with a relative and pursued her children.  Definitely suspenseful.  Some gratuitous sex that perhaps added to the tension.

"Narcos" (2015-2017) Three seasons covering cocaine criminal activities.  Covered the criminals and also the D.E.A. pursuing them.  Lots of violence and gratuitous sex.  Also archives of political leaders in he U.S. and Colombia.  Beautiful country.  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/12/narcos.html

 

 

 

 

 

"Unwelcomed" (2025) is a documentary about people fleeing Venezuela and headed towards Chile.  They are met with great resistance.  In the ending it was claimed there are something like 300,000 undocumented refugees.

Swedish

"The Breakthrough" (2025) based on a true story about a double murder eventually solved with a key contribution by a genealogist.  Stress of job affects police officer.  see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/02/the-breakthrough.html

 

"The Are Murders" (2025) a Stockholm police woman investigated about harassment  (later dismissed) finds herself helping police in northern Swedish resort town of Are.   

"The New Force" (2025)  In 1958 Stockholm had a shortage of police officers and decided to try taking on women as an experiment.  There is a resentment not only within the police force, but with family and friends.  There are a few challenging complications.  The last episode will likely catch you off guard in a number of ways.  Well worth it.  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/10/the-new-force-women-step-forward.html

 

 

 

 

 

Tagalog

"Love Child" (2024) was about how a young couple who quit school to take care of their young boy who turned out to be autistic.  This film focused on the strain on their relationship as there wasn't sufficient community support for their resources.

"Ex Ex Lovers" (2025) For awhile it seemed it might be a comedy, but it was something different.  A daughter wanted her father to walk her down the aisle.  Her parents had been separated for over 10 years.  The daughter's spouse was tentative.  The parents seemed possibly ready to reconcile.  None of the expectations worked out, but a satisfying outcome (at least for some of us).

"I Love Filipino" (2025) A documentary series about Filipino culture covering food, pop music, art, dippings and architecture.  Remembered that it was claimed the tastiest part of a fish is the head.  Filipinos in Alaska were unable to get the familiar fish and instead used salmon and found it was even better and imported idea back to the Philippines.  I was pleasantly impressed with the section on architecture that both was simple and sophisticated.   Dippings was interesting --during war time the Filipinos were unable to get tomatoes for ketchup and ended up adapting bananas  which also used for pizza and spaghetti. 

"Green Bones" (2025) is a prison drama, very well done.  Of course an innocent prisoner is a common story element.  Unfortunately your background can predispose one to crime and violence. 

 

 "The Amazing Journey of the Letters" (2016) Through a misunderstanding a woman tours the Philippines searching for the sender of some post cards.  Enjoyable drama.  Sakaling hindi Makarating

"Hello, Love, Again" (2024) Filipino migrants separated by COVID and misunderstandings find themselves in Calgary.  Further misunderstandings.  Good romance.   See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/08/from-philippines-to-calgary.html

 

 

 

"The Last Goodbye" (2025) is a love story with a popular girl and a chubby boy in the same class.  I doesn't go exactly as you might expect. 

"Only We Know" (2025) A romance with a retired philosophy professor and an engineer.  Well done.  Enjoyed one romantic song and will buy it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Lasting Memories" (2025) starts off with young lovers and the second half is very sad except for a redeeming climax.  The two leads are very good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tamil

"Test" (2025) is a film with very bad reviews (including Access Bollywood), but I felt it was very engrossing.  A big cricket match affected by gamblers and a man struggling for a science breakthrough and a top cricket player wanting to retire on an upswing.  Tense with conflict between a rejected scientist and a celebrated athlete.  Shakthisree Gopalan, a favorite singer was composer and a performer.    see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/04/two-non-bollywood-films-from-india.html

  

"Perusu" (2025) is a comedy.  A father has died and his two sons notice that he has an erection that won't go away.  Hiding the image gets more difficult.

"Oho Ethan Baby" (2025).  A story about a film maker which suggests somewhat biographical.  Not expecting much, but felt compelled to keep watching.  Enjoyed it.

 

 

 

 

"Maareesan" (2025) A con man develop a relationship with a man with Alzheimer's thinking he could take advantage for a big steal.  There are a lot of surprises for the viewer.  Well tied together.

 

 

 

 

"Idli Kadai" (2025) A poor boy disdains his father simple Idli bistro and moves to overseas restaurant chains.  His father dies and he goes back home--turning his back on an engagement to the daughter of his corporate boss.  Family feuds results, but he decides to take over his father's business and re ignite a relationship with old girl friend.  Dhanush wrote, directed, produced and starred in what he has narrated as having special family interest.

"Dude" (2025) A man has some strange ideas.  He had formed a very close friendship with a woman and felt that excluded romance.  

"Aaryan" (2025) An unusual action story.  A failed writer decides to kill himself on live television, but declaring that he has already set in motion 6 murders.  Four of them are done while the police struggle to find a pattern.  

"Stephen" (2025) A man comes to a police station and confesses to killing nine women.  The bodies are not available.  Psychiatric efforts to find out the truth.  without a doubt he was psycho and came from a psycho background.

Telegu

"Pushpa:  The Rule-Part 2" (2024) A sequel to Part 1, but not as good.  Lots of action, machoism and humiliation.

"Court:  State vs. a Nobody" (2025)  A legal drama about a young man being charged with sexual crimes and railroaded.  Young lawyer, played by Priyadarshi Pulikonda, proves his merit.   see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/04/two-non-bollywood-films-from-india.html

"8 Vasanthalum" (2025).  Romantic ups and downs, mostly enjoyable.

 

 

 

"The Girlfriend" (2025) A naive young woman at university is confronted by a controlling man who gradually manipulates her to be loyal to him.  You see controlling from his family, but also from hers.  Well done.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Premante" (2025) did get some poor reviews, but deserved its high rating as it made me laugh perhaps more than any film seen this year.   The plot had some well timed twists and the two leading actors were great, Anandhi and especially Priyadarshi Pulikonda in contrast to earlier role this year.

Thai

"How to Make Millions before Grandma Dies" (2024) was the highest grossing film from Thailand.  Funny, but very serious as well  Read more:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/04/how-to-make-millions-before-grandma-dies.html

My most popular of all the blogs for 2025.

 

 

 

"The Cliche" (2024) was about life imitating cliches.  Much better than a time filler.  A comedy.  The lead character is in a serious debt problem, but has a talent for writing scripts.  He hates the soap opera type plots as they are too easy to predict.   Nevertheless his own life begins to resemble a plot he is filming.

 

 

 

 

"Dalah:  Death and the Flowers" (2025) An interesting mystery series with the mystery solver being a flower expert.  A very complicated confrontation scene with a few surprises even for the mystery solver.

 

 

 

 

"Mad Unicorn" (2025) is a series on a rag to riches story based loosely on a real person.  Lots of challenges and interesting ways of dealing with them.  I found myself bingeing.   See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/06/mad-unicorn-exciting-series-fromthailand.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Flat Girls" (2025) a coming of age story revolving around two long friends whose fathers were with the police department.  Tastefully done.

 

 

 

 

Turkish

"Graveyard" (2022)   A series. Refers to a basement office designed for Special Crimes that was to investigate murders of women.  Good cast and plotting. http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/08/graveyard.html

 

 

I

 

 

 

 

Ukrainian

"2000 Meters to Andriivka" (2025) shows live action military effort against Russian forces.  At the closing was a statement that Russia had regained some of the land.  As I write this Donald Trump is continuing to support Russia for reasons we can only conjecture about.   It is narrated in English and has subtitles for Ukrainian and Russian

 

 

 

 

 

 

If your favorite foreign language movie of 2025 wasn't mentioned please feel free to tell me and why you think listing it is a good idea.

Check last year's selection of foreign movies seen:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/12/foreign-language-films-2024.html