[LeBeau]

For the aussies, I enjoyed "The Castle"....would you say that is realistic?

[Messer]

Poland:
Jack Strong - based on facts, cold war, spies, mentality behind the iron curtain
http://youtu.be/iqPX7bg_KZ0
Poklosie (Aftermath) - bitter and exaggerated picture of a small village mentality
http://youtu.be/_jYLGogjG6g
Wesele (Wedding) (2004) - brilliant observations on Polish mentality and customs (not easy to watch )
http://youtu.be/Pzz1SzgRGQo
Rewers (2009) - communism and Polish women mentality
http://youtu.be/-D1RoA1jGB0
Wszystko co kocham (All that I love) (2009) - young people's perspective on communism, very popular movie among younger generation in Poland
http://youtu.be/M20ooNQFtMg
Warszawa (2003) - picture of one day of Warsaw citizens' life
http://youtu.be/RZRBOGCXMSk
Różyczka (2010) security forces, communism, romance
http://youtu.be/Jk-UdWBnO1M
Wałęsa. Człowiek z nadziei (2013) - history of Lech Walesa, Solidarity and Polish rising against communist dictatorship
http://youtu.be/HnnGY-kuwqA

If you are looking for something more ambitious, art house, psychological drama, moral dilemmas etc you can always check classic movies by Krzysztof Kieslowski, Andrzej Wajda, Tadeusz Konwicki, Krzysztof Zanussi, Wojciech Has, etc

[jamaicabound]

Not sure how authentic it is but I loved una noche about cuban teens

[fokker]

Russia - Andrei Rublev (1966) - classic film about an icon painter
Australia - Malcolm (1986) - comedy about a tram company employee with Aspergers who gets fired and rents a room in his house out - I'm including it because it shows lots of scenery of the old Australia from the 1980s
Australia - Romper Stomper (1992) - dark and gritty film about skinheads

[Brian Shima]

Making a list now, thank god for torrents

[SpiderKing]

(06-01-2014 11:19 PM)Screwston Wrote:  

I rented a French movie in middle school (on vhs!) and am going crazy trying to remember the name. I only remember a part where some young guys throw beer bottles at some skinheads and are talking shit to them from a rooftop. Any ideas?

La Haine

[Brian Shima]

The Pusher trilogy from Denmark is amazing, definitely classics

Salo or the 120 Days of Sodom from Italy might be worth watching if you enjoy controversial movies but Read Imdb reviews before watching

[TooFineAPoint]

For extremely realistic, slice-of-life French movies, check out Eric Rohmer's work. It's uniformly amazing. Just be aware that the films are deliberately paced and completely character (rather than plot) driven.

If you like that, move into Maurice Pialat and Jacques Rozier.

[Brian Shima]

Dog Pound is a Canadian film about juvenile delinquents in a correctional facility, rough and depressing with a sad ending

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1422020/

[Brian Shima]

Spider King I watched the French film LA HAINE and said eh at the end. I read that it received a standing ovation at a film festival which made me scratch my head, while certainly not a bad film it just did not do it for me. I can see how pretentious snobs that frequent film festivals would adore it since it deals with poor minorities who are harassed by cops and was shot in black and white. The ending was clever, I will give it that.......


"The film follows three young men and their time spent in the French suburban "ghetto," over a span of twenty-four hours. Vinz, a Jew, Saïd, an Arab, and Hubert, a black boxer, have grown up in these French suburbs where high levels of diversity coupled with the racist and oppressive police force have raised tensions to a critical breaking point. During the riots that took place a night before, a police officer lost his handgun in the ensuing madness, only to leave it for Vinz to find. Now, with a newfound means to gain the respect he deserves, Vinz vows to kill a cop if his friend Abdel dies in the hospital, due the beating he received while in police custody"

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113247/

[Brian Shima]

German, boring and almost forced to stop half way LOL, it is funny to see the old Dr. Martens and ugly baggy pants girls wore in the 90s though. It did remind me of Gen X 90s with the music and everything, Watched it years ago and for some reason decided to give it another try..maybe its just me because it has great ratings

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0130827/?ref_=ttmd_md_nm

[Brian Shima]

I gave bland ol Germany one more try and was pleasantly surprised with THE EXPERIMENT or DAS EXPERIMENT in german "For two weeks, 20 male participants are hired to play prisoners and guards in a prison. The "prisoners" have to follow seemingly mild rules, and the "guards" are told to retain order without using physical violence."

[Slim Shady]

The suspense/mystery movie "The Vanishing", original Dutch/French version from 1988. There is a shittier American remake from 1993.

The full movie is available on YouTube, just turn on the English captions.

It's a murder mystery in a way...but departs from all cliche. The killer is revealed pretty much immediately, but that's not the suspense. It is truly minimalist and absolutely terrifying. According to my favorite director, Stanley Kubrick, it is the most terrifying movie he has ever seen - even more so than his own "The Shining".

Don't look at any spoilers, and prepare to have your soul sucked.

[Brian Shima]

Has anyone seen The Raid 2?? I heard it is better than the first

[Quintus Curtius]

See any French movie by Gaspar Noe. These two are classics:

I Stand Alone
Irreversible

[YOS]

(10-30-2012 09:40 PM)Riker Wrote:  

love this movie, its about swingers in buenos aires.

I actually thought this one was pretty silly.

[TigerMandingo]

A couple of excellent Spanish-language movies I recently saw on Netflix:

- El Infierno (Mexico) - brilliant satire of the drug trade in Mexico and how it affects the people involved. A twisted and funny flick.

- El Cartel de los Sapos (Colombia) - the Colombian version of Scarface, I would say. Highly entertaining and realistic. It also includes lots of game lessons regarding Colombian women.

[Balkanite]

The Secret in their Eyes (El secreto de sus ojos). When the movie ended I just sat in my chair for an extra 5 minutes thinking about what I just watched. Incredible dialogue, landscapes, and acting. Also the 2 female actresses are stunning. I highly recommend it to anyone. I need to watch more foreign films.

[samsamsam]

(12-12-2011 07:16 PM)Screwston Wrote:  

Brother - Russian movie that was filmed in St. Petersburg in the mid to late 90's on a $10,000 budget. It's about a young man who goes to live with his brother and becomes a hitman like him. It was entertaining and gives a good glimpse of how the people live every day over there.

(03-12-2012 11:28 AM)Vorkuta Wrote:  

Realism in foreign film.....Look no further then Russian gangster thriller 'Brat' ( Brother ). It gives it you all in bucket loads. Young army dude ( played by the excellent Sergei Bodrov Jnr. ) heads to St.Peter to stay with his brother,ultra violence ensues. Cult film everyone who has spent time in Russia has seen. Great soundtrack. Unforgettable. It's also up on Youtube with English subs. You won't regret watching it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmzUJkrKq5Q

Spoilers!!!!!!!!



I saw this movie suggested on an all Russian movie list. I liked it - for some reason I don't think I would like it if it was set in US environment and in English. But in Russian with all the music, setting, etc. It was entertaining. What was interesting to me was this kid obsessed about music and kills without remorse. If it was truly representative of a time in Russia, it shows how tough life is. Without trying to insult anyone from Russia (because I am enjoying the language a great deal), it seems they didn't put all the nonsense into these deep feelings and emotions, life seems very transactional. The drug girl always seemed to be willing to offer something in exchange for his generosity, but cared less if he existed or not.

I do wonder about the scene at McDonald's scene. I can admit that I have a soft spot for people who need help so I might have given her some money also. But that seems to confirm that he was a big, sort of childlike in some ways, but how no problem killing. Yet keeps his word. Very interesting combination of qualities.

You can find it on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw6cDYEd8Dw

I heard Brat 2 wasn't as good, but still going to try and find it with English subtitles. If anyone has a link to that please share.

Edit: Found it http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2nl4e9

[samsamsam]

Just watched Brat (Brother) 2. Definitely not as good. His brother (bald guy) put in a more entertaining performance but the movie just didn't cut it.




Spoiler


Of all the possible Russian women you can put in the movie you put in that woman? And then shave her head?

[TooFineAPoint]

If you guys want a pure bleak perfect Russian/Ukrainian film, check out "My Joy" from 2010.

Be warned, you need patience. But it is worth it. Easily the best Eastern European film of the last decade.

[Matelot]

"71"

Gritty action film set in Belfast during The Troubles. Shows how messed up the situation was - and still is - in Northern Ireland.

Shows all the factions;
The British Army
The Military Reaction Force
Royal Ulster Constabulary
Ulster Volunteer Force
The Marxist Official Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army

And how they interacted with each other.

[amity]

(04-15-2016 05:26 AM)Matelot Wrote:  

"71"

Gritty action film set in Belfast during The Troubles. Shows how messed up the situation was - and still is - in Northern Ireland.

Shows all the factions;
The British Army
The Military Reaction Force
Royal Ulster Constabulary
Ulster Volunteer Force
The Marxist Official Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army

And how they interacted with each other.

I really liked it. As someone who was brought up close to the border (on the Rep of Ireland side), we got a pretty one-sided view of things.
Was good to see the perspective of a normal young lad from the north of England.
Quite a sad movie in some respects.
The first half I thought was gripping, the second half became a bit formulaic but overall yes really good, well worth the watch.

[Brian Shima]

Men & Chicken is really funny and does not take itself serious..a Danish black comedy about two brothers, through getting to know their unknown family, discover a horrible truth about themselves and their relatives..It has Tony from the classic Pusher trilogy!! Hilarious to see him make his brother pull over on the highway so he can take care of his chronic masturbation habit..

" Every subject is fair game for humor including kids, science, hygiene, families, politics, the sick and dead, elders, animals, the handicapped, gender, sex and more.
This really warped and genuinely funny film is truly an original. It is an antidote to the same old gruel from the traditional studios"


http://imdb.com/title/tt3877674/

[RIslander]

Germany:
Run Lola Run: About a low level gangster who loses his bosses money. His girlfriend has to raise the money in a short period of time to save his life. Everytime she fails she starts over Groundhog Day style. All around fun film and highly recommended.

Latin America:
Sin Nombre: Phenomenal
Y Tu Mama Tambien
Maria Full of Grace: About young Colombinas who are duped into being drug mules.
El Secreto de sus Ojos
Pasajero: A short Venezuelan flick, on YouTube, about rich and poor, life, loneliness and suicide. Excellent.

Iran: All previously mentioned Persian films are excellent.